This Time It Is Beer
Press Release
Fort George Brewery Returns Astoria to Its Canning Roots – But This Time It Is Beer
Fort George Brewery’s Plans for a Bigger Brewery and Canning Line Creates 12 New Jobs
Astoria, OR, July 20, 2010:
With the help of a $150,000 forgivable loan from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund, the Fort George Brewery will be able to install a bigger brewhouse and a new canning line for its fast-growing microbrewery and create 12 new jobs in Astoria. This project provides an excellent example of public and private interests working together to contribute to the economic growth and vitality of Clatsop County.
The company purchased the Ft. George Block in downtown Astoria in October 2009 with the help of a Small Business Administration loan. But they needed some more financial partners to make improvements and install the new equipment to increase their brewing capacity and produce their first cans of microbrew. The SBA and ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia came through with additional loans and local Urban Renewal funds also helped.
Fort George Brewery worked closely with Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR) and their Small Business Development Center through the SRF application process. The $150,000 SRF was the final piece in the financing puzzle that should allow the company to start canning its beer by the end of 2010. These improvements to the Fort George block come at the same time as other urban renewal investments are being made to adjacent blocks in the downtown area, many of which will be completed by the City of Astoria’s bicentennial celebration in 2011.
Currently Fort George Brewery produces all of its products in kegs. The ability to produce its products in 16-ounce cans will allow the company to significantly expand its market by gaining access to retail outlet shelf space outside the region and the state and will increase the capacity of the brewery from four- to six-fold, or approximately 6,000 barrels a year. The canning operation will also allow for full utilization of the 30-barrel brewing system currently being installed.
In addition to the direct benefits the company and local economy will realize from the canning operation, the use of cans is evolving as a preferred package for the distribution of craft beer. Not only are cans better for product quality and less expensive to ship and store, the expansive market for recycled aluminum, as opposed to the limited market for recycled glass, results in cans being more ecologically friendly than bottles.
