We know that life finds a way, but we dare say that breweries do too. Think about how hard it is to run a brewery and brew quality beer — the capital investment and the delicate science. Then of course, depending on the state, the regulatory barriers in the way. Oh, and of course, there is the monopolistic forces of Beer Voltron.
And yet, breweries find a way, like these four breweries — Elk Valley Brewing Co., Kolibri Ale Works, Angry Scotsman Brewing Co. and Vanessa House Brewing Co. — that have all joined on to brew at a cooperative brewery, OKCity Brewing, in Oklahoma City.
The concept of a few breweries brewing on the same equipment isn’t a novel idea — plenty of brewers go the contract route — but we thought the location (Oklahoma has some tough regulations) and the mix of breweries involved was interesting.
From Tulsa World:
“The barriers of entry into the brewing industry are substantial, largely because of the high cost of brewing equipment,” said [Brad Stumph, formerly of Black Mesa Brewing Co. and owner of OKCity Brewing]. “By providing a fully outfitted place to hone their craft, I hope to give aspiring brewers an outlet and a less risky option for learning the business of running a brewery. I’d like craft beer enthusiasts to see this facility as an ongoing preview of the Oklahoma brewing industry’s future.”
The mix of breweries taking part in the co-op right now is varied and cool: One is opening a facility near downtown soon but wants to get its first commercial brews going, another is relocating from a different city, another is just looking for the extra capacity to find a wider audience. Who knows what these fledgling companies would have done without having this option available. I mean, they would have found a way, but this made things a little less harrowing.
