Oskar Blues Ranks 45^th, Also Named Finalist in the ColoradoBiz 2011 Top Company Awards

LONGMONT, Colo. – Oskar Blues’ continued growth propelled the company on to the Boulder Daily Camera’s Top 50 Local Businesses List for the first time. Ranked number 45, the newspaper ranked the companies by the number of full-time employees based in Boulder and Broomfield counties. Complete results for the list can be viewed at: http://www.dailycamera.com/business-plus/ci_18570870.  The same week the company was also named a finalist in the consumer business category of ColoradoBiz Magazine’s 2011 Top Company Awards.

Set in the heart of Colorado craft beer country, Oskar Blues Cajun Grill began in the sleepy town of Lyons, CO in 1997.  In 1999 they started brewing beer in the basement of the juke joint.  In 2002 they turned craft beer on its ear when they became the first American craft brewery to brew and can its hoppy Dale’s Pale Ale.  What started in November 2002 with a one-at-a-time hand-canning line in a 60-year-old barn next door to their funky little brewpub has become a full-throttle canning operation and spawned a cult-like following of canned craft beer across the nation.

“It was far-fetched for anyone to really believe, even in our industry, that someone would put a full-flavored, hoppy beer in a can,” said Dale Katechis, recalling the 2002 launch of Dale’s Pale Ale.  “Most people laughed it off.”  Oskar Blues Brewery represents the soul of the craft beer industry within the list. “We’re the scrappy little guy that took a lot of risk.” said Dale Katechis; “It’s an honor that our ride has landed us on this list” said the visionary behind Dale’s Pale Ale.

In 2008, Oskar Blues added a larger production brewery in Longmont that is home to The Tasty Weasel Taproom and just down the street from their latest beer & music blessed restaurant; Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids.  Between Lyons & Longmont lies the OB Hops & Heifers farm, Dale Katechis’s latest project.  The farm ties in the sustainability of capturing brewery outflows to support grass fed Black Angus cattle and a 2 acre hop farm that produces locally grown hops for specialty beers and beef for their restaurants.

In 2010, Oskar Blues added a total of seven 200-barrel tanks in 60 days attempting to keep up with demand while pulling out of two markets.  In 2011, the brewery planned a three wave expansion earlier in the year.  It began in February with a 200 BBL fermenter and a 200 BBL bright tank as well as a new keg line and Hi-Cone six-packing machine. The 2011 expansion tallied five 200 BBL fermenters and a 200 BBL bright tank.  The continued investments in quality control, infrastructure and people will enable the brewery to reach for 60,000 BBLs in 2011, compared to 42,000 barrels in 2010. 

The brewery continues to look to the future with 2012 plans that include: six 200 BBL fermentation tanks, one 400 BBL bright tank, new can line, brewhouse expansions and a Tasty Weasel Taproom remodel that will produce additional production office space and an outdoor patio.  Since 2002, more than 130 breweries have followed Oskar Blues’ innovation and have begun canning craft beer.  Oskar Blues remains true to its original mission of simply blowing minds with what can come out of a can of beer.

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Three-dimensional brewing since 1999, Oskar Blues began the “Canned Beer Apocalypse” in 2002 when Dale’s Pale Ale became America’s 1^st CANNED craft beer.   For additional info, interviews, images or samples please contact Chad Melis at chad@oskarblues.com, #720.273.8888 or visit www.oskarblues.com