Oskar Blues Posts 40 Percent Growth in 2011

Oskar BluesLONGMONT, CO – The spirit behind the funky little brew pub that started the Craft Beer-In-A-Can movement nearly 10 years ago continues to fuel the fire for Oskar Blues Brewery. In addition to their beer blessed restaurant locations, the brewery announced the opening of their sustainable Hops & Heifers Farm, began building their own bikes with REEB Cycles, rolled out their own Bonewagon Food Truck and posted a 40% increase in national beer sales in 2011.

The brewery grew from 42,000 barrels in 2010 to 59,000 barrels in 2011 — the 17,000 barrel increase represents nearly the equivalent of what the brewery produced in all of 2008.

What does all of this have to do with the CANundrum of selling craft beer in a can? A lot, if you ask Dale Katechis, the soul-founder of Oskar Blues who was named a 2011 ColoradoBIZ magazine CEO of the year finalist.

“The farm, the bikes, the music are all an extension of what this is all about; doing what you love. It’s important to stay hands-on and passionate. We just hope everyone has as much fun with it as we do.”

The explosive growth moved the brewery into the top 50 American Breweries list (36th Craft Brewery) according to the Brewers Association in 2010.

“We’ve seen a lot of growth, the crew has done a great job learning how to effectively grow” says head brewer Dave Chichura who has been with the company for nearly seven years.

Oskar Blues is well into a more than $4M dollar improvement project to start the year. The project includes two new trench drains, fourteen 200 bbl. fermenters, two 400 bbl. bright beer tanks and a new can line (KHS Filler, Angelus Seamer) that will allow the brewery to double its canning speed and introduce 16oz cans to its line-up.

Deviant Dale’s IPA will be the initial offering in 16 oz. cans in March of 2012. Deviant, a restaurant favorite, won a Silver Medal in the 2011 Great American Beer Festival American-Style IPA category, the most competitive category in the history of the event with 176 entries. The brewery also took home a Silver Medal for Mama’s Little Yella PILS in the Bohemian Pilsener category and a Bronze Medal with Old Chub in the Scotch Ale category.

About Oskar Blues:

Dale Katechis founded the quirky brewpub turned regional craft brewery inside his original restaurant and music venue in 1999. Three-dimensional brewing since 1999, Oskar Blues began the “Canned Beer Apocalypse” in 2002 when Dale’s Pale Ale became America’s 1st CANNED craft beer.