Upper Hand Brewery in Escanaba made a second big announcement, on the heels of adding several new beers to their product line.
Now, the brewery is undertaking a major expansion at their Escanaba facility, adding more than 5,400 square feet in a new construction project starting in July.
The expansion will include another 2,700 square feet of outdoor storage and enable the brewery to triple its output from 5,000 barrels annually to 15,000 barrels. Ten 100-barrel fermenters will be installed with room for more to come, along with added cold storage and warehouse room.
Also on the way: a second whirlpool, improved yeast and grain handling equipment, an additional grain silo, upgrades to hot water production and glycol chilling systems, and, to accompany it all, site work including better freight access and more parking.
The announcement comes just six months after Upper Hand officially opened, signaling some pretty decent demand for their products, which are available both on tap at local bars and restaurants, and in bottles on retail store shelves.
The brewery, owned by Larry Bell of downstate Bell's Brewing, distributes only "above the bridge," i.e. in the U.P. and northern Wisconsin. That area also will expand once the new additions are up and running, he says.
"This expansion will allow us to extend our sales territory beyond the U.P. into northern portions of adjacent states," says Bell.
Writer: Kim Eggleston
Source: Upper Hand Brewery
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