Here is a history of modest expansion at Great Lakes Brewing Co.:
- 1990: Eases production bottleneck by installing four-bottle
line—ending the slow process of bottling by hand and increasing
capacity from 30 cases/day to 200—enough to allow brewing of 1,500
barrels/year.Investment: $30,000.
- 1992-93: Two-phase expansion comprises purchase of parking lot and two
buildings—the Market Avenue structure where the brewpub is located and
the shuttered Fries & Sheule Department Store building directly behind
it. A third brewing vessel is added to original pair, plus extra
fermentation tanks. Capacity grows twice, from 1,500 barrels/year to 2,500,
and then to 5,000—testing limits of bottling line.Investment: $250,000.
- 1995: Adds five 30-barrel fermenters, six fermenting/aging tanks and
two 90-barrel beer tanks. Increases brewing capacity to 12,500/year.Investment: $750,000.
- 1995: Installs 250-case/hour bottling line, with top end of 50,000
barrels/year.Investment: $500,000.
- 1998: Builds 65,000 square-foot brewing facility in old Schlather
Brewing Co. Capacity reaches 30,000 barrels/year with room for growth.Investment: $6.5 million.