E-Malt.com News article: Canada, ON: Brick Brewing launches a new brewhouse in Kitchener

Brick Brewing unveiled its new C$9.3-million brewing facility on Bingemans Centre Drive in Kitchener on August 13, capping off an expansion project that sees the state-of-the-art plant fully operational two months ahead of schedule, Waterloo Record reported on August 14.

The new brewhouse will produce all beer branded as Waterloo Brewing Co. — Brick's craft brewing division — along with seasonal small-batch brews.

Production has now wrapped up at Brick Brewing's original brewery on King Street South in Waterloo, said director of engineering and maintenance Luigi Fantin.

On August 13 marked the first 24-hour continuous production cycle in Kitchener, Fantin said as politicians, media and guests toured the facility.

"This is the big day," Fantin said.

Featuring cutting-edge equipment from Germany, the new brewhouse is three times larger than the old one, and can produce five times more beer — up to 216,000 litres per day, compared with 42,000 litres a day at the old plant.

But it's also far more efficient, using 30 per cent less electricity and 50 per cent less natural gas while producing half the waste water.

It's also designed for flexibility, allowing the company to accommodate handcrafted small-batch brews as well as larger production runs.

It's a timely move, said Brick Brewing's president and chief executive officer George Croft, given a growing interest in craft beer and the province's announcement earlier this year that beer sales are coming to hundreds of grocery stores.

"We believe the expansion is well-timed and it will address the opportunities in front of us," Croft said.

Brick Brewing became Ontario's first craft brewery when it started making beer at the Waterloo location in 1984. Along with the Waterloo brand premium craft beers, Brick Brewing's brands include Laker, Red Baron, Red Cap and Formosa Springs Draft.

The company also owns the Canadian rights to Seagram coolers.

Consolidating operations in Kitchener is expected to save Brick Brewing more than C$1 million a year.

The move is not an example of Waterloo's loss being Kitchener's gain, said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

"We are really looking more and more at Waterloo Region as an entire entity," Vrbanovic said."

"We think it's obviously important to invest in the community we call home," Croft said.


14 August, 2015