Come January, we will be bidding farewell to the No. 2 craft brewer in the state; Flying Dog Brewery. Flying Dog has announced it's plans to move all production to Frederick, MD. Flying Dog already brews 70% of it's beer at the Maryland location. In a statement released on the brewery's website Eric Warner, Flying Dog's president and CEO states; “We are facing unprecedented cost pressures due in large part to the tremendous hop and malt cost increases. Concentrating our brewing operations to one facility will help us become more efficient while maintaining our exceptionally high brewing standards.” According to the statement the brewery in Maryland is state of the art. Warner says; “The bottling line in Fredrick has lower oxygen uptake at the filling than the one in Denver, which translates to better flavor stability and longer shelf life. It also kicks out bottles at twice the pace as the line in Denver.” The brewery saw 20 percent unit growth this past year.
Flying Dog will still be available in Colorado and the brewery will keep it's corporate headquarters in Denver. Because of the increased cost of hops and malts facing all brewers, expect an increase in the cost for beer. Rocky Mountain News states that Flying Dog will “boost its price of a six-pack by $1 next year. Other craft brewers are expected to do the same.”
As for the employees “A lot of them are interested in making the move back to Maryland,” Warner told Rocky Mountain News. The employees are being offered relocation packages and a scouting trip in January. The administrative, sales and marketing staff will remain in Colorado at headquarters on Blake St.. Farewell, Flying Dog.
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