• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

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. 

Here’s a video recap of 2020 from Deep Ellum Brewing, complete with dubstep score
Craft Brewers Conference attendees
Craft Brewers Conference rescheduled for Sept., moves from San Diego to Denver, may go online as a backup
Brooklyn-based Threes Brewing opens Huntington, N.Y., beer store and (eventually) on-premise operation
Perrin Brewing Ice Jammin
Marketing idea of the week: Perrin Brewing’s annual Ice Jam (at-home)

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…… 🙄

    Log in to Reply
  2. Scott Davidson says

    December 4, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Yes.

    Log in to Reply
  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?

    Log in to Reply
    • 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.

      Log in to Reply
  4. Rick Boyd says

    December 4, 2019 at 11:18 am

    Few breweries have managed to replicate the New Glarus model.

    Log in to Reply
    • 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.

      Log in to Reply
    • 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

      Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Beer rebrands continue: Ballast Point, Fremont, New Glory and Blue Point (also, enjoy some tips for your refresh)
  • Colorado Strong launches public awareness campaign to help independent breweries
  • Here’s a video recap of 2020 from Deep Ellum Brewing, complete with dubstep score
  • Malt maker Rahr purchases all of eco energy maker Koda

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • Beer rebrands continue: Ballast Point, Fremont, New Glory and Blue Point (also, enjoy some tips for your refresh)
    January 21, 2021
  • virginia-beer-co-renovationHow Virginia Beer Co. used the shutdown to overhaul its facility (and keep people employed)
    January 19, 2021
  • Clean air, clean beer: New Ingersoll Rand oil-less reciprocating air compressors are ideal for breweries (aeration to canning)
    January 18, 2021
  • Non-alcoholic beer brand Athletic Brewing closes $17M+ in funding with famous backers, selects Crafted ERP, eyes big growth
    January 18, 2021
  • Watch: This awareness video on human trafficking from beer wholesaler Markstein Sales will move you to action
    January 14, 2021
  • Distribution updates: Massachusetts brewers celebrate franchise reform, Yuengling goes to Texas with Molson Coors and more from Bell’s, Stone and beyond
    January 14, 2021

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2021 · CBB Media LLC

Continue ...

sponsored by