In the midst of the recession, Laughing Dog Brewing is breathing fresh energy into a well trenched beer industry.

 

Laughing Dog Brewing was started by Michelle Douglass and Fred Colby in 2005.  Colby was a home brewer for many years and won several home brew competitions. With Colby’s passion for good hand brewed beer, they decided to put their hard work into their own business and opened Laughing Dog Brewing. 

 

Laughing Dog is profitable and thriving. Their beers have won several awards. The brewery has also been awarded the 2006 Chamber Small Business Appreciation Award. Their distribution network has grown to 11 states. They brew twelve different beers, consisting of Ale, Reserve and Seasonal, with the best seller being Alpha Dog. 

 

Douglass attributed part of the business’s success to the Idaho SBDC, saying “The coaching and knowledge the Idaho SBDC has provided to help with business decisions and expansion has been great. At any stage of business from startup to growth, they are a wealth of information.”

 

In January 2010, Laughing Dog will be relocating to a 10,000-square-foot space.  The new site will provide not only a larger manufacturing capacity, but also a larger tap room with an interactive high definition golf game, electronic dart board, and outside seating.