Cover Story

10 years of steady growth

By Dustin S. Klein

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Here is a history of modest expansion at Great Lakes Brewing Co.:

• 1990: Eases production bottleneck by installing four-bottle line—ending the slow process of bottling by hand and increasing capacity from 30 cases/day to 200—enough to allow brewing of 1,500 barrels/year.

  Investment: $30,000.

• 1992-93: Two-phase expansion comprises purchase of parking lot and two buildings—the Market Avenue structure where the brewpub is located and the shuttered Fries & Sheule Department Store building directly behind it. A third brewing vessel is added to original pair, plus extra fermentation tanks. Capacity grows twice, from 1,500 barrels/year to 2,500, and then to 5,000—testing limits of bottling line.

  Investment: $250,000.

• 1995: Adds five 30-barrel fermenters, six fermenting/aging tanks and two 90-barrel beer tanks. Increases brewing capacity to 12,500/year.

  Investment: $750,000.

• 1995: Installs 250-case/hour bottling line, with top end of 50,000 barrels/year.

  Investment: $500,000.

• 1998: Builds 65,000 square-foot brewing facility in old Schlather Brewing Co. Capacity reaches 30,000 barrels/year with room for growth.

  Investment: $6.5 million.