Barrels of beer aging and nearly a dozen large stainless steel tanks fill the new production facility of Ocean Lab Brewing Company in the area known as the “Boatmen’s Village” (“Pueblo de los Lancheros”).

With the manufacturing lines producing hundreds of beers per hour, Matías Fernández and his brother Luis, owners of the Puerto Rican brewery, officially inaugurated Ocean Lab’s new headquarters with the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new 80,000-square-foot facility will allow the company to quadruple production of its signature golden beverage.

For the past nine years, Ocean Lab operated its production line at Vivo Beach Club in Isla Verde, Carolina, where it produced about 10,000 barrels of beer annually. With the move, the company will have the capacity to produce approximately 1.3 million gallons of beer per year, or more than 550,000 cases annually.

The relocation of Ocean Lab’s headquarters required a total investment of approximately $11.5 million. Of that amount, $9.5 million was spent on equipment imported from Europe, while another $2 million was invested in facility improvements.

“For the island, this means that we can finally compete with all the imported beers, which currently account for a very high percentage of beer consumption in Puerto Rico. Local beer consumption is only about 30%,” said Matías Figueroa.

“Having this expansion means we can increase the consumption of locally made beer in Puerto Rico,” he added.

During an exclusive tour of the production floor by El Nuevo Día, visitors observed the largely automated machinery and production process for Mambo passion fruit beer in cans and SJU beer in bottles.

In addition to the manufacturing operation, the property houses the company’s distribution warehouse, marketing workshop, and administrative offices.

Ocean Lab currently employs approximately 60 full-time workers across manufacturing, quality control, logistics, sales, distribution, food service, and hospitality, with an annual payroll of $2.1 million. Including its restaurant operations, the company supports about 300 jobs.

The company is expected to create 10 additional jobs over the next 12 months, according to Carlos Ríos Pierluisi, Secretary of Puerto Rico’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC).

Ríos Pierluisi explained that the Puerto Rican government awarded the company nearly $3 million in incentives under Puerto Rico’s Incentives Code (Act 60-2019). Approximately $60,000 was allocated to support the creation of 60 jobs in manufacturing, quality control, logistics, sales, distribution, food service, and hospitality, while $2,902,738 was approved for the purchase of machinery and equipment.

“Ocean Lab’s expansion demonstrates the ability of our entrepreneurs to produce from Puerto Rico for the world. This company started from scratch and has grown into a brand that represents Puerto Rico to both local consumers and visitors. Its investment in manufacturing, job creation, and expansion into new markets shows that when we support the talent of our local entrepreneurs, we generate economic activity across multiple sectors,” Ríos Pierluisi said.

The DDEC secretary added that Ocean Lab is one of dozens of Puerto Rican companies currently seeking to expand on the island.

“You can expect many more,” Ríos Pierluisi said, referring to additional expansions like Ocean Lab’s. “There are other manufacturers and local entrepreneurs who will be expanding their presence on the island with plans to export their products beyond Puerto Rico.”

According to Luis, the expansion will ensure that Puerto Rican consumers have access to “the best beer Puerto Rico can produce.”

“We’re going to work to make Ocean Lab a world-class beer, one that has nothing to envy from any other beer in the world,” Luis said.

For his part, Matías said that with the company’s significantly increased production capacity, Ocean Lab is considering exporting its portfolio of beers to other markets.

He also said the company will maintain its original space at Vivo Beach Club and repurpose it for several uses, the most important being a laboratory dedicated to developing new products.

“That’s where, at Vivo Beach Club, we’ll test all the new beers and all the new styles we want to create. It will truly become Ocean Lab’s laboratory,” Matías said.

The company’s portfolio includes more than 20 beers, including Ocean Blue, MayaWest, American Wheat, HopDiver, BOB, IPA, Mambo, and Sunset Amber.

Ocean Lab Brewing Co. was founded in 2017 and has since expanded with a location at The Square in San Patricio Plaza, Guaynabo, employing 65 people. In March of this year, the brewery opened a new location across from the Old San Juan cruise ship piers, investing $1.3 million and creating 50 new jobs.

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This content was translated from Spanish to English using artificial intelligence and was reviewed by an editor before being published.