Each year in January 16 Mile Brewing Company, located in Georgetown, Delaware, honors those with the biggest influence on the brewery’s success the previous year by holding a "Naming of the Tank Event" and naming one of the brew tanks in their honor. For as long as the brewery is in operation, the tank remains named after the honoree.
For 2012, 16 Mile Brewing Company chose Steve and Greg Tigani, owners of Standard Distributing, who distribute Miller Coors products throughout the area. According to Chad Campbell and Brett McCrea, owners of 16 Mile, the Tigani’s invested time, money and people to help build the 16 Mile brand, contributing to 165 percent growth over the past year in an economy that is still struggling.
“Standard supported a small, local-owned brewery and without them we would not be where we are today,” said Claus Hagelman, Sales and Marketing Director at the brewery. Claus stated that 2012 was a recordbreaking year for 16 Mile and they owe a tremendous amount of that success to the Tigani’s.
“16 Mile is an incredible brand,” said Brad Hutchison, a distributor for Standard, whose area includes Atlantic Liquors in Rehoboth Beach. “We cannot keep it in stock it is so popular.”
“This partnership is an example of Delaware businessmen investing in Delaware businesses,” Claus said. “As owners of a company that sells huge breweries, Steve and Greg also know that people like and want a good local beer they can call their own. Naming this tank for them is a direct way to say thanks.”
The event included snack foods, many of which were created using 16 Mile beers and entertainment by Paul Cullen. The latest Collaboration Brew for a Cause, the “Post-Apocalyptic Porter,” was also available at the 16 Mile Tavern.
The first Naming of the Tank Event, held in January 2012, honored George Hummel, the famous beer writer from the Philadelphia area who helped bring national light on 16 Mile brews. Hummel, a member of a well-known Philadelphia brewing family, a nationally recognized beer judge, award-winning brewmaster at Home Sweet Homebrew, and author of “The Complete Homebrew Beer Book,” not only promoted the brewery nationally, but was instrumental in creating the first Delaware Oyster Stout. The brew was one of the brewery’s 2012 “Collaboration Brews for a Cause” that developed such a demand, 16 Mile decided to brew an additional batch.
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