It’s always exciting to witness the growth of the beer industry…and today it’s Steven’s Point as they announce their 4th expansion project in 4 years. Details from Steven’s Point:
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (January 30, 2013/mbb/) – Keeping pace with ever-growing demand for its
handcrafted beers, Stevens Point Brewery will launch another expansion this month, its fourth
major expansion project in as many years.
Scheduled for completion in May, the $2 million project will increase the brewery’s annual
production capacity to 150,000 barrels with the addition of a second brew kettle, 16 more unitanks
for fermenting and aging beer, and a new automated grain handling system. The expansion also
includes a new can packer that will allow the brewery to package four-pack and six-pack 12-ounce
can packages for the first time.
“Our sales growth shows no signs of slowing down, so it’s just good business to capitalize on our
momentum in the marketplace and continue to invest in our brewery,” said Joe Martino, Steven’s Point
Brewery Operating Partner. “The key feature of this expansion is the increase in our annual
production capacity from 120,000 barrels to 150,000 barrels. We’ll achieve that milestone when the
n new 200-barrel brew kettle and additional unitanks become operational in April.”
The new 100- and 200-barrel vertical unitanks will be housed in a 5,600-square-foot addition to the
front of the brewery. The new grain handling system will allow bulk deliveries of barley and other
grains to the brewery, providing process efficiencies necessary to support the increased brewing
capacity.
The new state-of-the-art can packer line will significantly increase the speed of its can packaging
operations as well as add four-pack and six-pack production capability to the packaging department,
Martino explained. “Beer in cans, particularly craft beers, is enjoying solid growth, so when the new
can packer is operational we’ll be ready to offer all can-package configurations, from four-packs
and six-packs to 12-packs and 24-packs,” he said.
Fourth expansion since 2010
This latest project is the fourth major expansion undertaken by the 155-year-old brewery since
2010.
Last year, the brewery completed an expansion featuring nine unitanks, two bright beer tanks for
package release beer, a new 7,000-gallon hot water tank and a centrifuge for filtering finished beer.
In 2011, the brewery added 6,600 square feet of warehouse space, five aging tanks and three
fermentation tanks to bring its brewing capacity up to 100,000 barrels per year. In 2010, four aging
tanks were installed and the keg cooler room was expanded by 2,700 square feet.
Success in the marketplace means new jobs, too: Martino said the brewery anticipates additional
workers will be needed once the expansion is completed.
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