Big changes on tap at Warped Wing brewery

Warped Wing Brewing Co. this morning announced some major packaging changes and the purchase of a bottling line as part of a ramped-up retail presence that launches this fall.

Starting next Monday, Sept. 12, the brewery will start transitioning all of its 16-ounce, 4-pack pint can offerings to 12-ounce six-pack can offerings for all of its beers. And the brewery has purchased a bottling line for special limited-production offerings, including its Bourbon Barrel-Aged program.

RELATED: Warped Wing doubles brewing capacity to quench customers’ thirst (October 2016)

“We will offer two different bottle sizes: 375 ml and 500 ml,” Nick Bowman, Warped Wing’s vice president of sales and marketing, said in a release. “We are very excited to add small-batch bottle selections to our portfolio. It’s unimaginable the potential we will have to offer our customers.”

Bowman said the brewery’s founders “put a lot of time and effort into the decision to transition to a 12-ounce can.”

RELATED: Dayton’s craft beer: A guide to breweries

“Last year we engaged in a fairly extensive customer brand survey,” Bowman said. “What we learned from our customers was that even though they liked our 16-ounce canned beer offerings and thought they were unique, they ultimately prefer 12-ounce, 6-pack portioning. This was a practical decision that also gave us the opportunity to evolve our brand look and feel.”

“In addition to the new cans, our new bottling line will be commissioned in November for our Bourbon Barrel Aged program as well as some of our limited beers,” Bowman said.

RELATED: Dayton Arcade could house 2nd Warped Wing, Boston Stoker, DVAC

John Haggerty, Warped Wing’s managing partner and brewmaster, is working with Dipran S.R.L., an Italian manufacturer of bottle fillers, to create a bottle-filling line that will cater to customer tastes.

To celebrate this transition, Warped Wing will host a 12-ounce can party at the brewery at 5 p.m. Sept. 21 in the taproom. Core 12 oz. 6-packs as well as the latest Fall seasonal, CreepShow, will be available for carryout and on tap. The initial rollout of the new cans on the wholsesale level will start on Monday, Sept. 18.

RELATED: New brewery planned for downtown Dayton (April 2013)

This has been a summer of change for the brewery. In early August, Joe Waizmann, founder of AleFest and co-founder of Warped Wing, retired from the brewery. At the time, Waizmann said Warped Wing was on the cusp of a potentially significant growth spurt.

Warped Wing currently sells beer at its Dayton tasting room on Wyandot Street in downtown Dayton, and in pint cans in the retail market. The brewery’s Trotwood Lager, which was originally envisioned as a seasonal brew, quickly caught on with local beer drinkers, and has become a year-round best seller for the brewery.

The brewery has expressed interest in establishing a presence in the Arcade in downtown Dayton as part of its future expansion plans, if re-development plans for the long-shuttered property are successful.

About the Author