By James Bowler

PA Brewing Company expands its market

Dec 2, 2013 | 5:07 AM

The Prince Albert Brewing Company is making a lot more beer and it’s all because of public demand.

Danny Dobratz, general manager and partner in the company, said they recently updated their tanks.

“We’ve just increased our fermentation by 50 per cent and our storage by 20 per cent,” said Dobratz. “So that will bring us up to about 80,000 litres capacity a year, 100,000 litres if we really push it.”

He explained the brewing company started with four ten hectoliter fermentation tanks, and recently brought in a barrel that would hold about 23,000 litres.

Dobratz went onto say this should increase their monthly output of beer by an extra 1,000 litres per month.

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“We usually do about 4,000 litres a month,” said Dobratz. “As soon as we get the canning line on it should be up to about 5,000 litres a month.”

The canning line will help increase output as well as sales, according to Dobratz.

“The best package you can get is a can, no light, no air, the beer stores better,” said Dobratz. “The canning is the best because you can crush it down and pack it out. They are a lot more user friendly.”

Dobratz said these increases in production and demand will boost their grasp on the region.

“We anticipate, within five years we should becoming a regional brewer,” he said. “We’ll go to probably a 30-40 barrel system. We’re going to expand the building.”

He said altogether this expansion is going to cost about $80-$100,000.

Dobratz said there are plans to register with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to sell the beer beyond the region.

“Eventually we will go into SLGA, that’ll be provincewide,” said Dobratz. “We’re going to try it on our own first. We’re going to try to visit our clients one at a time and see if we can get into the off sales that way in the Prince Albert area first.”

He added registering the beer with the SLGA will help spread their product, but they no longer have a say in the price.

“The SLGA, they dictate the price,” said Dobratz. “If the SLGA has a $12 mark, then we have to sell it for $12. They dictate the price throughout the whole province once you sign up with them.”

With all the expansions Dobratz said this should open up more positions within the company as well.

“Once the brewing expands it will be another six to seven positions in the brewing aspect of it,” said Dobratz.

This is in addition to the already 36 positions that are filled right now with the company.

Dobratz said he still is surprised about all the expansions.

“We rolled the dice and it’s been well received,” said Dobratz. “Our consumer base will be within a 100 mile radius, that’s what we’re looking for at the start right now.”

However, Dobratz and his partners have no question about where they are headed.

“Our push is to go manufacturer; we’re eventually going to become a manufacturer,” said Dobratz.

No matter how big they get, Dobratz said they’ll follow the same ideals they started out with.

“Like our sign says ‘we’re bringing the brewing tradition back to Prince Albert,’” said Dobratz. “Prince Albert has had a brewing tradition for over 100 years and we’re bringing it back.”

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim