US, AK: Baranof Island Brewing Company gets a $282,000 loan to ‘work smarter’

Baranof Island Brewing Company, which produces beer on Smith Street in Sitka, came away from the Assembly table with a $282,000 loan on Tuesday night, KCAW-FM reported on April, 27.

Co-owner Suzan Hess says the money will provide for major upgrades that will help the company, in her words, “work smarter.”

“We’ll be able to buy the equipment so that we can do the keg washing and filling with a machine rather than doing it manually," Hess said. "Our brewer, in the same time that he takes to make 55 gallons, he’ll be able to make 310 gallons.”

The company had profit last year of nearly $12,000. It estimates this year’s profit will end up closer to $64,000. Hess says the larger brewing capacity will help serve wholesale customers in Sitka, and possibly allow Baranof Island Brewing products to reach beyond Baranof Island.

“Going from a 55-gallon system to a 310-gallon system will allow us to provide the taps in town that have wanted us to provide for them," Hess said. "It will also allow us to start bottling and sending it out into local communities, possibly into some of the local liquor stores.”

The 20-year loan carries 3.5 percent interest. It was unanimously approved by the Assembly. Larry Crews and Terry Blake were absent from Tuesday's meeting.

29 April, 2011