NEWS

November 5, 2007

A VERY BIG EVENT AT ABITA BEER

Abita Takes Delivery of Eight Enormous Stainless Steel Tanks

It’s the biggest thing that has happened in Abita Springs in a very long time. Eight oversized vehicles will roll into town on Tuesday, November 6. Each truck will carry a huge, gleaming stainless steel tank specially built for the Abita Brewing Company. Each of the eight tanks stands over two and one half stories tall and measures 11 feet across. A full size car could park inside one of the tanks with plenty of room to spare. Each tank has a 9,300-gallon capacity and their combined volume will brew enough Abita to buy a beer for every resident in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner and all of St. Tammany Parish.

Crane Will Swing Mammoth Tanks Into Position

The tanks were manufactured in Canby, Oregon by the JV Northwest Company and began their 2,654-mile journey to Abita Springs last week. A special crane on site at the Abita Brewery will be used to lift the giant stainless steel vessels into place. Portions of the roof of the brewhouse will be removed so the tanks can be swung inside. The tanks will be used for fermentation and aging in the brewing process and will provide Abita Beer with 170,000 barrels of storage capacity. The tanks are part of a major expansion project currently under construction at the Abita Brewing Company. When complete, the expansion will include new offices, additional warehouse and brewhouse capacity and a beer garden and tasting facility open to the public. Completion of the construction is projected for Spring 2008.

Abita Beer Is Louisiana True

The Abita Brewing Company was founded in Abita Springs, Louisiana in 1986 and is the oldest and largest craft brewer in the southeast. Abita is the 32nd largest commercial brewer by production volume in the nation and the 16th largest craft brewer in the United States. Sales for the company should exceed 62,000 barrels and $16 million this year.