Beer City Glass breaks into craft industry

Beer City Glass breaks into craft industry

Beer City Glass offers screen printing capabilities to craft beer manufacturers of all shapes, sizes and colors. Photo courtesy Beer City Glass

With the craft beer, wine and spirit industries booming, auxiliary businesses are now popping up to support the effort.

Haviland Enterprises saw an opening and struck with its new division, Beer City Glass. The company sees itself as craft printers for the craft beverage industry, said John Bereza, Beer City Glass marketing manager.

“Haviland was already doing some of the screen-printing work,” Bereza said. “And we absorbed the screen printer that we worked with and they were already doing some of the growlers, so we rebranded as Beer City Glass and jumped on board with what they were already doing.”

Along with the rebranding, Beer City Glass also expanded its printing capabilities and product offerings, including colored growlers, handled 32 oz. howlers and plastic howlers.

“The new translucent-colored glass and plastic offerings give us a unique position, especially in the beer growler market,” Bereza said. “Our customers now have an opportunity to offer their patrons some really great new options.”

The company already has more than 40 clients, including Founders Brewing Co. and Brewery Vivant, but with recent law changes that client base has grown.

“It’s perfect timing for us,” Bereza said. “With the new growler laws passed last week, it opens up to bars and restaurants.”

But the craft industry boom isn’t just about beer, Bereza said. The movement also is growing in other sectors such as cider and liquors. Add the first sector of the movement — wine — and the craft alcohol industry is helping out many other industries from farming and transportation to screen-printing.

According to Jay Ross, the company’s sales and design manager, screen-printing is well ahead of the curve.

“We help develop a quality brand name for craft brewers, wineries and national chains alike,” Ross said. “Applied labels do not even compare.”

Bereza cited Valentine Vodka in Detroit as one of the firm’s major clients.

Beer City Glass also offers in-house design services for everything from the bottles to six pack carriers and brochures. The screen-printing process can be used on most containers in small and large quantities.

“The Michigan craft industry is booming,” Bereza said. “It gives people an opportunity to get out of the normal industries and allows them to create something they enjoy.

“We enjoy craft bottle printing, and we get excited about the empty containers.”