After more than two years, Oregon’s Laurelwood Brewing will end its contract brewing relationship with Craft Brew Alliance and shift production to Full Sail Brewing, the company announced today.
In a press statement, Laurelwood founder Mike De Kalb said he expects Full Sail, which is based in Hood River, Ore., to take over production in Spring 2016.
“We are excited about this opportunity to move our brewing closer to our Oregon home and to work with industry recognized leaders in craft brewing,” he said.
Full Sail Brewing has dabbled in contract brewing in the past — it used to produce the Henry Weinhard’s brand for MillerCoors between 2003 — 2013.
Since 2013, Laurelwood had been making a majority of its packaged beer at CBA brewery in Woodinville, Washington. Year-to-date, the company had produced 13,500 barrels of its flagship offerings, including Workhorse IPA, Free Range Red and Vinter Varmer Brown Ale.
Scott Mennen, CBA’s vice president of operations, described the decision as a “mutual parting of ways.”
“It’s not where we want to be spending our energy,” he said. “We want to be spending our energy around our partners, developing our partner brands and developing our own beers.”
For CBA, the decision to end its contract relationship with Laurelwood is part of a broader effort to rebalance production of its own brands as well as partner brands like Appalachian Mountain Brewing and Cisco Brewers, across multiple U.S. brewing facilities. Beginning in January, CBA will expand production capabilities at its headquarters in Portland, Ore., and ramp up contract production for both AMB and Cisco.
Founded in 2001, Laurelwood currently operates multiple locations in Portland, Ore., including two pubs at the Portland International Airport. Laurelwood products are currently sold in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Pennsylvania.