Victory Brewing Company continues to grow as consumer preference for craft beer exhibits strengthening momentum. On August 3 and 5, eight giant 440 barrel fermenters will be delivered and installed to Victory Brewing Company, joining the four that were installed just 10 and a half months previously.
The Brewers Association of Boulder, CO reports that the craft brewing industry experienced 7.2% volume growth in 2009 over 5.9% volume growth in 2008. Overall, US beer sales closed 2009 down 2.2% with the import category down 9.8%. Currently this year craft beer sales are trending 7 – 9% over 2009, various industry sources report. Impressively, Victory Brewing Company’s wholesale shipments for 2010 currently stand at 24% over 2009.
“Craft beer consumers, and particularly Victory fans, are demonstrating very clearly that quality craft beer is deserving of their time, attention and hard-earned dollars,” noted Victory co-founder and co-Brewmaster, Bill Covaleski. “Over 14 years our consumers’ thirst has presented Victory with opportunities for production capacity growth. It’s both an opportunity and an obligation that we enthusiastically embrace.” adds Ron Barchet, Victory co-founder and co-Brewmaster.
These eight fermenters are capable of boosting Victory’s beer production capacity by 50%, or 33,000 barrels per year. This sets total capacity at approximately 100,000 barrels. Both Barchet and Covaleski concede that this expansion is not without risk.
“We needed four tanks immediately, but market conditions made buying the eight together an undeniably smart deal.” observed Barchet. “We remain confident in both our established customer loyalties and exciting new opportunities that we continue to create,” Covaleski added.
In defining these new opportunities, Covaleski pointed to the recent success of Summer Love Ale, a venture initiated by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC). GPTMC sought an acclaimed area brewery to represent Philadelphia regionally with a creatively flavorful ale to offer as a tourism draw, indicative of Philadelphia’s vibrant craft beer scene. Summer Love Ale production was doubled over its initial expectation and has garnered the attention of Food & Wine, Washington Post online, and Modern Brewery Age.
These thermally-protected, energy efficient fermenters’ temperature sensors, monitoring and pumps will be powered with photovoltaic electricity, generated by Victory’s soon-to-be-installed 67 Kw solar array in keeping with the company’s ethic of low environmental impact manufacturing.
ABOUT VICTORY BREWING COMPANY
Victory Brewing Company is a privately held microbrewery located in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Begun by Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet, childhood friends who met on a school bus in 1973, the brewery formally began operations in February of 1996. Victory, Pennsylvania’s widely acclaimed brewery and restaurant, now serves fans of fully flavored beers in 29 states with innovative beers melding European ingredients and technology with American creativity. Victory Brewing Company is currently ranked as the 30th largest Craft brewery and 41st largest brewery in the United States. To learn more about Victory Brewing Company please visit www.victorybeer.com.
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