E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: Octopi Brewing Co. aims to be the largest contract brewery in the Midwest

Octopi Brewing Co. wants to be the largest contract beer brewery in the Midwest, The Waunakee Tribune reported on October 15.

“It’s a project that’s taken a lot of time to develop,” said Isaac Showaki, owner of Octopi Brewing Co. in Waunakee.

“It was a $5 million investment, with half going to the building and half going for equipment. And we’re hiring as many local people as we can.”

A grand opening for Octopi is scheduled for Oct. 24.

On Oct. 8, Showaki addressed the Waunakee Rotary Club and talked about Octopi, before taking members on a tour of the 17,000-square-foot facility, which also houses a tasting room for about 70 people.

The tasting room will feature 14 draft lines, plus a cask beer served at room temperature.

Showaki said Octopi, located next to The Ice Pond in Waunakee’s industrial park, has the capacity to expand to 26,000 square feet later on.

While Octopi will make its own line of beers under the 3rd Sign name, contract brewing is a big part of the operation. Octopi will launch its own beer at the end of the month, according to Showaki.

Making every effort to produce quality beer, Octopi has installed a brand new, state-of-the-art brewhouse from Germany, as well as a new bottling line that can turn out 9,000 bottles an hour.

Showaki said the lack of great equipment is one of the reasons contract brewing has a reputation for not always turning out good beer. Sometimes such facilities have equipment that’s 70 to 80 years old, he added.

Octopi was created to help small breweries who want to expand or deliver their product to a wider market, according to Showaki.

The company offers its customers a wide range of service aside from beer formulation, including packaging design, merchandising, marketing, consulting and even legal assistance.

“We want to provide great quality and great customer service,” said Showaki. “That’s what we have and what we’re offering.”

Along with using local water, Octopi contracted with some local companies for work on the building, including Endres Manufacturing, Hellenbrand Glass and Hellenbrand Water.

So far, Octopi has hired eight employees. Showaki said the company hopes to add a ninth employee by the end of the year.

Already, Octopi has contracts to brew beer for three Wisconsin breweries, with the possibility of growing that number to five or six before the new year.

Showaki has an interesting background. He moved from Mexico City, Mexico to go to school in the United States.

Afterward, he joined Bain Capital, a global management consulting firm, and was sent to work with a Heineken plant in Panama.

That experience helped foster a desire to own his own brewery.

The process of building Octopi wasn’t easy. As he worked on the project, he had his first child.
Still, Showaki enjoys the process of making beer.

“It’s a lot of science and a lot of art to create something that is balanced and fun,” said Showaki.


16 October, 2015