Oskar Blues Brewery, the Longmont Colorado- based craft brewery that helped pioneer the packaging of craft beer in cans, keeps growing and expanding across the United States.
Oskar Blues racked up record production in 2012, with 85,750 barrels of beer brewed at its Colorado headquarters. A major reason for the growth was the expansion of Oskar Blues beer into more markets, namely Ohio, Alabama, and parts of Kentucky and Illinois. Now, just a couple of weeks shy of spring, Oskar Blues has announced yet another new market- the state of Michigan. The wolverine state is already known as a haven for great craft breweries and its citizens are spoiled by the likes of Bell’s, Founders Brewing, and others. Michigan natives demand craft beer greatness, and Oskar Blues plans to deliver when it rolls out Dale’s Pale Ale, G’Knight, Deviant IPA, and the seasonal beer GUBNA Imperial IPA to Michigan in a few weeks.
Estimates call for about 125,000 cases (more than 9,000 barrels) of beer sold in Michigan in 2013. This might sound overly ambitious, but Oskar Blues has experienced similar success in nearby states and there is no reason to expect that Michigan will not deliver similar results.
With the addition of Michigan and other states planned for the year, Oskar Blues is poised to reach production of around 128,000 barrels in 2013. If the preliminary figures come true, it would represent an increase of about 50 percent over the 2012 production level- an incredible growth achievement for any business.
Aiding in the production demands is the new Oskar Blues brewery and taproom in Brevard, North Carolina. This facility started operations in January, 2013 and offers a much- needed boost to the brewery’s expanding demands. Not only will the new brewery afford the Longmont facility some much needed breathing room, it will also result in fresher beer delivered to Oskar Blues customers on the east coast.
Oskar Blues Brewing is now approaching its 16th birthday and its growth over the past few years is a testament to the brewery’s commitment to quality and, some would argue, its decision to package in cans- a move that helped distinguish Oskar Blues products from others on the increasingly crowded craft beer shelves across the nation. The use of cans is much more accepted in craft beer circles today, but we can thank Oskar Blues Brewing for serving as the catalyst for change.
Look for Oskar Blues products at a craft beer store near you or use the Oskar Blues beer locator feature within the website (logon to main page, click “About Us”, then choose “Beer Locator”) to find a retail outlet selling Oskar Blues products. And enjoy the many delicious and award- winning products from this Colorado- headquartered craft brewing operation.
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