15-05-2025
Big Grove Brewery opens coffee shop and expands into other cities
Big Grove Brewery is expanding its footprint across the Midwest, with a taproom opening in Omaha, Nebraska, next month and an eventual sixth location in Kansas City.
Why it matters: The brewery's growth bucks the national trend of a shrinking craft beer industry.
State of play: In June, Big Grove is opening its first out-of-state taproom in Omaha. It also opened its surprising newest venture — Big Grove Coffee Co. — in April.
The move to expand its offerings stems from changing consumer tastes, says Bryan Farrell, marketing director for Big Grove.
"It's really hard to get a good fix on Gen Z as they become of legal drinking age," Farrell says. "It does seem like they're drinking less than the generations before."
Flashback: Big Grove opened in Solon in 2013 and opened its Iowa City taproom in 2017. Since then, it's opened taprooms in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, as well as a second production facility in Iowa City.
Zoom in: Several things have helped the brewery continue to expand, including its sheer production size, Farrell says.
There is a tipping point where breweries either need to get large enough to make the labor and materials costs worth it, or stay small and go into local bottle shops.
Big Grove distributes in six states, adding Minnesota to its roster last month. The company works with Casey's, Hy-Vee and Fareway to get on shelves.
Between the lines: That's been helpful, especially as foot traffic hasn't fully returned to taprooms since the pandemic, says Noreen Otto, president of the Iowa Brewers Guild.
What's next: Expect a continued shift into other beverages, including nonalcoholic beer, canned cocktails and drinks with health benefits.
