Brewery to expand capacity by 300pc
A brewery will expand its capacity by more than 300 per cent after increasing beer production by more than a third in a year.
A brewery will expand its capacity by more than 300 per cent after increasing beer production by more than a third in a year.
The Backyard Brewhouse in Brownhills has produced 35 per cent more ale in 2011 compared with 2010, and picked up three major awards through the year to boot.
The £200,000 expansion will see the brewery, in Lichfield Road, grow from 1,400sqft to 2,500 sq ft, and will mean the existing five-barrel plant will be replaced with a 12 barrel brew house. It will allow the firm to produce 50 barrels, or 14,500 pints a week. Its current capacity is 15 barrels.
The premises will also see a transformation with the construction of a new cold storage area to meet the demands of the larger capacity, new offices and staff facilities and the building or an analytical laboratory.
Demolition work has already started at the site, and building work will start in the coming weeks.
Director Austen Morgan said: "We are hoping to take on at least one more person in the near future, although we are still in the planning stages and it's a little bit open.
"The sector generally is fairly buoyant, and there's definitely still growth in cask ales."
"With such a major expansion, it's been very carefully planned out."
He added: "This investment in premises and equipment will enable us to meet the ever growing demand for our beers both locally and further afield.
"The additional capacity will allow us to secure contracts with such chains as Punch Taverns, Wetherspoons and Ember Inns, as well as increasing our relationships with wholesale distributors."
The company picked up an award as the national champion of bitters and pale ales at the Society of Independent Brewers final for its acclaimed Hoard bitter.
In October at the SIBA Midlands beer competition, it came away with both bronze and gold awards for its ales.
