(Press Release)
ABITA SPRINGS, LA—The oldest craft brewer in the Southeast, Abita Brewing Co., which produces 160,000 barrels annually, has completed a three-year, $30 million state-of-the-art expansion that will increase its brewing capacity to 400,000 barrels.
Abita is also becoming a Founding Brewery Partner of Enjoy Beer LLC, an enterprise created to provide resources on a national scale to a select group of top independent craft brewers across the country.
Abita’s completed expansion and the new Enjoy Beer partnership lay a strong foundation for the Louisiana-based brewery’s continued growth. Enjoy Beer was formed to create partnerships with top craft brewers who wish to preserve their local independence, while gaining shared resources in areas such as distribution, sales, marketing and logistical expertise. These resources are necessary to compete with large-scale corporate competitors.
“As a local brewer deeply rooted in our Louisiana culture, I’ve always dreamed of an opportunity to help develop something like Enjoy Beer,” says David Blossman, President of Abita Beer and Board Member of Enjoy Beer. “Enjoy Beer is an innovative concept that’s going to give Abita the resources and expertise we need for a successful long-term, national growth strategy, while keeping our roots firmly planted here in Louisiana.”
Watch a video of Abita’s David Blossman announcing the news.
According to Richard Doyle, the President and Founder of Enjoy Beer, LLC, “As the craft industry continues to evolve, there is enormous pressure on brewers to compete against the big breweries. In leading Abita, David has always been committed to innovation and finding new opportunities to compete while ensuring the company’s independence and local roots.”
An industry veteran with nearly thirty years of experience, Doyle co-founded and was the CEO of the Harpoon Brewery in Boston, Mass., before selling his interest to Harpoon employees. He is also a former Chairman of the Brewers Association.
Adds Doyle, “Enjoy Beer will pioneer a new model in the industry, and together, Enjoy Beer and Abita can compete at the next level by expanding the reach of a beloved brand to share the unique culture of New Orleans with the rest of the country.”
Currently, Abita produces eight year-round beers, five seasonal brews, four harvest, seven big beers, a select series, and a root beer. The company’s products are sold in 41 states, the District of Columbia, and in a limited number of foreign countries. Abita Brewing was ranked the 21st largest craft brewer in the country by the Brewers Association in 2014.
Click here to read a conversation with Jaime Jurado of Abita Brewing Co.