E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: Karben4 Brewing to double beer production as the brewery starts releasing bottles

Karben4 Brewing fired up some long-dormant machinery for the first time and started filling bottles with its most popular beer, Fantasy Factory India Pale Ale, isthmus.com reported on October, 10.

Since opening nearly two years ago, the brewery has concentrated building demand for its beers through draught-only sales to local bars, restaurants and in its own taproom. "We wanted to build brand equity so that our beers are pulled onto the shelves, rather than fighting for space in local stores," says Karben4 co-owner and brewmaster Ryan Koga.

Fantasy Factory, a vigorously hoppy IPA, is central to the young brewery's efforts at building a name for itself, especially among craft beer fans serious about bitter brews. "It's our most popular beer; we've gotten a huge response from the marketplace," says Koga about the decision to make it their first bottled brew.

"A lot of breweries start bottling right away, and they struggle because they are also buying tanks, kegs and all the stuff to grow," he explains. "We thought, let's build our business on draught lines first, and that will help us get a business built with the cash flow we need to support bottling.”

Karben4 beers are packaged in short stubby brown bottles, and packaged in closed-top six-pack cartons. The first run of beer must go through a distributor before it hits shelves, and Koga estimates Fantasy Factory will start appearing the week of October 20.

Up next in bottles is Block Party Amber Ale, which is expected to be packaged come December. Back in March, Karben4 unveiled its initial bottled line-up, which will also include Lady Luck Irish Red and NightCall Smoked Porter, but these additions won't come until next year.

Having the bottling machine up and running instantly doubles Karben4's production, notes Koga. It will also be immediately installing an additional bright tank, which is a large vessel in which beer stabilizes just before it's packaged. Altogether, the brewery is expecting to more than double its annual production, jumping to over 5,000 barrels for 2015.

"Now we'll do 800 cases in a bottling day," notes Koga. That means Karben4 will soon have the ability to reach customers outside of Madison, and its beers are slated to arrive in Milwaukee by early next year.


15 October, 2014