E-Malt.com News article: USA, NY: New Buffalo Brewing Co. to build its own production facility

New Buffalo Brewing Co., which opened in 2011 and sold its first beer last year, is looking to build its own production facility, bizjournals.com reported on November, 19.

Owner Bill Campbell founded New Buffalo Brewing Co. while serving in the U.S. Air Force from 2008 to 2012. He estimates that he's spent about $250,000 on the company, which employs three and makes beers with the names Big Fish Bitters, Iron Road IPA and Saloon Boss Brown.

To get his Clarence-based business off the ground, Campbell took advantage of many U.S. Small Business Administration free programs and services available to military veterans and those wanting to start or grow their business.

He obtained an SBA-guaranteed loan through Evans Bank that allowed his company to purchase additional equipment and provided him with working capital. The SBA also provided him the support and technical assistance needed.

He also worked with the Small Business Development Center at Buffalo State College to develop his business plan.

New Buffalo Brewing's beers are distributed through Try-It Distributing Co., and can be found in area grocery stores, bars and restaurants, which has attracted a growing list of new customers.

As a result, Campbell would like to build his own production facility closer to home. Currently, he drives four-and-a-half hours to Olde Saratoga Brewing Co. in Saratoga Springs to make his beer.

"We want to brew in-house and do everything here in Western New York," he said. "I do product development here, then once a month drive to Olde Saratoga and contract brew beer there."

Campbell said that the company would be looking to raise about $1 mln for the facility, and that it doesn't necessarily need to remain in Clarence.

He estimates that New Buffalo Brewing has about $250,000 in sales, and that it has brewed just over 800 barrels of beer since he started.



21 November, 2014