The booming craft beverage industry in New York moved Brewmation from garage to growth
The origin story of many successful craft beverage companies often begins in a garage, but home-brewer, Kevin Weaver, changed the ending of this story by taking his hobby one step further.
In 2003, combining a craft-brewing hobby with his expertise in engineering and automation, Weaver built a small business to supply automated brewing systems to friends and small-batch brewers. The explosion of the craft brewing industry around 2011 throughout Dutchess County and the state quickly created a financially viable business opportunity.
Recognizing his technology was better suited for commercial use in tasting rooms and brewpubs, Brewmation shifted focus to large scale sales. Brewmation’s first-to-market system was an overwhelming success. In 2014, Brewmation outgrew the garage and leased space in Fishkill, NY. Sales skyrocketed and Bremation grew until operations expanded to the point that another move would be needed.
By 2017, Weaver knew that Dutchess County’s proximity to transport routes was crucial to Brewmation’s further growth. Combined with Dutchess County’s business-friendly costs compared to regional metro areas, keeping Brewmation local was a goal of Weaver’s. Think Dutchess provided assistance with site selection and incentives to help Weaver keep Brewmation in Dutchess County. The result— a $1.1 million facility in Hopewell Junction, NY that grew the company’s staff by 100%. This growth earned Brewmation a Business Excellence Award in 2017 for Innovator of the Year.
Today, Brewmation sells to all 50 states and more than 30 New York Statebreweries including North River Brewers in Wappingers Falls, Plan Bee Brewery in
Poughkeepsie, as well as other international breweries in Canada and South America. Brewmation plans to continue international sales expansion and anticipates more company and job growth in the near future.
For more information on locating a food & beverage manufacturing industry in Dutchess County contact Sarah Lee, CEO.