New production facility on tap for brewery

New production facility on tap for brewery

Holland-based Big Lake Brewing produces handcrafted beer and wine. Photo via fb.com

A brewery in the region is opening a new production facility.

Big Lake Brewing Co. in Holland announced Monday it will expand into an off-site production facility at 164 E. 19th St. in Holland.

The company has a budget for equipment and construction of $350,000, according to co-owner Nic Winsemius.

The new 15-barrel brewing system will help increase the brewery’s production to approximately 4,000 barrels annually. A barrel is approximately 31 gallons. Big Lake’s distribution production will be moved to the new facility, as will packaging, and the original 7-barrel brew system installed at the taproom, 977 Butternut Drive, will be used to create specialty taproom beers.

“By adding the additional brewhouse, it will allow us to expand our distribution footprint in Michigan. With the added capacity, we’ll be able to provide more beers to more bars and stores throughout the state,” said Winsemius, who co-founded the company in 2013 with Travis Prueter and Greg MacKeller.

Since opening, Big Lake has tripled production each year, according to the press release. Currently, Big Lake beers can be found at more than 150 retail stores and bars across Michigan, including its four flagship beers: Ryecoe IPA, Citra Session, Darkstar Stout and Leroy Brown.

“Right now, we have statewide distribution of three of our mainstay beers, plus our seasonal release of Darkstar, and the demand continues to increase,” MacKeller said. “This will actually be the third time in three years that we have tripled our brewing capacity. Good things really do come in threes; we’re also getting ready to celebrate our third anniversary in July.”