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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Otter Creek Brewing is a brewery in Middlebury, Vermont, that produces two lines of beer: Otter Creek Craft Ales, and Shed Brewery Ales. It brewed Wolaver's Organic Brewery beers from 2002 until 2015, when it ceased brewing that line.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Middlebury, Vermont United States |
| Products | Beer |
In March 1991, Otter Creek brewed its first Copper Ale at 616 Exchange Street in Middlebury and shipped its first keg of beer shortly thereafter.[1] Four years later, the brewery expanded and moved down the road to 793 Exchange Street where they expanded production[1] to 60,000-barrels. Otter Creek Brewing distributes its year-round and seasonal beers to fifteen states in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
Otter Creek brews and bottles all of its beers in small batches and uses natural Vermont water; domestic malts and hops; and its own top-fermenting yeast. In 2005, Otter Creek Brewing produced approximately 30,000 barrels of beer and distributed in 22 States.
Otter Creek brews three year-round beers:
This current line-up follows a major production overhaul that saw Otter Creek do away with all of their original flagship beers, including their Copper Ale, Stovepipe Porter, and Black IPA. Otter Creek also produces a number of seasonal and occasional beers, almost all of which are also of a hop-forward nature.
In 2010, Massachusetts private equity firm Fulham and Co. acquired Otter Creek Brewing through their Long Trail Brewing Company subsidiary.[2]
In 1997, Wolaver's (based in Nevada City, California)[3] became the first USDA-certified organic brewer. The Wolaver's line only contains organic beers.[4] The company started in Santa Cruz, California[5] but was brewing their ales in several locations including the Mendocino Brewing Company in Ukiah, California, Goose Island Brewery in Chicago, Illinois and Otter Creek in Vermont.[3]
About two years later, Wolaver's moved to Nevada City, California and began looking to buy a brewery in 2001.[5] Wolaver's purchased Otter Creek in 2002 to consolidate production.[5][6] The brewers worked with the organic barley and farmers in the area to create a market for organic hops.[5] All the Wolaver's styles are certified organic by Vermont Organic Farmers,[1] and featured wheat and oats grown locally in Addison County, Vermont. Since 2002, all Wolaver's Organic were brewed in Middlebury, Vermont.[6]
Wolaver's brewed three year-round beers and several seasonals. Their year-round beers were:
Long Trail ceased brewing Wolaver's in December 2015.[7]
Otter Creek/Wolaver's acquired the Shed Brewery in 2011 when the former owners decided to close and continues to brew Shed Mountain Ale and Shed IPA.[4][8][9] Shed Brewery brews include:
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