USA, MI: Bell's Brewery Inc. expands its Comstock Township facility

Bell's Brewery Inc. celebrated the opening of a $20 mln expansion to its Comstock Township production facility that will make it an even bigger player in the craft beer world, Mlive.com reported on May, 14.

The expansion gives one of largest beermakers in the United States the potential to make around 800,000 barrels annually, an increase from previous estimates released by the company. Bell's, which was recently ranked as the 13th largest brewery in the country, made 185,000 barrels in 2011. Bell's has projected it will produce around 230,000 barrels this year.

"In a way we celebrate the American way, to think that a company can have a 15-gallon soup pot, through hard work you can get to this," Bell said. "That's pretty amazing. That's a lot of hard work of the employees and everybody that's touched this place over the last 28 years."

Bell said the company employs 173 people, including adding 38 new positions this year.

Bell said the company's growth occurred during a rough economic time in Michigan and is a testament to its employees and supporters.

He said that when people think of the Kalamazoo area, they will count Bell's among the region's major manufacturers.

The company broke ground on the new production facility in April 2011 and completed it earlier this month. The expansion includes a larger grain-handling system, a 200-barrel brewing system and new fermentation vessels, among other elements.

This project is a major part of a $52 mln expansion project announced in the fall of 2010 while Bell's celebrated its 25th anniversary. The total amount was to be spent through 2016.

In a recent interview, Bell said future investments have been put on hold, including adding a canning line to the Comstock facility, as he negotiates with minority shareholders to buy them out.

16 May, 2012