Friday, December 21, 2007

More News from Lancaster Brewing Company (LBC)




I read in the Ale Street News that a Major Expansion is being planned at LBC. The article noted an interview with director of sales and marketing, John Frantz with Ale Street News having exclusivity in breaking this news.

It seems that LBC bottling will be returning to Lancaster. The beer is currently bottled under contract by Lionshead or Lions brewery in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. LBC is hoping to close on 90,000 sq. feet of warehouse on N. Plum street and Liberty street that was once a Hanover Foods Corp. warehouse. The vision for this new bottling and packaging facility is to have it be "green" or environmentally-friendly. The long term goal is to have the main operation based in this new space by 2010 with the brewpub continuing to produce beer for consumption in house and take away growlers.

The new focus MAY mean that there will be a shift in ownership from the Keares family, who rescued Lancaster Malt Brewing Co. from bankruptcy in 2002, to an ownership group led by Franz and current brewmaster Christian Heim. The article states that they hope to expand distribution into Delaware, NY state, Virginia and perhaps New England.
LBC also plans on bottling Rare Rooster Rye Ale as a summer seasonal release and Franklin's Freedom Fest for year round availability. My hope that Baltic Porter brewing season is expanded.
If I hate my job perhaps I can get a job and walk to work at the Bottling plant just like Laverne and Shirley......One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated.....


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BEER!!! love this blog site

bubba

Gerry said...

I was at LBC on Sunday and the pickings were slim. Down to 4 taps. Apparently the Winter Warmer, which takes more time to ferment, is taking up tank space. Expansion is necessary. And bring back the Baltic Porter!