E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: Milwaukee Brewing Co.’s sales up 54% last year

Milwaukee Brewing Co. matched its expansion in 2014 with a 54 percent increase in sales of its beers, including the Hop Happy IPA, Polish Moon Stout and venerable Louie's Demise, the company said on January 26.

The volume flowing out of the brewery on South Second Street reached nearly 12,000 barrels, continuing a trend line started when owners Jim McCabe and Jim Hughes kegged their first brew in November 2007. That followed the real start of McCabe's brewing career as owner of the Milwaukee Ale House, which opened in 1997.

McCabe and his partners bought the building that houses the brewery in 2014, with help from a $241,200 loan from the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. That allowed them to expand their brewing capacity. The extension of their distribution reach into Minneapolis boosted demand for and sales of their 19 varieties. Beechwood Sales and Service handles distribution for the craft beer-maker.

"It really is remarkable to think that just over four years ago we sold less than 3,000 cases of beer for the entire year and Beechwood now sells more than two-and-a-half times that much in one month," McCabe said.

In a release touting the new sales figures, McCabe also said he has more expansion plans in the works, along with distribution to additional markets in the upper Midwest.


28 January, 2015