E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: City Lights Brewing to begin production in Menomonee Valley in March

City Lights Brewing Co. plans to use the former Milwaukee Gas Light Co.'s red brick water tower as a brew house and tasting facility. A neighbouring building will house additional production equipment, canning and kegging lines, a lab, office and storage and shipping areas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on October 8.

“The Menomonee Valley project, first disclosed in August, is moving forward,” City Lights Brewing’s owner Robin Gohsman said, “with the lease signed and financing package close to completion.”

City Lights Brewing plans to begin production in March, with projected sales of 15,000 barrels in its first year. That would place it among Wisconsin's larger craft brewers, with the goal of eventually brewing 50,000 barrels annually.

"We are pretty confident we will be able to sell every ounce of beer we produce," Gohsman said.

The brewery's distributor is St. Paul, Minnesota-based Johnson Brothers Liquor Co., a firm that has mainly been a wholesaler of wine and spirits. “Johnson Brothers Liquor has a relatively new craft beer division, and City Lights Brewing will be its first Wisconsin brand,” said David Kenyon, the wholesaler's beer and cider brand manager.

Johnson Brothers Liquor has around 500 Wisconsin taverns, liquor stores and other retail accounts where it plans to sell City Lights Brewing’s beers.

The craft brewery will be part of the City Lights complex. City Lights will operate at two renovated buildings, 2200 and 2210 W. Mount Vernon Avenue.

It will initially use the bottom two floors that make up the base of the tower building, where the first-floor brewery operations will be separated by a glass partition from the tasting room on the first floor and mezzanine level. There also will be special event space on the mezzanine, and an outdoor beer garden.

Gohsman expects to sell a lot of beer through the tasting room in part by tapping into the building's historic, old industrial ambience, and a location near Miller Park and other attractions.

"We think this is just going to be a very, very entertaining destination," Gohsman said.

“The project's initial phase will cost around $1.75 million,” Gohsman said. “The company has its equity financing, and will secure loans within 60 days,” Gohsman said.

In the second phase, City Lights Brewing plans to use the octagonal tower's five higher floors to expand the tasting room. A possible third phase calls for a restaurant at another City Lights Brewing’s building.

“The brewery’s first four to six brands will likely include summer and winter India pale ale styles, and a brown ale,” said Jimmy Gohsman, brewmaster and son of Robin Gohsman.


09 October, 2015