Inside Schlafly’s effort to make more beer
It’s a busy time at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood. Folks are getting trained in the newly-renovated brewhouse, plans are being laid for new tanks and piping, and designers are brainstorming new tap handles. Most importantly, sales by St. Louis Brewery Inc. (which runs the Bottleworks and the Tap Room in downtown St. Louis) are apparently going through the roof.
Lager Heads stopped by the Bottleworks on Friday to do a little sleuthing and chat with Dan Kopman, the company’s chief operating officer.
In the first six months of this year, Schlafly’s sales were up more than 35 percent in Missouri, its key market. Just in the St. Louis metro area, the company sold 24,000 cases in June - a one-month record for the company. The company struggled to make enough beer, and several varieties temporarily went out of stock.
“Obviously, we’d much rather have these problems,” said Kopman, “than have too much beer or too much capacity.”
Dan said he could trace the company’s hot growth streak back to last July or August. (That was the middle of InBev’s takeover bid for Anheuser-Busch; A-B’s board accepted the Belgian company’s offer in mid-July.)
Schlafly is working to keep up with demand. Kopman predicted that the company would brew about 31,000 barrels of beer this year, up from about 24,000 in 2008. That would be a 29 percent jump. But if all goes according to plan, that won’t be all. Once a big renovation project is done - complete with huge new tanks - the company will be able to make roughly 45,000 barrels a year, Kopman said.
But with all the growth, he is careful to make a point: “We’re not compromising the way we make beer.”
(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Jeremiah McWilliams is a native Virginian who came to the Post-Dispatch in early 2007 to cover beer and other consumer products. He previously covered manufacturing for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Va. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University. 
Congratulations to Schlafly! A-B’s loss is your gain!
Soon, A-B will be just a memory and we will have a decent beer company again in St.Louis that is national in scope.
johng…just because AB is under new ownership do not forget that, while some have retired, the same red blooded americans, that for generations have poured thier hearts & souls into making budweiser, still work at the breweries. These are people who live in St. Louis and in the other AB brewery cities across America. These are the people who make up the largest part of the company. These are americans who work hard to provide for thier families just like you. If you are angry about the buyout I can understand that but to wish that the company fails is a slap in the face to all of those americans I speak of, some of which could be a neighbor of yours.
I’m really getting tired of people like you who just love to hate and give zero thought to the comments you toss out. A little thought goes a long way. You should try it.
No one pours their heart and soul into making Budweiser. All they pour in is a bunch of rice and water. Then the marketing department convinces sheeple that it tastes good, because some dog in sunglasses named Spuds likes to party with chix in bikinis.
The people who work at Schlafly are also red blooded Americans who live in St. Louis. I’m happy to support them. With this massive expansion, I’d be willing to bet they’ve added at least a few jobs in the past year.
SoCAl….BITE ME!
I worked at A-B for the better part of 15 years and can tell you that the good executives and employees left long ago. What is left now are yes men, and political hacks with no business ethics, no compassion and little talent.
So once again, this beer’s for SCHLALFY!!
johng…your response reinforces my point. Thanks for providing another example of thoughtless dribble. I can see why you are a former employee. What is surprising is that you say you worked for AB for 15 years along side those who you now wish ill will. Sounds like complete sour grapes to me…
b…It’s obvious you know nothing about the people who made Anheuser-Bush what is is. Committment, dedication and 110% effort are just a few of the attributes that makes AB the dominant beer company. By the way…AB is enjoying another great year of sales and profits due to all of those still with the company, far better than in 2008 prior to the buyout. That’s what happens when get rid of cancers like johng.
Schlafly’s Copeman is seriously mistaken if he thinks the sales gains made this year have anything to do with the AB buyout. Most brewers are seeing sales increases in 2009 and that is due to the current economic conditions. More people staying home rather than going out and stepping down from more expensive liquors to beer is the real reason for sales increases.
Just so people do not get the wrong idea…I am very happy for Schlafly’s success. Diversity in the beer industry is great and It’s always a good thing to read about a brewers success and how bright the future appears.
What is tiring is people who take any beer industry news and turn it into a attack on Anheuser-Bush. Comments like those in response to this article are what I’m talking about. Rather than just saying yes great job Schlafly…the response includes attacks on AB. In this case the inaccurate and misleading statements by Kopeman only fueled the hate responses. Those who respond in that fashion remind me of the silly Miller comercials that try to put AB down but only come across as pathetic crybaby attempts to sway public opinion.
Oh SoCal, you are so intelligent and ever-knowing . I bet you bore all your co-workers and acquaintances with all your knowledge of everything. Anyway, here’s to Schlafly…a real St. Louis beer!!
SoCal,
Do you work at Anheuser Busch?
What SoCal doesn’t understand is that the Anheuser Busch he is speaking of doesn’t exist anymore. If you talk to most employees one on one, they will tell you they are out of here as soon as the job market opens up. InBev is an absolute EVIL company. They are going to move out of St. Louis and it doesn’t matter how nice or mean people are towards them. They had a plan before they bought the comapny and they are executing it as we speak. There are a lot of rats that work at AB right now, where else can they go and make the money they are making? Eventually, they will be gone too! People in St. Louis do have a right to be concerned. InBev is EVIL.
So … SoCal … why is it so wrong that we stop buying Brazilian beer and start buying American beer? Schafly employs Americans also. Last I check the line guys still have their job and the brewery. Whoopee. I am tired of people whining over the under educated line dogs losing their jobs. They are not the only ones. Last I checked, I worked my back end off while PAYING my own way through school to get an IT job. Yet where are the tears when IT workers lose their jobs over seas? Waaagghh. Sorry I just get annoyed by it all.