E-Malt.com News article: USA, MO & MA: Boulevard Brewing Company to expand to Massachusetts

Boulevard Brewing Company, one of the largest craft brewers in the Midwest, is preparing to dip its toes into the Atlantic, with a September rollout planned for the state of Massachusetts, local media reported on August, 22.

Boulevard has enjoyed success in the Pacific Northwest, and seeks to balance the geographic scales by introducing the brewery’s Smokestack Series – a line of small-batch artisan beers – to part of the Northeast.

“Adding an East Coast market to our distribution portfolio is a big step for the brewery,” said John McDonald, Boulevard founder and president. “The craft beer movement in New England continues to gain momentum, and we are eager to see how our brands will play in that part of the country.”

All year-round, seasonal, and limited-release Smokestack Series beers will be available, some in 750ml bottles and others in 12-ounce four-packs. Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale will also be sold in five-gallon kegs, providing bars and restaurants the opportunity to serve a domestically produced Belgian Saison-style beer on tap. Boulevard will be widely distributed throughout Boston, and will be marketed statewide through the Massachusetts Beverage Alliance (MBA).

“We are very excited that Boulevard Brewing Company has chosen us to represent their brands,” said Bill Burke, president of Burke Distributing of Boston. “They are the first supplier to sign on with MBA, our recently formed distributor network, and we are fully committed to their success. Working with an organization like Boulevard, known for their integrity as well as their fine beer, is a real honor for us, and we look forward to a long relationship.”

While Boulevard looks east, back home in Kansas City the company is set to embark on another brewery expansion in October. A six-month, $3 mln project will remove six original 105-barrel fermentation tanks, replacing them with eight 300-barrel vessels built in neighboring Springfield, Missouri. Upon completion, Boulevard’s annual fermentation capacity will jump by approximately 20 percent, to wellover 200,000 barrels per year.

About Boulevard Brewing Company

Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be one of the largest specialty brewers in the Midwest, dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard’s portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers is available in fourteen states, primarily in the Midwest, with select offerings distributed in an additional six states.


24 August, 2011