E-Malt.com News article: USA, OR: 10 Barrel Brewing undertakes a $13 million expansion project

10 Barrel Brewing’s affiliation with Anheuser-Busch InBev is paying off, Bend Bulletin reported on August 22.

“The Bend-based brewery is undertaking a $13 million expansion project at its facility on NE 18th Street, and possibly elsewhere in town,” co-founder Chris Cox said on August 21. He said the project will double beer production by June to 124,000 barrels. “Demand for its products and expansion into California and Colorado is driving the expansion,” Cox said.

“I think it’s incredibly exciting that we’re able to grow this much in Bend,” Cox said. “We’re super proud that the business is growing fast.”

The brewery, seventh-largest in the state, produced 12,627 taxable barrels of beer for sale in Oregon in the first half of the year, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. 10 Barrel Brewing, purchased last year by the U.S. arm of international brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev for an undisclosed sum, this year expanded distribution to Northern California and in Colorado to Denver and Boulder. It also opened a new brewpub in Portland, adding a third pub to its properties in Bend and Boise, Idaho. 10 Barrel Brewing beers are also sold in Washington.

“The beer’s selling really well, better than we expected,” Cox said. “We’re at max capacity here at the brewery.”

Cox said the brewery cannot expand its distribution further without expanding its production capacity. That means more fermentation tanks, more warehouse space and, possibly, a faster bottling line, Cox said.

The brewery added six, 400-gallon tanks and plans to add another four to six tanks. It also plans to double the size of its building to accommodate the expansion and for more warehouse space, or build elsewhere in town on a site to be determined, Cox said.


26 August, 2015