Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

The much-loved but elusive DRIPA from Warren-based Kuhnhenn Brewing is about to become easier to find.

A new location in Clinton Township gives the roughly 15-year-old brewery a mega-boost in capacity, with can and bottle distribution expected to start rolling in about the next year. And with a capacity for 280 people, the new taproom and restaurant has about double the space of the Warren location.

The brewery that started in 2001 is highly regarded in the craft beer community, and its limited quantities have contributed to increasingly pent-up demand. As Michigan's craft beer scene has exploded in recent years with well more than 200 breweries, an early player on the scene looks to start producing at volumes sure to make it more visible across metro Detroit and Michigan.

The cavernous building on 36000 Groesbeck, formerly a home and garden center, starts welcoming the public at 11 a.m. Feb. 29. On entering, you'll see a wide-open taproom area lined by black walnut — with bars and tables crafted by Eric Kuhnhenn Sr.

"Everything feels warm in here," he said.

To one corner, a shiny new distilling operation. And to the rear of the taproom, large windows facing the brewery's packaging area. Beyond them are masses of metal waiting to be assembled as the expansion brings the company from 2,600 barrels in 2015 at its Warren location to a future total of about 26,000 barrels – with further potential up to 75,000 barrels.

Demand is high and, tired of telling distributors "no," the company is already taking advantage of the glistening new fermenters, said Jon Piepenbrok, vice president of Kuhnhenn marketing and sales.

"We're basically just running our production team 24 hours a day right now," he said. "We're paying a lot of money in overtime."

With brewing equipment not yet fully installed, they're crafting the wort in Warren then shipping it to the new location, piping it into the fermenters to "start to satisfy some of that distributor, retailer and consumer demand," Piepenbrok said.

2015 Kuhnhenn winter solstice party bigger than ever

They've hired 60 new hourly and four salaried employees, and the brewery includes a kitchen with sausages, sandwiches and more.

The brewery started at the Warren location, 5919 Chicago Road, in 2001, where the senior Kuhnhenn. owned a hardware store. As big-box stores took over the market, his sons, Bret and Eric, started offering homebrew supplies. That led to a brewery and a series of expansions leading to the new location. The Warren location isn't going anywhere, and it will continue making small-batch beers.

The Double Rice IPA (9.5% alcohol by volume), known as DRIPA, is the company's flagship beer. The bold, citrusy imperial India pale ale with a crisp finish has an overall rating of 97 on ratebeer.com and was recognized with a gold medal in the 2012 World Beer Cup.

Meads, ciders, whiskey and more made by Kuhnhenn are to be available in addition to its assortment of craft beers. The expansion is happening shortly after Short's Brewing in Bellaire (which brewed 34,443 barrels in 2014) announced that it reluctantly had decided to start distributing outside of Michigan. The brewer, in a post on its website, stated that the decision was made in part to avoid selling out in an increasingly crowded, competitive market.

Asked his thoughts on Kuhnhenn's expansion in a crowded field, Piepenbrok said first that the pressure they're feeling is more to satisfy distributors, retailers and customers. But also:

"I feel there's a lot of room for even a lot more breweries. I don't feel that there's a lot of room for a lot of new breweries to open to distribute beer."

By expanding to distribution now, Kuhnhenn could be getting its foot in the door at a crucial time.

"We have a name," he said. "It's not a huge name, but we have a name. We're relatively established; we've been producing beer for almost 15 years."

Kuhnhenn Brewing Clinton Township Taproom

Grand opening Feb. 29

36000 Groesbeck, Clinton Township

http://www.kbrewery.com/

Hours: 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.

Spirits of Detroit columnist Robert Allen covers alcohol for the Free Press. He can be reached at rallen@freepress.com or Untappd, raDetroit; Twitter, @rallenMI; Facebook, robertallen.news, and Periscope, @rallenMI.