USA, AK: Kodiak Island Brewing Company to expand in Kodiak

Alaska-based Kodiak Island Brewing Company plans to buy the Cy's Sporting Goods store in downtown Kodiak and turn it into a new home for its sole microbrewery, Drinks Business Review reported on January, 2.

Kodiak Island Brewing owner Ben Millstein, who began talking with Cy's Sporting Goods owner Cy Hoen, said there has been steady, steady growth over the years in demand both on the retail side and on the wholesale side.

"Our main focus is still just to satisfy local demand and do what we do so we're not running out of Liquid Sunshine every couple of weeks," Millstein added.

Millstein's purchase of the store depends on a loan from the federal Small Business Administration, which has not been finalized.

The front half of the building will include a 2,500ft² tasting room and expanded retail space. The rear half would include 1,000ft² of production space, more storage space and offices.

Kodiak Island Brewing was launched in May 2003 and has already undergone one expansion at its current home in the Harbor Building.

At present, the brewery produces around 900 barrels of beer per year, about one-tenth of Kodiak Island's estimated annual beer consumption.

06 January, 2012