Custom BrewCrafters Renamed To CB Craft Brewers

About CB Craft Brewers
Sixteen years ago, Mike Alcorn left Kodak and forever changed the landscape of craft brewing in Western New York. Disappointed by the lack of quality craft beer in the area, Mike decided to open a brewery in Honeoye Falls, NY and brew custom beers for area bars and restaurants. He named the brewery Custom BrewCrafters to reflect the company’s core business model of brewing custom, private label beer. Examples include Jeremiah’s Frog Grog and Distillery Scotch Ale. A small tasting room was built to give customers the opportunity to sample the custom brews and take home filled growlers. Within a few years, the overwhelming success of the business allowed Mike to brew a few craft beers under the brand “CB” and sell them to select retail markets and draft accounts in Rochester, NY.

After 10 years and the addition of several more CB brand beers, the brewery reached capacity limits. Mike was faced with a dilemma familiar to many WNY business owners, stay in state or move out. “Locally brewed beer that is enjoyed locally is at the heart of CB Craft Brewers” says Mike. “I knew I wanted to stay in WNY, and more specifically I wanted to invest in my hometown of Honeoye Falls.” In 2008 CB Craft Brewers went from a 1,500 square foot facility in Honeoye Falls to a 10,000 sq foot building just down the road from their old brewery. Several new tanks and a bottling line were added, allowing the company to further expand their CB brand year-round and seasonal offerings in both bottle and draught. In 2011 CB Craft Brewers opened a brew pub at the brewery called the Pint & Goblet Tavern, serving food and pints of their CB brand and custom beers Thursday-Sunday.

Expansion Plans

Last year the brewery added three 60 barrel fermenters which represented a 54% increase in capacity. By March of 2013 the brewery was back up to full capacity. In the next couple of weeks, CB Craft Brewers will install another two 60 barrel fermenters along with an enhanced bottling line and spent grain handling system. This expansion represents a 115% increase in capacity over a 16 month period of time.

The brewery has no current plans to expand distribution out of NY State. “Craft beer is best enjoyed fresh and in the backyard of the brewery where it was brewed”, says Mike Alcorn. “Our new tag line Small Batches. Big Taste. is at the heart of what our customers can expect from our beer. By keeping our distribution local in WNY we can keep true to our roots and deliver on the promise of this new tagline. A beer that is in a warehouse and shipped on freight truck for a week or more will never taste as fresh as one that was shipped direct from the brewery within 48 hours of bottling.”

Expected Changes

Consumers in WNY and the Finger Lakes can expect to see the following changes:

· New name and logo on all CB brand beer as well as new bold and engaging bottle packaging.

· New 12oz bottle seasonal offerings; Harvest Jack Pumpkin Ale available in stores September 1st and a new winter seasonal available November 2013. Plans are in place to offer new products in 2014.

· A new website to launch September 19, 2013, www.cbcraftbrewers.com. The website will host a beer finder to help consumers easily locate CB Craft Brewers custom and CB brand beer.

· Visitors can experience great beers, beer-infused dishes, monthly events and daily tastings at CB’s Tasting Room and The Pint & Goblet Tavern.
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