USA, MT: The Front Brewing Company to expand capacity

The Front Brewing Co. has purchased the former Sperry’s Market building in Great Falls to quadruple its production capacity for microbrew craft beers, company president Linda Caricaburu said on January 8, according to Great Falls Tribune.

Caricaburu said the company had reached capacity at its main site and was unable to meet growing demands for its beers, particularly the popular Mountain Man Ale.

They’ll keep producing with a 10-barrel system at the original Westside building but will add a 30-barrel system in the building downtown, she said.

Caricaburu said she now employs the equivalent of two and a half full-time employees and expects to hire another one or two workers at the new facility, “possibly more after we ramp up.”

Her husband, Brad Talcott, owns both buildings.

The former market served more recently as an ice cream production facility for the Udder Factory, but has been vacant, Caricaburu said. She said she and her husband wanted to be part of the downtown renovation and felt that building met their needs with high ceilings, solid floors and cooling systems.

They hope to have the new production facility in operation by early spring, depending on the time it takes to get licensing approved, she said.

10 January, 2014