Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., distributor of low cab forward trucks, announced the development of a craft beer truck in collaboration with Supreme, Delivery Concepts, Inc., and Bottle Logic (an Anaheim-based craft brewer).
The craft beer industry has been in a red-hot growth pattern for the last five years. Since 2014, craft breweries have more than doubled and, according to the Brewers Association, the craft brewing industry contributed $76.2 billion and more than 500,000 jobs to the U.S. economy in 2017.
Many of these brewing operations are small businesses that brew and deliver in their surrounding communities. To promote themselves, they will often take part in local music festivals, street fairs, and other live events that draw festive crowds. They quickly find themselves in the dilemma of requiring a dual purpose vehicle—one to make their regular deliveries, and one to promote their brewery at live events.
To showcase how a craft brewer can maximize their investment in their delivery truck, Isuzu, Supreme, and Delivery Concepts, Inc. developed a craft beer truck built with the quality and durability to make deliveries, and which can also be used at live events for promoting the product.
The chassis is an Isuzu NRR with a 150” wheelbase and a robust 19,500lb GVWR to accommodate heavier payloads. The Isuzu low cab forward design features a 49.5 degree wheel-cut angle for greater maneuverability, allowing drivers to make deliveries and set up displays in tight quarters that cannot be negotiated by conventional cab trucks. Increased visibility allows drivers to see the ground within 8' of the front of the truck, and an 85 degree door-swing angle means entry and exit are easy for deliveries and set-up that are faster and more efficient.
The NRR is powered by Isuzu’s 5.2L turbocharged diesel engine which generates 215hp and 452 lb-ft of torque, for a combination of fuel economy and performance. And its B10 durability rating of 375,000 miles, is evidence of the engine’s long-term dependability.
“The combination of economy, power, maneuverability and low cost of ownership, made choosing the NRR as the basis for our new craft beer truck a no-brainer,” said Steve Napolitano, co-founder and president of Bottle Logic. “We can’t wait to put this truck to work for us.”
After reviewing Bottle Logic’s operations, Isuzu, Supreme and Delivery Concepts, Inc. created a body equipped with:
- A 16' Supreme Kold King insulated body (16’L x 91”H x 96”W) that is cooled with a Thermo King 680R with electric standby. This setup will provide ample space for kegs and crates while keeping the product refrigerated. The electric standby gives brewers more flexibility in loading the truck in the evening for the next morning’s delivery, all while keeping the product cooled.
- A 2,500lb Maxon TE25L tuck-away liftgate with side steps to help ease loading and unloading during delivery. E-track has been mounted on the interior of the body at a special height to secure kegs during transit.
- Two 24” x 24” toolboxes (one on each side) store tables, chairs and event material. A 15' overhead retractable awning provides shade for servers and customers alike.
- The driver’s side of the body has an 8-tap beer station integrated into the side with a 10-gallon overflow tank and a special mounting on the body’s interior for the CO2 manifold. Covering the taps on the exterior, is a locking door that swings up to serve as a menu board. LED lights illuminate the taps to provide a clean hi-tech appearance.
This truck was showcased at the 2019 Craft Brewers Conference in Denver, Colorado, April 8-11, and went into service with Bottle Logic following the show.
