Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING – Lansing Brewing Co. will expand its footprint as it begins distributing three of its beers across central Michigan next week.

Some 20 bars and restaurants in Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Calhoun and parts of Livingston counties will start serving Lansing Brewing Co. beer on May 31.

“A lot of people are asking for our product,” said Pat Gillespie, president of Gillespie Group, which developed the brewery. “Being a local, I’m used to drinking beer from Grand Rapids and Detroit. It’s nice to know there’s a Lansing product out there.”

The distributed beers will be the Amber Cream Ale, Angry Mayor IPA and Union Gold Ale. The beer will be distributed by Dan Henry Distributing Co.

Lansing's craft beer scene is booming

“There’s a lot of anticipation for it, and we’re excited to get our product out in different places,” said Dan Glazer, the brewery’s general manager.

Amber Cream Ale is already served at Good Hops, the restaurant inside the Cooley Law School Stadium, located under Gillespie Group’s Outfield Apartments.

The brewery also installed a 30-barrel tank this week, which will expand its brewing capacity by 25 percent, said Sawyer Stevens, head brewer.

Lansing Brewing Co. joins Ellison Brewery & Spirits in the distribution market. The Meridian Township brewery began distributing beer to bars in mid-Michigan and metro Detroit in October.

The brewery is among the region's newest. It opened in October at 518 E. Shiawassee St. Between October and February, it sold 410 barrels of beer, according to the most recent data from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. It will soon offer hard cider. In 2017, the brewery plans to can its beer for local store sales, Gillespie said.

"We're well beyond the projections we thought we would do," he said.

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.