To meet a growing demand for its beers, San Jose, Calif.-based Strike Brewing Co. announced it will build its own brick-and-mortar brewing facility.
Launched in December, 2011, the company had previously been contract brewing at Hermitage Brewing in San Jose.
“Our contract brewing partner was great to work with but we wanted more freedom to test experimental and seasonal beers,” said Jenny Lewis, the company CEO and co-founder.
Strike has already begun construction on a 6,000 sq. ft. warehouse space that will house its new 15-barrel brewhouse and four fermentation tanks. The company said it will have an initial capacity of 2,000 barrels with space for a bottling line, barrel-aging and a taproom. Lewis said she hopes the space will be functional in the first quarter of next year.
“We’ve earned some great local chain distribution and added more distributors that we’d like to provide a consistent supply of beer,” she said. “Once we are in our own space, we will be able to forecast our sales better.”
Strike recently launched 22 oz. packages in three Bay Area Costco outlets and 30 Safeway accounts, but Lewis said those numbers could grow with the added capacity.
“Our biggest problem right now is keeping beer in stock,” she said. “We want to ask for additional placements but need to be able supply the proper volume.”
To help finance the project, Lewis said the company secured approximately $1 million from local private investors and small business loans.
Additional details are included in the press release below.
San Jose, CA — Strike Brewing Co. is pleased to announce it has chosen a site in south San Jose, CA as home for its regional brewery. Strike has leased approximately 5800 square feet at 2099 South 10th St., San Jose, where they will begin building their brewery. The brewery is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2014.
“We are truly pleased to have secured this location. It has been a long time coming. But over the past year, we, our suppliers, the real estate agents and our landlord have worked long and hard to make this happen. As we have maintained all along, Strike has been committed to locate in Silicon Valley for a long list of reasons. And this is now a reality,” says Jenny Lewis, Strike co-founder and CEO.
This new facility will add much needed capacity and flexibility for one of Silicon Valley’s newest and fastest growing craft breweries. Strike Brewing’s regional distribution has been growing at a fast pace. Much of this new capacity will be dedicated to improving the availability of Strike’s award winning session beers, Strike Imperial Red, as well as the immensely popular Strike IPA. Strike’s brewing team though is equally excited about the process control, flexibility and time-to-market benefits the new facility offers.
“Now the sky is the limit for the types of beers we’ll be able to brew,” says Strike’s Brewmaster, Drew Ehrlich. “I can’t wait to create some more interesting seasonals, play around developing a house yeast, maybe throw some of our flagships in some barrels, or even beta test some sours. We’ll have the opportunity to do more small batch beers, while continuing to focus on our session and year round beers’ west coast roll outs as well.”
Once the brewery is open, future plans also call to have a tasting room on site where Strike beers can be sampled after taking a tour. However, six packs and kegs will be available for purchase on site as soon as brewing commences. This brewery build out also means the Strike sessionable Porter and Wit will return in 2014.
Currently Strike beers are distributed by DBI, Inc. in Santa Clara County and by So Cal Beverage in Southern California. Strike plans to add more distribution partners over the coming months as production ramps up.
About Strike Brewing Co.
Strike Brewing Co. was launched in December 2011 by three avid athletes who had a passion for craft beer and bringing a new brand to the Bay Area. They realized adventurers, explorers and competitors sought authentic beers with flavor and character. Strike beers are intended to be enjoyed amongst friends in good times and celebration. Our beers have been chosen and brewed not to quench the “fire within” but to reward and fuel it. For more information see www.StrikeBrewingCo.com