SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- For the first time in 15 years, the Springfield Brewing Company is getting into the mass production game. A group of investors bought the company last November. When the Paul Mueller Company owned it, the brewery itself was mainly just for show. That's certainly not the case now.
"We feel like this was a hidden gem that was underutilized," said Springfield Brewing Company Director of Operations Bryan Bevel.
Things are changing at the Springfield Brewing Company, which is just west of Park Central Square at the corner of Market Avenue at Olive Street.
"Things are really changing. Craft beer is not a movement anymore. It's something that is here to stay. There's huge amounts of support for craft beer from all segments of the market," said Springfield Brewing Company Master Brewer Ashton Lewis.
What started as showcase for Paul Mueller Company steel products and later flourished as a brew pub is moving into mass production.
"We've made moves to bring in staff and bring in personnel to help us along that path and get it out there," said Bevel.
Springfield Brewing Company's presence will now be felt in more than 20 bars and restaurants in the Ozarks, including Quincy Magoo's and Hammons Field.
With the help of Wil Fischer Distributing, they will be distributing bottled beer to more than seven counties.
"Kansas City and St. Louis are emerging as pretty major areas for craft brewing. So it kind of is a natural fit that Springfield is seeing more interest in craft beer," said Lewis.
With the recent success of Mother's Brewery, Springfield Brewing Company hopes to tap into a demand that is on the rise.
"There are over 2,000 craft brewers in the United States today, which is just phenomenal. That's more brewers in the United States than prior to Prohibition, which has never happened before," said Lewis.
"We can put several thousands of barrels of beer on the market that we currently haven't been doing. That's our intention," said Bevel.
KY3 spoke with Mother's Brewery about Springfield Brewing Company moving into the mass production game and its owner welcomes it. Mother's Brewery doesn't look at it as competition but as another way to bring more awareness to local craft beers.
