Start Tribune: Grain Belt Leads To Growth At August Schell

Star Tribune columnist Dick Youngblood wrote a nice story on the resurgence of Minnesota’s August Schell Brewing in New Ulm. Thanks in part to the success of Grain Belt, all of the Schell’s specialty beers are doing well in the crowded marketplace.

Since the beginning of 2003, the first full year after the acquisition, Schell and Grain Belt sales have been growing at precisely the same pace, an annual rate of better than 9 percent.

Combined sales have risen 28 percent since then: from $7.7 million in 2003 to $9.9 million last year, with revenue on track to grow another 11 percent this year, to $11 million.

By comparison, industry-wide sales of American lager beers — the dominant category that includes Grain Belt and most of the major brands — have been growing at an annual rate of 2 percent or less.

This story should be your reminder to start planning for Bockfest 2008 at the brewery. See this old post for more details: Schell’s Bockfest: Saturday February 2nd, 2008

August 16, 2007 | Filed Under Beer, Craft/Speciality, Local Brew 

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