Crazy Mountain Brewing Co.’s rapid growth and recent spike in international demand is requiring the Colorado brewery to increase its production capacity by the end of 2013. Not quite four years old, Vail Valley’s first production brewery is undergoing another expansion to to almost double its current capacity from 12,000 barrels (bbls) per year to 20,000 bbls.
Crazy Mountain is currently distributing beer to Colorado, California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, New Mexico, Minnesota, Oregon and internationally to Sweden and Japan, so the demand for beer will only get higher in the near future.
“Our capacity is completely maxed out at the moment, and we can barely keep up with orders,” said Zach Schmitz, national sales director. “While it’s a good problem to have, we need to grow to keep up with demand. We have seen an unbelievable spike in sales over the last six months, which has been extremely exciting and intimidating at the same time.”
This increase in beer production will also lead to the creation of 10 new jobs at Crazy Mountain’s Edwards, Colo., headquarters. The company will be bringing on new production and packaging people to run night shifts so they can brew and bottle/can beer 24 hours a day. The brewery is also expanding its cellar capacity, which will enable it to package more styles of beer, as well as increase the amount of seasonal styles they brew.
After the expansion, Crazy Mountain will be releasing Snowcat Coffee Stout, Lawyers Guns & Money Barleywine and Old Soul Strong Belgian Ale all in six-pack cans. The cans will be available just in time for winter, so consumers can take the cans on whatever outdoor adventure they crave: hitting the slopes; snowshoeing; or hot tub hopping. Crazy Mountain will also be releasing its holiday beer – Bridge Street Holiday Ale – in 22-ounce bombers for the first time.
