Upland expands

Upland Brewering in Bloomington plans major expansion to take capacity from 11,000 barrels currently to 25,000 barrels within 3 years according to the Herald Times newspaper of Bloomington (HeraldTimesOnline.com, July 25, 2011). A new brewing facilty is planned several miles nearly due South of their current brewery and pub in the central district of Bloomington. It is reported that Upland will spend $1.5 million to purchase formerly used by the old RCA plant and warehouse and another $1.5 million over 3 years to renovate the facility.

Upland has gradually increased production and distributon under owner Doug Dayhoff and Head Brewer Caleb Staton with their reach extending South into Kentucky and North into Wisconsin. Upland's signature beer is the Upland Wheat which contributes the most volume but they may be best known as one of the few U.S. brewers to produce Lambic, for which they have received multiple awards including recent medals at the Brewer's Cup of the Indiana State Fair. Upland also sponsors an annual Upcup competiton for homebrewers with the winning brewer working with Caleb and Crew to brew the winning recipe for commercial consumption. Caleb never influences the winner which has yielded such excellent brews as a rauch beer, which few local or regional brewers attempt (and this blogger loved it and frequently showed up to help the consumption).

Upland's plans are being celebrated by the Mayor of Bloomington as blazing the trail for more local commercial development -- and while we thank the major we just love it for good beer!

Upland is hosting an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Wed. Aug. 3 at their new site of 301 West Grimes Lane, in Bloomington according to the Herald Times (see previous reference).