FRANKLIN STREET BREWING COMPANY
Kyle and Chad Sands
Franklin Street Brewing Company is a family-owned production brewery and taproom located in Manchester. The brewery is owned and operated by brothers Kyle and Chad Sands, who opened the company in 2014 and began distributing kegs throughout Iowa in 2016. Franklin Street Brewing Company makes various flavors of beer that are sold throughout the state. In addition, the Sands donate spent brewers’ grain back to the farmers from whom they originally purchased the grain.
Franklin Street Brewing Company’s Choose Iowa grant project will increase production by purchasing and installing a canning line. This will also allow the brewery to continue to support local farmers and their community by purchasing more Iowa-grown hops and grain.
Over the next two years, the Sands anticipate the brewery will increase production by 50 percent, sales by 50 percent and new accounts by 75 percent. The brewery also plans to add more employees. This project will support Franklin Street Brewing Company’s goal of operating a well-respected, community-oriented business serving the residents of Manchester and Lake Dehli.
Project update as of May 25, 2023
From Chad Sands Co-owner of Franklin Street Brewing Company
"We started canning in earnest with our new canning line in March '23 and we've immediately noticed a positive impact on our business. Our distribution sales are up 14% this year already compared to last year. A lot of that has to do with not paying Backpocket Brewing Company to brew and can for us and being able to can any batch of beer we want to, rather than relying on Backpocket to schedule out our beers throughout the year. Our best-selling beer, Drugstore Cowboy, can be found in Hy-Vee's throughout the state and we couldn't be more excited. Big time thanks to IDALS (Iowa Department of Agriculture) for making this happen for us!"
