Tallgrass Brewing Company will acquire an existing 60,000 square foot building in Manhattan and convert it into a brewery, tripling the company’s brewing capacity. Tallgrass expects to begin production at the new location in late 2014. At full capacity the new brewery will be capable of producing 100,000 barrels, or more than 3 million gallons of beer, each year. The building, a former call center near Manhattan’s regional airport, is located on nine acres of land, allowing room for future growth and expansion.
“Increasing our production capacity is very exciting,” said Jeff Gill, president and founder of Tallgrass. “This new and larger facility will give us the space and ability to be a dynamic and creative brewer of not only more beer, but also those specialty and limited edition beers that we’ve been dreaming of making since we started the brewery.”
“Through hard work and innovation, Tallgrass continues to grow its business in Manhattan,” Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George said. “It is a great sign for our economy that the Kansas business environment encourages entrepreneurs and supports their efforts to invest and create good jobs in our state.”
Tallgrass production in 2013 exceeded 16,000 barrels of beer. The brewery has experienced rapid sales growth since 2010, with annual sales revenues increasing by an average of 72 percent every year. Last spring, Tallgrass expanded into the Chicago area, and the new brewery’s extra capacity will allow it to further expand its sales territory in the coming years.
Brewery design specialists, The Neenan Company, will oversee the building’s conversion. One critical aspect of the brewery’s new design will be the enhancement of the Tallgrass visitor experience. The company anticipates 3,000 to 4,000 monthly visitors at its new production facility.
“We decided early on that this needed to be more than just a place to make beer,” said Gill. “We wanted it to be a showplace, a unique and welcoming location we would be proud to show off to our loyal Tallgrass beer drinkers. They deserve a great tour experience, and this facility will allow us to give them that.”
Last week, Tallgrass announced plans for The Tallgrass Taphouse, a brew pub and restaurant opening in downtown Manhattan later this year. The Taphouse, located on Poyntz Avenue, will serve special Tallgrass beers made on the premises, special guest tappings from other breweries and Tallgrass’s other brands.
Tallgrass Brewing Company was founded in Manhattan in 2007 by Jeff Gill and his wife Tricia. Tallgrass is now distributed in 13 states.