8th Wonder grows beyond Beltway 8
Houston’s 8th Wonder Brewery has begun selling beer in San Antonio and expects within the next 30 days to be in Galveston, a pair of expansions that coincide with its expected entrance into the category of regional craft brewery, the next step in size beyond “microbrewery.”
Guidelines from the Brewers Association trade group describe a regional brewery as one that produces between 15,000 and 6 million barrels annually. The 4½-year-old 8th Wonder is on track to make
15,000 or 16,000 barrels this year, brewmaster and co-founder Aaron Corsi said Wednesday.
As part of the expansion, the brewery — known for such beers as Dome Faux’m, Hopston and Rocket Fuel Vietnamese coffee porter — is being carried in about 20 San Antonio bars and restaurants through Silver Eagle Distributors, Corsi said. H-E-B stores in the Alamo City should have 8th Wonder beers soon.
“We just stuck our toe in San Antonio,” Corsi said.
Silver Eagle also handles 8th Wonder in Houston.
Once a contract with Texas City-based Del Papa Distributing has been finalized, 8th Wonder beers will start showing up in Galveston, Baytown and other spots in Del Papa’s Victoria-to-Beaumont distribution zone. Corsi said that expansion is expected to boost sales by 1,500 to 2,000 barrels.
Corsi provided the update during a promotional event ahead of the Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival over Labor Day weekend in Galveston.
8th Wonder is one of the sponsors for the eighth annual festival.