Boulevard Brewing is making plans to make cans part of their future.
The largest specialty brewer in the Midwest announced that they will soon break ground on a $10 million expansion of its Kansas City brewery --- building a 24,000 square foot, single-story structure, immediately adjacent to the brewery, that will house a canning line designed to fill 350, 12-ounce cans, per minute.
This expansion will set Boulevard up to not only brew, but also can, their own beer on-site in Kansas City for many years to come, and it represents a departure from their current canning practices.
When Boulevard first decided to can their beer in 2014, they contracted with Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring, Minnesota to not only can, but also brew the select beers intended for cans --- a fairly common practice among trusted craft breweries. The gamble paid off, and now Boulevard is investing in the future of their can business.
“Demand for our canned beers has continued to grow since we first offered them in 2014,” said Boulevard brewmaster Steven Pauwels. “Ten years ago it was uncommon to find craft beer in cans, but today it’s a popular package. We’re happy to oblige because cans completely block light, they’re lighter than bottles so easier to transport, and they can go almost anywhere.”
Now, Boulevard will have the option of deciding which beers will, and won’t, be available in cans, since they will be doing everything right off Southwest Boulevard.
Finkle + Williams will serve as the project architect, and Kansas City-based MillerStauch Construction will act as general contractor, and key equipment will be supplied by Krones AG.
The expansion is being overseen by Dali Grabar and Tim Hall, engineering directors for Boulevard. “We have an aggressive schedule,” said Grabar, “but plan to be producing cans by the first quarter of next year.”
Boulevard Brewing Company, 2501 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.474.7095, boulevard.com
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