New Albanian Brewing Company to begin bottling in 22-oz “bomber” bottles.

(The "official" press release)

For the first time since 1935, commercially brewed beer will be bottled in New Albany in February, when the New Albanian Brewing Company begins packaging selected beers in 22-oz bottles ("bombers," in the argot of the biz).

NABC soon will commence bottling operations at its Bank Street Brewhouse location at 415 Bank Street in downtown New Albany.

The last known instance of commercially-licensed beer being brewed and bottled in New Albany was immediately after the repeal of Prohibition, when the Southern Indiana Ice & Brewing Company (also known as Ackerman’s) occupied the former Paul Reising premises from 1933 through 1935. A Holiday Inn Express now stands at the site.

NABC’s decision to package beer in bombers (22 ounce – 650 ml) reflects our preference for the communal utility of the size. Bombers contain two or more servings of beer, ideal for sharing among friends.

While craft canning was the original aim, bottling at our scale and size is more economically feasible in the short term. NABC intends to re-examine canning in the future, after bottling helps us gain experience in packaging.

NABC’s mint-condition, three-head bottle filler, designed for use at a Brew-on-Premise facility, was purchased from HDP of Canada. Reflecting NABC’s longtime brewing ethos, bomber bottling will be artisanal and small scale, but sufficient to expand availability to package stores and on-premise establishments lacking draft systems.

Federal label approval has been granted for Elector (Imperial Red), Elsa von Horizon (Imperial Pilsner) and Hoptimus (Imperial India Pale Ale).

Tony Beard's bomber label design for Elector.

Tony Beard's bomber label design for Elsa Von Horizon.

Tony Beard's bomber label design for Hoptimus.

Others will follow, and broadly speaking, NABC’s higher gravity ales and lagers will be the brands bottled in bombers. Of course, draft growlers of all our currently available beers still can be purchased at NABC’s two New Albany locations (Pizzeria & Public House Monday – Saturday; Bank Street Brewhouse Tuesday -- Sunday).

Initial bottle distribution will be in Floyd and Clark Counties (NABC self-distribution) and Jefferson County, Kentucky (River City Distributing). As bottling ramps up, availability will extend to the remainder of Indiana via Cavalier Distributing in Indianapolis.

For further information, contact me:

Roger A. Baylor, Carnival Barker
New Albanian Brewing Company
Public House & Pizzeria
Bank Street Brewhouse
Cell: 502-468-9710
New Albany, Indiana
roger@newalbanian.com