US, MI: Wolverine State Brewing Company hopes to be bottling by mid-May

Less than six months after opening its tap room, sales are surging at Wolverine State Brewing Company, AnnArbor.com reports.

“Our goal was to do $5,000 (on) weekends by summer,” partner E.T. Crowe said. “We’re already doing those now.”

The numbers far exceeded projections, said company founder and president Matt Roy.

Roy also recently told customers that the total tap room sales are 12 months ahead of projections.

That has allowed for the brewery to branch out and begin bottling its premium lager Wolverine Beer on site. The company previously contracted with Michigan Brewing in Webberville to brew and bottle its lager.

Wolverine recently purchased the Merlin Bottling Wizzard from Meheen Manufacturing to install in the brewery. It's capable of bottling 2,400 bottles an hour.

“We hope to be bottling by mid-May," Crowe said.

Wolverine will begin bottling of other brews as well. It will offer Wolverine Dark, a dark lager, in mid-August, and plans to release its Pastoral Winter Wheat on Dec. 21 — the winter solstice.

“Our goal is to have a few items on the shelves by football season,” Crowe said.

The growth is not limited to the beer itself. Crowe said the company recently submitted an application with the city for an outdoor garden-style seating area for the summer.

22 April, 2011