Published: November 04, 2011
William K Busch Brewing Company Launches Two New Brands
ST. LOUIS - (BUSINESS WIRE) - For the first time in two years, beer lovers in the historic brewing
city of St. Louis will soon be able to lift a cold bottle of lager beer
brought to market by a member of the fabled family of brewing legend
Adolphus Busch.
William K. "Billy" Busch introducers Kraftig and Kraftig Light at retailer launch event. (Photo: Business Wire)
"There's a new brewing company in St. Louis," said company founder
William K. Busch. "And our brands - all-malt Kräftig lager and Kräftig
light - will be available next week in supermarkets, convenience stores,
restaurants and taverns across the St. Louis metropolitan area."
The new enterprise - the William K Busch Brewing Company - was
established last summer by William K. Busch, son of the late August A.
"Gussie" Busch, Jr., and great-grandson of St. Louis brewing legend
Adolphus Busch. It is an independent company and has no connection or
association in any way with Anheuser-Busch InBev or any of its
affiliates.
"Adolphus Busch came to St. Louis in 1857 and started a 150-year
tradition of brewing the best beer in America," Busch said. "We're
starting small, like he did, but our ambitions are as big as his were
then. Our goal is first to brew the finest beers in America for St.
Louis beer lovers - people who know fine beers - and then to expand
regionally and nationally."
Busch said the idea of starting a new chapter of his family history came
to him two years ago when he realized that for the first time in a
century and a half, no member of his family was involved in the business
of brewing beer in his home city of St. Louis.
"That didn't feel right," he said, "because like everyone else in my
family, brewing is in my blood."
As the idea to get into the beer business took shape, Busch realized he
could not make it happen without the help of people with broad
experience in all phases of the brewing business.
"You don't live your whole life with Gussie Busch without hearing
everything there is to hear about the beer business," he said. "But I
knew that if this company was going to be successful, I'd need not only
my own experience but also a talented team of management professionals
at my side."
On board as directors and shareholders of the company are James F.
Hoffmeister, president and chief executive officer, with 40 years of
brewery experience in finance, administration and senior management;
Gary J. Prindiville, Jr., vice president and chief operating officer, a
25-year veteran with experience as a senior manager in brewery
operations, strategic planning and information technology; Michael J.
Brooks, executive director, a senior executive with 19-years of brewery
experience in sales and wholesaler operations; and Marc Gottfried, vice
president/brewing and head brewmaster, an award-winning certified
brewmaster for 16 years and a recognized expert in the brewing of
mainstream, lager beers.
"Altogether," Busch said, "these guys have almost 100 years of
experience in all phases of the brewing industry."
Initially, the William K Busch Brewing Company's brands will be brewed
under the supervision of company brewmaster Marc Gottfried at City
Brewing Co., a traditional brewing facility in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. But
the company's plans include the construction of a downtown St. Louis
brewery capable of brewing millions of barrels of beer annually.
Details of the brewery development plan will be announced in the near
future, according to Busch.
"Our first brewery will be small compared to the giant international
breweries operating here and around the country," Busch said. "But we
are not a brewpub or 'craft' brand brewer. Regardless of its size, our
brewery here will be a powerful first step in our plans to become a
successful brewer of mainstream national brands in the U.S."
"In fact, that's what Kräftig means in German: 'powerful'."
Busch explained that the brand name is not meant to describe the alcohol
strength of the brands, which will be comparable to other premium
regular and light beers brewed in this country.
"We wanted a brand name that reflects my family's German brewing
heritage. And we wanted it to make a statement about the strength of our
commitment and the fact that we believe our beers will become powerful
new entries in the American beer marketplace," he said.
"Therefore - Kräftig."
Kräftig and Kräftig Light are all-malt beers, brewed from only the four
primary ingredients used for centuries by master brewers in Germany -
pure water, barley malt, hops and yeast. No rice, corn or other added
grains are used in the brewing process to reduce costs or alter taste.
"The ingredients we use in our brewing process," said Busch, "are simply
the best available to any brewer in the world - fine barley malt,
premium brewers' yeast and hops from the 'noble' varieties of imported
Hallertau, the purest and most expensive hops in the world."
Initial distribution of Kräftig brands - beginning November 7 and
continuing through the remainder of the year -- will focus on the St.
Louis Metropolitan area, including surrounding counties in both Missouri
and Illinois. Regional and national distribution plans and projections
will be announced at a later date.
"In the 19th Century," Busch said, "my great-grandfather
started a family tradition of brewing the finest beers in America. In
the 20th Century, my grandfather and my father carried on
that tradition and made their beers known and respected and successful
around the world.
"For the 21st Century, my goal is to add a new chapter to
that tradition and help take it indefinitely into the future."
The William K Busch Brewing Company was established in the summer of
2011 and is owned by Busch and four partners, all of whom are involved
in the management of the company. Temporary corporate offices are
located in Clayton, Mo., with contract brewing operations in LaCrosse,
Wisconsin. The company is not associated with Anheuser-Busch InBev or
any of its affiliates. For more information, please visit Facebook.com/EnjoyKraftig.
EnjoyKraftig.com will be live on Nov. 7.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50056958&lang=en
O'Malley Hansen Communications
Kim Yurkovich, 314-721-8121 (work)
314-288-5411
(cell)
kim.yurkovich@omalleyhansen.com
or
Jeff
Grass, 314-721-8121 (work)
314-540-9125 (cell)
Jeff.grass@omalleyhansen.com
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