Atwater Brewery has specialized in craft beer ever since it opened in Detroit's Rivertown district in 1997. This summer, it is expanding its product line to include craft spirits.
The Detroit-based firm, the third largest brewery in Michigan, is now selling craft spirits at its biergarten in Grosse Pointe Park, including rum, vodka, gin, and whiskey. The whiskey is an 8-year-old whiskey
Atwater Brewery purchased in bulk from a distiller in Tennessee and bottled itself.
Atwater Brewery has also purchased a 250L Reflux Distilling System to produce its own spirits and begin selling them at its biergarten,
Atwater in the Park, later this year under its own brand. Its first release will be an Atwater Dirty Blond vodka. Gin, rum and whiskey drinks will follow later on.
"We want to get into whiskey and further on down the road some bourbons," says Mark Rieth, owner of Atwater Brewery.
Atwater Brewery acquired a state permit to allow it to make both beer and liquor. However, state regulations say the brewery can only make one at a time, so one shift at its facility will make beer and then the next will work on liquor before the next shift goes back to making beer.
Atwater Brewery has hired 15 people over the last year, expanding its staff to 52 people. Most of those new hires include production and sales employees. The company is currently looking to fill six more positions. Rieth expects to hire more as the brewery begins making and selling spirits en masse.
"We think it's a normal extension of our brand," Rieth says. "The laws now allows to make some unique products."
Source: Mark Rieth, owner of Atwater Brewery
Writer: Jon Zemke
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