Oskar Blues Brewery announces 38-percent mid-year growth

Hot on the heels of the craft brewing economic update from the Brewers Association, Oskar Blues Brewery announced its explosive growth, posting a 38 percent increase in depletions over the past six months. The Brewers Association press release announced a 13 percent industry wide volume increase during the same period, with Oskar Blues outpacing industry volume growth by 25 percent. This follows eight years of consecutive double digit growth (triple digit growth before that).

Oskar Blues’ continued growth has been fueled by the addition of their Tasty Weasel Taproom & Brevard, N.C.-brewery that began brewing in December 2012. The Oskar Blues Brevard brewery shipped more than 1.2 million cans to 15 states in the month of June labeled “Brevard, North Carolina.” The new brewery is growing to meet demand and is already on track to brew more than 50,000 barrels (bbls) of beer in its first production year.

Colorado’s funky little brewpub has grown to be the largest American craft brewery to package beer exclusively in cans, producing 85,750 bbls of beer in 2012 while climbing to 27th on the Brewers Association Top 50 Breweries list released in April.

“Continuing to push the boundaries is what gets us up in the morning; it’s what drives us. The 19.2 oz package is a product of that drive and passion. We continue to do what we love, toss a can in your backpack for the backcountry or a grab a stovepipe (19.2 oz) at music and sport venues,” said Oskar Blues Soul-Founder Dale Katechis.

Innovation continues to drive the brewery. Dale’s Pale Ale was released nationwide as the first American beer in the single-serve 19.2 oz “Imperial Pint” can to kick off 2013. Mama’s Little Yella Pils followed in Ball Corp.’s 19.2 oz “Imperial Pint” can in April. Arizona spring training baseball stadiums, Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater and Fillmore Auditorium along with Chicago’s House of Blues are top drivers for the new single serve package.