E-Malt.com News article: USA, TX: Big Bend Brewing setting sights on regional distribution

Big Bend Brewing Co. is a relatively new kid on the craft beer block, but yet the small time brewery just outside of small town Alpine is setting its sights on regional distribution, Midland Reporter Telegram reported on August 15.

In a few years, Big Bend Brewing Co. plans to sell its chilled and canned beers in El Paso, Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, Big Spring and San Angelo, essentially all remaining West Texas markets.

“Our whole goal is to conquer West Texas,” said Richard Fallon, general manager of Big Bend Brewing Co.

The company first plans to move into El Paso, as it’s the largest West Texas city by population. Midland would be next because of its proximity to surrounding West Texas cities. But in a sign of humility, Fallon said the company wants to establish itself in West Texas first before testing the waters in bigger markets such as Dallas and Austin.

With Big Bend Brewing Co. taps already in place in El Paso and Midland bars and restaurants, and the lack of microbreweries in the cities, the company’s beers may have an easier time transitioning into a regional product rather than a statewide one.

It is still a monumental task for a brewery that was founded a year and a half ago near a town of almost 6,000 people to become a regional brewer so quickly. But with an endless list of businesses it delivers to across the region, the nonstop daily tours it offers and a recent facility expansion, Big Bend Brewing Co. is aware of the frothing demand from its customers.

The rapid success of the company and its new expansion is not a surprise to Steve Anderson, the head brewer.

“Even before we started, we knew we were going to be pushing it,” Anderson said. “It feels great though. I love this new facility. It’s the best site I’ve ever worked on before.”

Regional expansion is a natural progression for the brewery that was founded between Alpine and Marfa, remote communities that cherish local wares and artistic freedom. Art galleries are everywhere, food trucks and local restaurants outnumber the fast food joints, and people enjoy biking and walking.

And it is only appropriate that craft beer has grown alongside the proliferation of artisan-everything. Overall, the beer market decreased 1.9 percent in 2013, but craft beer grew 17.2 percent, which led to a 7.8 market share, according to the Brewers Association.

“The (beer consumer) demographic has changed too,” Anderson said. “They frequently buy local, they’re anti-corporate.”

Big Bend Brewing Co. exemplifies of the Austinification of Marfa and Alpine, as Fallon and Anderson themselves came from Austin. Fallon used to own a bar on South Congress Avenue, before it was “SoCo,” he said. Anderson worked for two other breweries, including Live Oak Brewing Co. in Austin, before being head brewer at Big Bend Brewing Co., accumulating 21 years of experience in the industry.

Channeling the artistic freedom of the area, as well as following industry trends, Big Bend Brewing Co. distances itself as much as possible from the big three of beer: Anheuser-Busch, Miller Brewing Co. and Coors Brewing Co., despite being located near Budweiser and Coors facilities a mile away on the appropriately named Coors Road. The brewery focuses on quality over quantity by producing just a lager, IPA, porter, hefeweizen and golden ale. Big Bend Brewing Co. also keeps its beer cold the whole way through, that way, the canning line works properly, Anderson said.

Like artistry, the process to make the Big Bend beers is an imperfect journey. During the July 25 tour, cans were not being completely filled, beer was spilling on the floor, and pressure became too high in a valve, making a loud noise.

But when those who attended the tour popped open cans fresh off the production line, they tasted something only a few thousand are able to try, at least in canned form.

“We’re just on the cusp here of moving cans into larger markets,” Anderson said. “That’s when we’re going to take off. That’s obviously going to be 75 to 80 percent of our sales, not so much draft.”



20 August, 2014