Kathy Flanigan

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Raised Grain Brewing Co. is looking to add production space with a new location in Waukesha and plans for wider distribution.

The move is contingent on a conditional-use permit for inclusion of a taproom and restaurant down the road.

Raised Grain's brewery and taproom will stay at its 2244 W. Blue Mound Road in Waukesha, but the company plans to move production to a 20,000-square-foot former mattress company at 1725 Dolphin Drive in Waukesha. The Blue Mound brewhouse will become a pilot brewery.

The plan is to add state-of-the-art equipment to the new facility to increase production and allow for packaging and barrel aging, said Nick Reistad, one of the brewery owners.

Packaging will include 12- and 16-ounce cans. Raised Grain will continue offering specialty beers in 22-ounce, or bomber, sizes, Reistad said.

The new location will allow for a larger, sophisticated brewhouse as well as room for a canning line, Reistad said. Increased capacity will allow Raised Grain to widen its range. It currently sells beer in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties but plans future distribution to Madison and the rest of the state.

Raised Grain opened in 2015. Reistad is one of four partners along with head brewers Scott Kelley, a physician specializing in dermatopathology, and James Gosset, a vascular surgeon. The brewery won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for its Paradocs Red IIPA, named for the two head brewers.

Raised Grain is the smallest brewery represented at the Local Brews bar at Miller Park.