Boulevard Brewing Company

When Boulevard opened its doors in 1989 it began welcoming those interested in touring its brewery and tasting its beers. For years the company offered just one tour a week, often attracting 15 or 20 people. As the company grew in size and stature, so too did demand for its tours, recently ranked by national publications as among the best in the country. In 2015, Boulevard hosted almost 60,000 visitors on some 2,300 tours, turning away thousands more due to lack of space.

It’s been nearly 16 years since Boulevard Brewing altered its appearance, but in an effort to appeal to more consumers in more places, the Kansas City-based brewery is now beginning to test new packaging designs. Over the next several months, the company plans to introduce new labels, designed in partnership with Helms Workshop, a Texas-based strategic design studio that has worked with beverage clients like Austin Beerworks, Spencer Trappist Brewery and Southern Comfort.

Boulevard Brewing today announced it would expand distribution to Arizona and Kentucky, inking deals with two wholesalers — Arizona’s Hensley Beverage Company and Kentucky’s Beer House Distributors.

Recently, some of the biggest headlines in the craft beer industry haven’t been about the beer; they have been about the mergers and acquisitions of the brewers of the beer. With the increased frequency of craft brewery transactions, owners should be thinking about what the future holds for their business (and what could be their most valuable asset). That future may include a transition to a family member, selling only a part of the business in order to fund growth or to allow owners to take some chips off the table or, in the right circumstances, to sell the entire business. Even if you have no immediate plans or desire to sell or transition your business, these tips will help you position your business so that you can take advantage of opportunities and respond to challenges that cause you to rethink your plans.

In an effort to continue providing our audience with valuable insight in areas like finance, investment, branding, marketing, sales, and distribution, we’re excited to introduce “Brewbound Voices,” an avenue for experts to contribute their knowledge to our readership. Kicking off the initiative is Mike McCann, the chairman of Kansas-City-based law firm Spencer Fane’s corporate practice group.

Another top U.S. craft brewery is changing hands. As announced late last night, Duvel Moortgat will add to an impressive roster of American craft brands – one that already includes Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing and New York’s Brewery Ommegang — by “combining” its U.S. operations with California’s fourth largest craft beer company, Firestone Walker Brewing.

After completing an “extensive” internal and external search, Duvel Moortgat USA yesterday announced Bobby Dykstra as its new vice president of the sales. Dykstra, a 12-year beer industry veteran, takes over for Steve Mills, who left to become CEO of Uinta Brewing earlier this month.

Brewbound is pleased to announce that Brew Talks — a traveling meetup series for beer industry professionals — will make its next stop at Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City on May 18. Beer business professionals are invited to join the Kansas City meetup, being held inside of the Muehlebach Suite at the Boulevard Brewing’s production brewery (2501 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108).

Just in time for baseball’s Opening Day, the Kansas City Royals, in collaboration with Boulevard Brewing and Central States Beverage, have announced the opening a craft-centric beer bar featuring more than 75 craft beers. Appropriately dubbed Craft & Draft, Kauffman Stadium’s newest bar will pour offerings from Boulevard, Lagunitas Brewing, Founders Brewing and other local and well-established national craft players.

Boulevard Brewing Company today announced that agreements have been signed with Union Beer Distributors and Craft Brewers Guild of New York, and the Kansas City brewer’s distinctive beers will soon be available on shelves and taps throughout New York City.

Having finalized agreements with seven wholesalers in the state, Boulevard Brewing will expand its distribution throughout South Carolina by the end of the month, the company announced today. The brewery, which was acquired by Belgium-based Duvel Moortgat in 2013, has inked deals with Lee Distributing, Comer Distributing, Greenco Beverage Co., Beverage South, H&S Wholesalers, Better Brands, and Crown Beverages, per company statement.

Kansas City — Boulevard Brewing Company today announced that its “10% for KC“ program will again provide significant funding to three Kansas City non-profit organizations.

Boulevard Brewing has announced plans to expand distribution throughout Florida per an agreement with Brown Distributing, an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler. Boulevard beers will be available to the market beginning early October, according to a statement issued by the company, growing its total distribution footprint to 28 states and the District of Columbia.

For the first time since last May, Kansas City, Mo.-based Boulevard Brewing is expanding its distribution footprint. Boulevard, which was acquired by Belgian-based Duvel Moortgat last October, today announced it will expand into the greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey and has signed agreements with Muller Inc. in Philadelphia and Peerless Beverage Company in New Jersey.