
Mountain Town Brewing Company
Years in business
Employees
Year Jim Holton began brewing beer
Sales growth rate
Initial Situation
After successfully launching the Mountain Town Station Brewing Co. & Steakhouse in Mount Pleasant, MIch., the company’s beer grew in popularity. So owners Jim and Karen Holten formed a new company, Mountain Town Brewing Company, in 2007.
How the SBDC helped
The Holtons began working with the Michigan SBDC in 2009 on identifying markets, branding, financial analysis and benchmarking. In 2011, they were able to develop a loan package that led to the brewery’s expansion.
Success
Most recently, the Mid-Michigan SBDC provided the Holtons with financial projections to analyze expansion feasibility. They used this data to open another brewery in Alma, Mich.
In a state with an ever-growing craft beer industry, it’s rare to say you were one of the first. When Jim Holton began brewing beer in 1996, his brewery was the 6th in Michigan.
“I began brewing beer when I was a student at Central Michigan University,” said Holton. “I knew brewing beer was going to be a passion of mine and something consumers were going to love.”
As Holton’s craft beer grew in popularity, he and his wife Karen decided to open Mountain Town Brewing Company in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., in 2007. The two are no strangers to entrepreneurship—the brewery is their third business in the Mt. Pleasant area.
The new brewery and taproom allowed them to begin distributing beer across the state while providing locals with a place to enjoy a good beer. Today Michigan consumers can enjoy the Holton’s labor or love through their distinctive ales and lagers that include Gamblers Golden Ale, Railyard Raspberry Wheat and Cow Catcher Red Ale.
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