By Press Release Submitted to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jan 26, 2015 at 8:16 PM

2014 was not just a good year at MKE Brewing Co. It was a great year.  

Celebrating their seventh year of production at the Walker’s Point brewery, owners Jim McCabe and Jim Hughes have every right to be proud of their growing business. After undergoing an expansion to the fermentation space and capacity in May of last year, MKE Brewing Co. closed out 2014 up 54 percent over the previous year, shipping just under 12,000 barrels. 

The added capacity was necessary not only to keep up with the ever expanding portfolio of products – 19 in all for 2014 – but just to keep their growing distributor network in good supply. 

MKE Brewing Co. expanded to Minnesota for the first time in 2014 launching their brands in the Minneapolis/St. Paul markets with a resoundingly positive response. Nothing, however, compared to the growth of the brand in the home state of Wisconsin, due in large part to New Berlin based beer distributor Beechwood Sales and Service. 

"We are very lucky that we have one of the best craft beer distributors in the state right in our back yard" says founder and CEO Jim McCabe. "It really is remarkable to think that just over four years ago, we sold less than 3,000 cases of beer for the entire year, and Beechwood now sells more than two and a half times that much in one month. We really would not be to this point today without the efforts of their team pushing our brand up and down the street every day."  

Distribution success did not stop in Southeast Wisconsin. Frank Beer of Middleton also saw significant gains with MKE Brewing Co. throughout Madison and south central Wisconsin.  

"It’s no secret there are two essential things breweries need to make significant growth in today’s craft beer world: make great beer and have a way to get it in people’s mouths," McCabe added. "We are lucky to have an outstanding team here at the brewery and great distributor partners who are out there championing our brand day in and day out."

Adding to the excitement last year, MKE Brewing Co. was named Brewery of the Year by Drink Me Magazine and received a Gold Medal at the Festival of Barrel Aged Beers for their limited release, Louie’s Resurrection Bourbon Barrel Aged Amber Ale.

What can you expect of MKE Brewing Co for 2015? There are more expansion plans in the works to maximize the space and efficiency of the 2nd Street brewery, new year-round and seasonal beers will make an appearance, an expanded line of limited release beers and plans to expand distribution to neighboring states in the upper Midwest.