April 11,2015
Visalia may not have much water this summer but at least it looks like we will have beer.
Brothers Matt and Mike McWilliams plan to open the town’s second brewery/restaurant combination in Downtown Visalia this September. Called Swaggers Brewery, the new pub will celebrate the craft beer explosion sweeping the country in a portion the former Surplus City building on Main St.
The micro brewery will be just down the block from pioneer beer maker Brewbakers as well as a few blocks away from the new Sequoia Brewing Co that will open for business in about a month.That new eatery will feature Fresno micro-brewed beer.
“This is a dream we’ve had for the past two years” says Mike “and Downtown Visalia seems the right place to make it happen.It’s the destination of choice.”
Mike McWilliams is the business and marketing side of the partnership and says his brother Matt has been home brewing for about 10 years.
The brewmaster has perhaps 30 full flavored recipes of beers they will make in the 6000 sf space being leased from a Visalia partnership group. The 10 ft brewing tanks as well as the kitchen will take up about half the building and the restaurant space will seat 165 customers including 40 at a big bar to be installed.
“We plan to have great food” promises Mike,gourmet burgers and pizza among the entrees.
Mike says the brewing process will be in the open as it is at Brewbakers. The partners hope to have some dining in front of the building as other Main Street eateries do.
Next door Swaggers co-tenant in the former Surplus City will be the General’s Trading Post, formerly Easley’s Gun Shop, taking about 3000 sf- roughly a third of the building.
Building co-owner Harvey May says construction on both building renovations will start this week. May had a hand in brining in Sequoia Brewing Co as well at 120 W. Main.
How popular are micro breweries? One report suggest that on average, a new brewery opens its doors every single day in the the U.S.
The Boulder Colorado Brewers Association , the trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers, recently released 2014 data on U.S. craft brewing growth. For the first-time ever, craft brewers reached double-digit (11 percent) volume share of the marketplace.
In 2014, craft brewers produced 22.2 million barrels, and saw an 18 percent rise in volume and a 22 percent increase in retail dollar value. Retail dollar value was estimated at $19.6 billion representing 19.3 percent market share.
“With the total beer market up only 0.5 percent in 2014, craft brewers are key in keeping the overall industry innovative and growing. This steady growth shows that craft brewing is part of a profound shift in American beer culture—a shift that will help craft brewers achieve their ambitious goal of 20 percent market share by 2020,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “Small and independent brewers are deepening their connection to local beer lovers while continuing to create excitement and attract even more appreciators.”
If craft brew is going local – the big names in beer in the past appear to be struggling to retain market share as they try to appeal to millennials.
Budweiser’s US market share fell to 8.7 percent in 2013 from 14.3 percent in 2005, according to data firm Euromonitor. With trouble in America Budweiser is looking overseas for growth. Bud’s foreign sales are 60 percent of sales.
The Visalia Bud distributor – Sequoia Beverage took the new brew pub owner of Sequoia Brewing Co to court but lost over use of the name.A local judge ruled consumers would not likely be confused. Even if their Bud sales may be down, the distributor also sells plenty of the Mexican brands through retail outlets including Modelo and Corona enjoying widespread popularity along with craft beer sales.
Mexican beer owner Constellation Brands recently announced sales were up 24% for fiscal 2015,mostly due to strong Mexican beer sales even though wine and spirits sales increased just 1%.