E-Malt.com News article: USA, MI: Big Lake Brewing to triple production and increase distribution in Holland

Big Lake Brewing, a locally-owned microbrewery in Holland, will celebrate its two-year anniversary this week with equipment upgrades, tripling production and a new focus on the business, Holland Sentinel reported on July 1.

"Our expectations are constantly shifting as we go along — two years ago there's no way I would have put us at this point," said Nic Winsemius, brewer and owner of Big Lake Brewing.

The 3,000-square-foot brewery and taproom opened in the Family Fare shopping center in Holland on July 5, 2013.

Early success allowed reinvestment in the business after one month. Owners and brewers Nic Winsemius and Travis Prueter, and owner in charge of wine and cider Greg MacKeller remain committed to reinvestment and growing the business.

"It's a really exciting time," Winsemius said. "Our focus on quality has led us to invest in some laboratory equipment to better ensure consistency, and we will also take delivery of a new seven-barrel brewing system later this month."

The equipment will allow an output of 1,000 barrels a year, or about 19-20 a week. In September 2013, the output was about three barrels a week.

"We've consistently sold all of the product we can make, and this is the fourth time we've increased our capacity," Prueter said.

Staying just under 1,000 barrels a year will allow continued self-distribution. The goal is to stay at 1,000 for about two years, Winsemius said. The next step would be 4,000-5,000 barrels a year.

The brewery got into the business of canning and distributing early this year. Canned and draft Big Lake Brewing brews are available at the Holland taproom, nine restaurants and bars and six small retailers in West Michigan from Holland to Ludington.

The increased capacity will help expand distribution.

With sales on the rise and work to do, both Prueter and Winsemius have left their day jobs as engineers to devote themselves to brewing and business management.

"It was always our goal to work at the brewery full time," Prueter said. "But we didn't expect it to happen this quickly."


03 July, 2015