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7/2/2007 - Lakewood Beer Maker Ranked 35th Among American Businesses
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN
LAKEWOOD — When the June issue of ''BeerAdvocate'' magazine arrived at the Southern Tier Brewing Company, Phin DeMink saw a new entry on the list of America's top 50 breweries — his Lakewood business.
As the owner of a brewery, DeMink makes it a point to know who industry officials consider the best in the beer business. He just wasn't expecting to place 35th out of nearly 1,400 American breweries and brew pubs in his third year of running Southern Tier.
''It feels pretty good,'' DeMink said Tuesday, noting that ''BeerAdvocate'' is to the brewing industry as ''Wine Spectator'' is to wineries. ''It's the creme de la creme.''
What's more is that the ranking came only a month after the magazine rated Southern Tier's Unearthly Imperial India Pale Ale the 81st ''Best Beer in the World.'' True to its description as ''a manifestation of the brewer's craft,'' Unearthly was named the ''Best Beer in New York State'' at the 2007 Tap New York Beer Festival in Hunter Mountain.
''We always read the list to see who made the 50 best, but you never expect it to be your brewery,'' DeMink said of the ranking. ''What's nice is that it's all consumer-based, so we were judged by people who actually drink our product.''
A brewer since the age of 21, DeMink started his career at the Ellicottville Brewing Company. In 1998 he decided to further his brewing knowledge and education by enrolling in Chicago's Siebel Institute of Technology. After earning a diploma in Brewing Technology, DeMink accepted a position at Goose Island Beer Company — where he worked until returning to Chautauqua County to open the Southern Tier Brewing Company.
Founded in February of 2004 by DeMink and his step-father, Allen Yahn, the Southern Tier Brewing Company was created with the vision of ''bringing small-batch brewing back to a region rich in brewing tradition.''
A graduate of Allegheny University, Yahn served as Holiday Valley Resort's president and helped make it into the ski resort it is today. In 1995, Yahn and his brother, Walter, tried their hand in the beer business and opened the Ellicottville Brewing Company — which continues to thrive today under the ownership of Peter Kreinheder. According to SouthernTier.com, Yahn remains the business backbone of the Lakewood brewery.
''We decided to start the business here because my wife, Sara, is a native and we wanted to raise our children near family,'' DeMink said, explaining that he, his wife and his step-father are all partners. ''I really do enjoy doing business here in Chautauqua County. We may have been successful faster in a more populated area, but it's not where we wanted to live. Sometimes it just takes a little longer to get what you want.''
In their first year, DeMink and family brewed two flagship brands as well as IPA and distributed the beer regionally. Though the flagship brands flopped, the IPA was a success and by 2005 Southern Tier was selling to the majority of New York and the eastern half of Pennsylvania.
Since opening, the Southern Tier Brewing Company has seen a steady growth — both in what they brew and where they distribute to. In the May/June 2007 issue of ''The New Brewer Journal of the Brewers Association,'' Southern Tier was listed as having increased in volume by 140 percent since 2005 — earning the company the distinction of being the 39th largest brewery in America in 2006.
''2006 was really what catapulted us,'' DeMink said. ''This year we don't expect that, but should see between 30 and 35 percent growth, which is much more comfortable for us.''
Southern Tier currently distributes to more than 25 percent of the United States, including Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Ontario, Canada. In 2006, Southern brewed 6,000 barrels — which equals roughly 1.9 million bottles. According to Nathan Arnone, Southern Tier's graphic designer, the business is on track to brew 8,000 barrels in 2007.
''We continually are developing new product to stay in the lead,'' DeMink said about his brew team, which includes Paul Cain and Jared Brown. ''We started with about eight products and now produce about 25. We will just keep making great beer here in Chautauqua County. That's how we got noticed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.''
The Southern Tier Brewing Company is located at 2051A Stoneman Circle in Lakewood, which is right off Hunt Road. Stoneman Circle is part of the Stoneman Business Park, which is not in residential Lakewood. For information about tours and Southern Tier's different beers, visit SouthernTier.com or call the brewery at 763-5479.
