E-Malt.com News article: USA, MD: Clipper City Brewing Co. expands production to meet heavy demand for its beers

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon, the flagship beer of Clipper City Brewing Co., hasn't stayed on shelves of stores across 18 states and Washington, D.C., for long, Baltimoresun.com reported on August, 6.

The thirst of beer drinkers for the India pale-ale-style beer showed no signs of diminishing this year as it made up nearly 50 percent of the brewery's sales, according to a company spokeswoman, Kelly Zimmerman.

To meet the demand, the Halethorpe-based brewery stopped production of its imperial cream ale, called Davey Jones Lager, until next summer.

The brewery also decided to make its saison, Red Sky at Night, available only in sampler packs.

Unable to satisfy beer drinkers up and down the East Coast and as far west as Michigan, the brewery, begun by former Sisson's owner Hugh Sisson, began a two-year expansion July, 1.

In its second expansion in less than a year, the brewery added 15,000 square feet to become a 40,000-square-foot facility, enabling it to more than double its beer production through increased speed and more fermenting equipment.

"More space translates to better efficiency of current procedures," Zimmerman said. "This translates into more jobs and paid taxes into our community."

In August 2011, the brewery added 10,000 square feet of space to its 15,000-square-foot facility for shipping and receiving, Zimmerman said.

The expansion should allow the company to brew more of its winter seasonal, Heavy Storm.

In 2010, the brewery produced 17,000 barrels of beer. Each barrel holds 31 gallons.

After its first expansion, the brewery transitioned from a single-shift brewing schedule to one that operates 24 hours a day for five days a week, Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman estimated the brewery would be able to produce 80,000 to 100,000 barrels per year once the expansion is completed.

Despite the increase in production accompanying the expansion, Zimmerman said the company has no plans to increase its distribution range for at least the next 18 months.

So that means those outside the mid-Atlantic region will have to do without.


07 August, 2012