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Is ‘local’ the next ‘craft?’ Big Lake Brewing adds Michigan-only brewery seal

December 4, 2019Pretty Much a Press Release

Big Lake Brewing, one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in Michigan, is expanding brewing capacity again, doubling their capacity in the last calendar year. The Holland-based brewery is adding three more tanks next month, increasing the brewery’s overall output capacity to 7,000 barrels per year. It’s also squarely focused on its home state, and only its home state.

This month, Big Lake solidified that stance by adding a new “Michigan-only brewery” seal to every can, signifying that Big Lake beer is brewed in Michigan, for distribution only in the state of Michigan.

“We believe in our state, and are so thankful to Michiganders who have helped us grow by drinking our beer,” said Travis Prueter, co-founder of Big Lake Brewing. “Big Lake is growing by pioneering our own style and identity, and it’s important to us to stay independent, and keep that growth right here in Michigan.”

Big Lake recently landed on the Brewers Association list of fastest-growing independent and craft breweries in the United States, one of only two Michigan breweries on the list. The brewery currently has distribution across the entire state, in retail stores through Imperial Beverage, and on draft in bars and restaurants.

Big Lake Brewing opened in 2013 on Butternut Drive in Holland Township, and began expanding in 2016 with the purchase of a production facility in the city of Holland, which immediately tripled production capacity. In 2017, Big Lake purchased their current taproom at 13 W. 7th Street in downtown Holland, opening the 200-seat taproom with an outdoor patio and launching a full lunch and dinner menu featuring food crafted much like their beer – from scratch and with the best ingredients, sourced locally in season. 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tommy Zografos says

    December 4, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    Michigan only, Michigan forever….Hmmm..I wonder where else I heard that…… 🙄

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  2. Scott Davidson says

    December 4, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Yes.

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  3. William Lane says

    December 4, 2019 at 11:20 am

    And what would the benefit be if only selling in your home state? Exclusivity leads to more demand?

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    • Shawn Heider says

      December 4, 2019 at 11:47 am

      William Lane Controlled growth. No need to take on big debt or make distribution agreements with nationwide breweries. Sales growth doesn’t always equal profit growth. New Glarus is debt free or carrying a very minimal amount of debt because they grew as sales dictated, not growth to expand distribution and hope for more sales. Plus the exclusivity doesn’t hurt.

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  4. Rick Boyd says

    December 4, 2019 at 11:18 am

    Few breweries have managed to replicate the New Glarus model.

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    • Shawn Heider says

      December 4, 2019 at 11:49 am

      Rick Boyd It helps that Dan & Deb Carey didn’t start a brewery to see how big they could become or make as much money as they could. They just wanted to do things their way and luckily people liked the products.

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    • Rick Boyd says

      December 4, 2019 at 11:50 am

      Shawn Heider I don’t know of anyone that starts a brewery to sell out but opportunity sometimes knocks. Once you have shareholders you are at their mercy. Fat Tire is a great example of this

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