Sockeye Brewing Expands In Washington

Sockeye Brewing from Boise, Idaho began distributing its flagship Dagger Falls IPA in cans during November of 2012 when they added a second brewery.  Since then, the brewing company has grown from producing a modest 1,500 barrels of beer that year to almost 9,000 barrels in 2014.  The brewery has added tank space to produce more beer three times since then, and is constructing another 14,000 square foot building with additional tanks.  The facility is expected to be up and running in February.  With distribution statewide in Idaho, and being positioned to expand on its Eastern Washington presence, Sockeye anticipates another year of big growth in 2015.  It will start next week with Costco Wholesale in Washington state.

“We are expecting three more 160 barrel tanks to be delivered this month.  If all goes as planned, by early springtime Sockeye will be set up to brew about 18,000 barrels annually,” says Tylar Bell, Director of Sales for Sockeye.  “It’s been a crazy couple years of growth for us.   We have distribution set up to keep increasing our sales here in Idaho, and are now looking to expand with the support we have in place in the Washington region.  Costco has been a great partner for us to get Sockeye beer to the people so when we approached Odom about producing more for their territory in 2015, Costco naturally came up again.”

Dagger Falls IPA became available in Idaho Costco stores in July of 2013, ushering in a local beer option for Costco customers.  The success of those sales helped set the course for Sockeye’s growth in the northwest region, and Costco’s acceptance of local craft beers.  Sockeye Brewing eventually expanded into the Spokane region in January of 2014 at the same time the company launched a lineup of four core beer styles and a seasonal offering, all packaged in cans.  Odom Corporation is ready to expand the footprint of Sockeye, distributing beyond Eastern Washington where beer fans already find Sockeye specialty brews on tap and on shelves.  On Monday December 22^nd, four Costco locations, two in Spokane and the Kennewick and Clarkston stores, will all begin carrying cases of Sockeye’s Dagger Falls IPA.  With the addition of more fermentation space, Sockeye has plans to add more beer styles on additional taps and retail shelves in Idaho, Washington, and Utah in 2015.  “It’s been a lot of hard work and dedication to get our beer out there.  Our distributors have been supporting our growth boom as we’ve adjusted to securing ingredients, materials and the man hours required to keep our beers available, consistent and high quality,” says Josh King, Head Brewer at Sockeye since 2002.  “This is a great ending to another great year for Sockeye.  We’re ready for another one”