E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: St. Francis Brewing Co. looking to add a separate brewery

St. Francis Brewing Co. is looking to add a separate brewery to its brewpub and is considering sites in St. Francis and Milwaukee, Milwaukee Business Journal reported on July 7.

The St. Francis company has ramped up beer production in the last year through a contract with Sand Creek Brewing Co. in Black River Falls and started distributing to grocery stores and restaurants across Wisconsin, said co-owner Rick Michalski. It hopes to build a brewery of 18,000-20,000 square feet at an estimated cost of $8.5 million, and have capacity of 12,000 barrels a year.

The company produced 1,200 barrels of beer in 2013 through its on-site brewery and contract with Sand Creek, and it expects to double production this year, Michalski said.

Its top choice for the brewery is a vacant warehouse the company owns behind its brewpub at 3825 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. It hopes to receive financial incentives from the city of St. Francis such as grants or tax incremental financing, Michalski said. It also has an offer to purchase on a 2-acre lot in the city of Milwaukee, he said.

The brewpub and restaurant opened in April 2009. The company first attempted to build the brewery in 2010 but didn’t reach an agreement with the city of St. Francis, Michalski said.


09 July, 2014