USA, MO: The success story of Boulevard Brewing Company

Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas was one of the first craft beer breweries to expand on a national level, Tulsa World reported on August 18.

John McDonald had problems trying to get a loan for his new brewery. All the banks he went to asked him, “Why would you want to build a brewery, we have a brewery in the state that does very well?” That brewery produces Bud Lite.

With financial help from his friends and family, McDonald began construction of Boulevard Brewing Company in 1988 on Kansas City’s Southwest Boulevard. Boulevard Brewing started and so did the ability for him to start brewing Boulevard Pale Ale and Boulevard Wheat, which are still being produced today.

Boulevard Brewing was recently acquired by Duvel Moortgat Brewery. But Duvel Moortgat Brewery has not changed the beer recipes, and it has only encouraged the growth of Boulevard Brewing.

Boulevard Brewing distributes to 31 states and holds the distinction of being the eighth-largest craft brewery in the U.S. In 2014, it broke ground on a $12 million-dollar expansion of its Kansas City brewery, called “Cellar Five.” The project will consist of a 3,600-square-foot single-story fermentation structure that will house six 1,000 barrel fermenters.

Alongside it will be an 8,400-square-foot, two-story utility and process building. When the project is completed, it will increase the brewery’s fermentation capacity by 40 percent to well more than 300,000 barrels.

Tank 7 Smokestack Series is a farmhouse ale with grapefruit flavours that finishes dry and crisp. This is one of Boulevard Brewing’s most popular beers.

Boulevard Brewing is offering two new beers: a Belgian-style IPA, and a Black Pale Ale that uses midnight wheat.

19 August, 2015