Jay Fettig has covered an incredible amount of ground in the past year since opening his popular new North Pier Brewing Company in the midst of the 2016 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, but he’s not even close to simply resting on his laurels. In fact, Fettig is cranking things up to an entirely new level ahead of his first anniversary in business.
Even passersby who have never been inside the colorful taproom on North Shore Drive have been witness to the rapid expansion of North Pier Brewing. Six soaring stainless steel tanks have been erected outside of the brewhouse, each capable of storing 45 barrels of craft beer from the recipes of Head Brewer Steve Distasio. The patio has grown exponentially at the front of the house and across the street paving contractors are prepping to add 60 new parking spaces for both North Pier Brewing and Jay’s sister’s North Shore Inn across the street.
Oh…and there’s a new 7,500 square foot warehouse under construction along the 14th fairway at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Club at Harbor Shores which will house inventory, hops & grains used in the manufacture of the signature brews from Distasio and more.
Despite all of that great progress, what has Mr. Fettig giddy at the moment is the gleaming new canning line being set up in the brewhouse which will begin to provide wider-scale distribution of the brewery’s popular Buckrider (a Belgian IPA) and The Conjurer (a Belgian Golden Strong) next week.
Fettig and his crew invite North Pier Brewing fans from far and wide to join in the celebration by raising a can to salute the first anniversary at the taproom on Saturday, May 27th when they will release their first canned beers. You will have the opportunity to buy them that day at the taproom.
Fettig tells me, “The past year has been incredible,” adding, “Focusing on the taproom and getting people to try our beer has allowed us to share our vision with the community. The taproom has become a friendly gathering place and Steve is exploring his own unique spin on a number of classic beer styles. With the retail launch coming next, the future looks very exciting.”
Next Saturday’s (5/27) celebration will run from 1-to-10pm at the taproom at 670 N. Shore Drive. Entry to the party itself is free for those who would like to purchase beer and food a la carte, while exclusive ticket packages can be purchased through Eventbrite at the link below. The $20 ticket package includes all-you-can-eat food — a crawfish boil and po’ boys served up by Bistro on the Boulevard — one beer token and a 16-oz commemorative can glass. The $35 ticket package includes all of those things, plus a limited 750ml bottle of North Pier’s Oak-Aged Brett Saison.
Beyond the celebration of a full year in business, the retail can launch is the next stop on North Pier’s journey into the craft beer world, with draft selections already available at bars and restaurants. Early next month, Buckrider and The Conjurer will both be available in 4-packs of 16-oz tall cans at beer retailers throughout Southwest Michigan thanks to the distribution channels of Alliance Beverage of St. Joseph.
Fettig opened North Pier Brewing last May with Distasio at the brewing helm. The brewery salutes those who wander by exploring the unique traditions of European-style ales with the Great Lakes community. The family friendly taproom and outdoor beer garden are located less than a mile from the shores of Lake Michigan, and features 12 rotating beers on tap which you can enjoy by the glass on-site or to-go in growlers and cans.
The new insulated beer towers outside the brewhouse will increase North Pier’s capacity from the current 800 barrels to more than 4,000 barrels. Each has six-inch insulated stainless steel walls and a heavily controlled atmosphere to keep the beer at optimal temperatures at all times. The new canning line will be capable of filling 34 sixteen-ounce cans per minute for widespread distribution to additional retail outlets.
The new warehouse along 14 is slated for completion around August.
The newly paved parking lot with substantial new capacity will be ready by the Memorial Day Weekend.
Congratulations to the entire North Pier Brewing team on a stellar first year in business and great new adventures ahead.
Here’s the link for special tickets to the big party:
