E-Malt.com News article: USA, NY: Olde Saratoga Brewing installs new keg-filler to boost production

Olde Saratoga Brewing Co. has invested $400,000 to double its keg-filling speed as the company anticipates a 20 percent increase in sales in 2012, The Business Review reported on October, 18.

It’s the third such expansion in less than a year for the Saratoga Springs, New York, craft brewery, as the company increases production to meet a growing demand for craft beers.

Overall sales of craft beers rose 11 percent in 2011, according to the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colorado. Saratoga Brewing’s new equipment and targeted marketing efforts allowed the company to grow its local draft-beer business this year by 60 percent.

“This is where we’re seeing our biggest growth,” said Max Oswald, regional sales manager.

The cost of the new keg-filling machine, which began operating five weeks ago, was $250,000. Installation costs were $150,000.

In November 2011, Olde Saratoga invested $190,000 to install two new 250-barrel fermentation tanks. The additional tanks allow the company to produce 7,750 more gallons of beer a year.

Olde Saratoga produced 45,000 barrels of beer in 2011 and expects to produce 55,000 barrels this year. One barrel equals 31 gallons.


19 October, 2012