Send comments to ndean@post-journal.com.
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN
LAKEWOOD — When the June issue of ''BeerAdvocate'' magazine arrived at the Southern Tier Brewing Company, Phin DeMink saw a new entry on the list of America's top 50 breweries — his Lakewood business.
As the owner of a brewery, DeMink makes it a point to know who industry officials consider the best in the beer business. He just wasn't expecting to place 35th out of nearly 1,400 American breweries and brew pubs in his third year of running Southern Tier.
''It feels pretty good,'' DeMink said Tuesday, noting that ''BeerAdvocate'' is to the brewing industry as ''Wine Spectator'' is to wineries. ''It's the creme de la creme.''
What's more is that the ranking came only a month after the magazine rated Southern Tier's Unearthly Imperial India Pale Ale the 81st ''Best Beer in the World.'' True to its description as ''a manifestation of the brewer's craft,'' Unearthly was named the ''Best Beer in New York State'' at the 2007 Tap New York Beer Festival in Hunter Mountain.
''We always read the list to see who made the 50 best, but you never expect it to be your brewery,'' DeMink said of the ranking. ''What's nice is that it's all consumer-based, so we were judged by people who actually drink our product.''
A brewer since the age of 21, DeMink started his career at the Ellicottville Brewing Company. In 1998 he decided to further his brewing knowledge and education by enrolling in Chicago's Siebel Institute of Technology. After earning a diploma in Brewing Technology, DeMink accepted a position at Goose Island Beer Company — where he worked until returning to Chautauqua County to open the Southern Tier Brewing Company.
Founded in February of 2004 by DeMink and his step-father, Allen Yahn, the Southern Tier Brewing Company was created with the vision of ''bringing small-batch brewing back to a region rich in brewing tradition.''
A graduate of Allegheny University, Yahn served as Holiday Valley Resort's president and helped make it into the ski resort it is today. In 1995, Yahn and his brother, Walter, tried their hand in the beer business and opened the Ellicottville Brewing Company — which continues to thrive today under the ownership of Peter Kreinheder. According to SouthernTier.com, Yahn remains the business backbone of the Lakewood brewery.
''We decided to start the business here because my wife, Sara, is a native and we wanted to raise our children near family,'' DeMink said, explaining that he, his wife and his step-father are all partners. ''I really do enjoy doing business here in Chautauqua County. We may have been successful faster in a more populated area, but it's not where we wanted to live. Sometimes it just takes a little longer to get what you want.''
In their first year, DeMink and family brewed two flagship brands as well as IPA and distributed the beer regionally. Though the flagship brands flopped, the IPA was a success and by 2005 Southern Tier was selling to the majority of New York and the eastern half of Pennsylvania.
Since opening, the Southern Tier Brewing Company has seen a steady growth — both in what they brew and where they distribute to. In the May/June 2007 issue of ''The New Brewer Journal of the Brewers Association,'' Southern Tier was listed as having increased in volume by 140 percent since 2005 — earning the company the distinction of being the 39th largest brewery in America in 2006.
''2006 was really what catapulted us,'' DeMink said. ''This year we don't expect that, but should see between 30 and 35 percent growth, which is much more comfortable for us.''
Southern Tier currently distributes to more than 25 percent of the United States, including Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Ontario, Canada. In 2006, Southern brewed 6,000 barrels — which equals roughly 1.9 million bottles. According to Nathan Arnone, Southern Tier's graphic designer, the business is on track to brew 8,000 barrels in 2007.
''We continually are developing new product to stay in the lead,'' DeMink said about his brew team, which includes Paul Cain and Jared Brown. ''We started with about eight products and now produce about 25. We will just keep making great beer here in Chautauqua County. That's how we got noticed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.''
The Southern Tier Brewing Company is located at 2051A Stoneman Circle in Lakewood, which is right off Hunt Road. Stoneman Circle is part of the Stoneman Business Park, which is not in residential Lakewood. For information about tours and Southern Tier's different beers, visit SouthernTier.com or call the brewery at 763-5479.
Send comments to ndean@post-journal.com.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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