With the installation of two new 60-barrel fermenters last week, Bemidji Brewing Company is getting ready to enter the retail market this summer with two beers in 12oz cans.
Bemidji Brewing co-owner Megan Hill said they were hoping to begin canning soon after moving into a larger space and upgrading from a three-barrel to a 15-barrel brewhouse in April 2016, but as has been the case for the brewery since they opened about four years ago, strong demand at their taproom did not allow for it.
With the added fermentation space, Bemidji will finally be able to brew enough of their best-selling German Blonde and IPA to meet both taproom demand and send packaged beer outside the city limits of Bemidji.
Related post — Brewer Profile: Tom Hill of Bemidji Brewing
Look for six-packs of Bemidji’s German Blonde (bronze metal winner at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival & 2016 World beer Cup) and classic IPA to begin showing up on store shelves in Bemidji, Park Rapids, and Walker in early July. The two beers will be available year-round in cans, with the potential of seasonal releases and an expanded geographical distribution footprint to come, said Hill.
Bemidji will be self distributing their beer and using mobile canning operation Lagersmith to begin with. The brewery worked with Bemidji-based creative agency, Evolve Creative, on the can designs.
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