DETROIT, MI - After enjoying a "record year with record growth" in 2014, Detroit's Atwater Brewery is plowing ahead with "even bigger plans for 2015."

The Detroit-based brewer saw sales increase by 68 percent in 2014, with its Dirty Blonde Ale and Vanilla Java Porter leading the way.

From their spot at 237 Joseph Campau Ave. near the Detroit riverfront, Atwater produced over 40,000 barrels of craft beers, according to a release.

Atwater offers porters, IPAs, lagers, stouts and a variety of specialty seasonal beers.

The brewery has grown to become the third largest in the state, according to a release, and hopes to produce more than 60,000 barrels of beer in 2015.

In late January, the brewer announced they'd be launching in Ontario, Canada in February. Atwater said they were partnering with The Craft Brand Company and The Bier Market restaurants to get their popular Vanilla Java Porter on draft in Toronto and all over Ontario.

Currently, Atwater is "continuing construction on a new brewery in Austin, Texas to handle West Coast expansion."

For 2015, over Mark Rieth and his crew have a few goals.

First, they want want to install new German Brewhaus brewing equipment in Detroit and Austin.

In addition to the Canadian expansion, four more states will be added to the Atwater market: Colorado, California, New York and New Jersey. The new markets will being Atwater's reach to 26 U.S. states.

New brands and retail options are in the works too.

Atwater plans to launch Atwater Spirits Detroit Dry Cider brands in 2015, while also expanding to offer three additional 16-ounce can options.

Atwater Brewery is located at 237 Joseph Campau Ave. in downtown Detroit.

Tap house and biergarten options mirroring the majorly successful Atwater in the Park will be expanded to "two additional Michigan markets," according to a release.

Atwater Brewery's Atwater in the Park was named one of the top 10 best new beer halls in America by Trip Advisor's Jetsetter.com.

Rieth said in a release that Atwater knows its roots.

"We use a traditional brewing process that's over 200 years old and we stay true to the heritage style of traditional German lagers just like the old Detroit breweries did," he said.

"We're on a good roll with the wind at our back. We're passionate about what we do and we're dedicated, as we have been since we started, to the idea of 'bringing Detroit everywhere' and making a difference in the communities where we operate," Rieth said.

"That formula has been working well for us so that's the formula we'll continue to use in the future."

Founded in 1997, Atwater Brewery is located in a 95-year-old warehouse.

According to a release, Mark Rieth, president of Atwater Brewery, is still looking at opening a tap room in downtown Detroit.

Currently, the riverfront location is open as a tap room Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There's no food served, but customers can grab a couple bags of pretzels from the snack bin to go with the beers on tap.

Ian Thibodeau is the entertainment and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. He can be reached at ithibode@mlive.com, or follow him on Twitter.