• 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

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

Minhas Craft Brewery to brew first batches this week after Nov. fire

January 20, 2014Keith Gribbins

Minhas Logo
In 2012, Minhas Craft Brewery was the 11th largest in the United States overall, according to the Brewers Association (but is not considered a craft brewery by the association’s definition).

In late November, we reported that the second oldest craft brewery in the United States was inflicted with considerable damage from a fire. The fire was contained primarily to a stairwell in Monroe, Wis.’s legendary Minhas Craft Brewery and is believed to have started from a malfunctioning machine that was being used to spray foam coating on the walls, which is adjacent to the rooms that hold the brewery’s fermentation tanks. Damage was initially estimated at $500,000, but according to this article on the Wisconsin State Journal, that number has sky rocketed to $2 million.

“We have taken all measures to ensure that our brewery comes back from the fire better than ever,” [Brewery President Gary] Olson said, noting that about 100 tradespeople and other workers have been laboring around the clock to clean, repair, replace and inspect damaged areas.

The article notes that Minhas plans to start making new batches of beer this very week. Minhas is located in the beautiful little town of Monroe in southwestern Wisconsin. The “Brewery in Monroe” has been owned (in various forms and names) over the last 160 years by some of the most prominent citizens of the area — first and second generation immigrants, tracing their origins from Switzerland, France, Britain, Germany and Denmark.

It was founded way back in 1845, but today the brewery is a behemoth. In 2012, Minhas Craft Brewery was the 11th largest in the United States overall, according to the Brewers Association (but is not considered a craft brewery by the association’s definition), brewing brands like Boxer Lager, Mountain Crest and Lazy Mutt (along with lots of contract brewing). What’s the plan now?

Olson said he expected the brewery to be back to normal supply levels a few weeks after brewing resumes the week of Jan. 20, with shipping to start immediately after that beer is bottled and packaged. Olson said the shipping schedule will be about five weeks sooner than a previously announced shipping-resumption date during the week of March 2.

fire generic
Legendary Minhas brewery catches fire, $500,000 in damage
CCBA California Craft Beer Summit
State of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
brewers-board-of-directors
Meet the 2023 Brewers Association Board of Directors
San Diego selected as site for 2023 Homebrew Con

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • State of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
  • MicroStar Logistics launches Network Services Division to manage reusable plastic pallets for the beer Industry
  • Analyst speculates on Heineken acquiring Boston Beer, stock jumps
  • United States Bartenders’ Guild now has access to WOTVS Hospitality Assistance Program

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • CCBA California Craft Beer SummitState of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
    March 23, 2023
  • Koga-brothers-karben4Karben4 Brewing to relaunch Ale Asylum brand
    March 20, 2023
  • 4 steps to understanding the filtration process in craft beer
    March 20, 2023
  • newbelgium_2023_wildnectar-shopping-basket_family_IMG_2Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails
    March 16, 2023
  • brooklyn 35 featureBrooklyn Lager turns 35 and more beers to know this week
    March 14, 2023
  • Backwoods Brewing to open a 19-acre resort called Party Acres in the Columbia River gorge this May
    March 13, 2023

Footer

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

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC