With some 6,000 breweries operating across the country, distribution news is always a steady constant in the CBB mailbox. Every week, we get virtual piles of announcements on new alliances, upcoming state expansions and even reductions from breweries growing and shrinking their distribution footprints. Here is some of that wholesaler news. Enjoy!
Ground Breaker Brewing partners with Humboldt County’s Craft Beer Distribution
Ground Breaker Brewing has teamed up with Craft Beer Distribution Co. to bring award-winning 100 percent gluten-free craft beer to Humboldt County, Calif.
“We are very careful in who we form distribution partners with,” remarked James Neumeister, founder and head of R&D at Ground Breaker Brewing. “From when I first met Megan, CBDC seemed like a natural fit for us in Northern California.”
Craft Beer Distribution will distribute Ground Breaker’s full portfolio in the Eureka-Arcata-Fortuna metropolitan area. In addition to year-round products like Dark Ale, three-time Gold Medal winner in the Gluten-Free category at the Great American Beer Festival craft enthusiasts in Humboldt County will also see upcoming season releases like Ground Breaker’s Paddy Porter from the Experiment Ale Series.
“Bringing Ground Breaker into Humboldt is a win-win,” said Megan Schwartz, co-owner of Craft Beer Distribution. “Humboldt folks get new, amazing gluten-free craft beers and Portland gets to export an awesome local product.”
Ground Breaker Brewing’s gluten-free craft beer has already started hitting store shelves in Humboldt, County.
Breakside Brewery expands California distribution, partners with Delta Pacific Beverage
Breakside Brewery and Delta Pacific Beverage have partnered to distribute the Oregon-based brewery’s award-winning beers to several areas throughout California including South Bay, East Bay and Central Valley. They will kick-off the new partnership with a series of region-wide launch events planned for early February during San Francisco Beer Week in cities around the region.
“Expanding down the I-5 corridor was a natural for us, and in Delta Pacific, we have a distribution partner that fits our values and vision,” said Scott Lawrence of Breakside Brewery. “Delta Pacific came highly recommended and, after a couple of meetings, we knew we would be successful together, not to mention being able to sit down and enjoy a beer together at the end of the day.”
The new distribution will encompass 14 counties ranging from Santa Clara all the way to Fresno and Tulare. This grows the brewery’s California presence beyond its 2016 launch with Mussetter Distributing farther north in the state.
Starting later this month, 22-ounce bottles and draft will be available throughout the new area, including core year-round offerings such as: Breakside IPA, two-time winner in the highly competitive American-style IPA category at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF); Wanderlust IPA, a golden IPA made with five different hops and also a GABF award winner; and Breakside Pilsner, a traditional German-style lager with clean bitterness. Beginning in late March, six-packs of Stay West IPA and Pilsner will also be available, along with a seasonal lineup of the brewery’s creations.
Chris Dunn of Delta Pacific said, “We pride ourselves on having one of the most unique craft beer portfolios in Northern California, so we are especially excited in this upcoming relationship with Breakside Brewery. This award-winning brand will be well-received in such a distinctive and expansive market, and we can’t wait to share these beers!”
The teams at Breakside and Delta Pacific have a series of launch events planned for the Central Valley, as well as the East and South Bays during San Francisco Beer Week, including:
Thursday, February 8
- 4-7 p.m.: Pita Kabob Gastropub, Visalia
- 8-midnight: Goldstein’s Mortuary and Delicatessen, Fresno
Friday, February 9
- 6-close, Churchkey, Modesto
Saturday, February 10
- 1 p.m., Beer Thirty, Santa Cruz
- 4-9 p.m., The Good Hop, Oakland
Sunday, February 11
- 5:00-9:30 p.m., Whole Foods, Dublin
- 2-4 p.m., Taplands, Santa Clara
- 4:30-8 p.m., The Running Shop and Hops, Morgan Hill
Monday, February 12
- 5-close, Tap 25, Livermore
For an updated list and event details, check local regional calendars or visit www.breakside.com/news-events.
RiverWalk Brewing expands distribution to New Hampshire (sides with Craft Beer Guild Distributing)
RiverWalk Brewing Co. is now available throughout the state of New Hampshire after signing a distribution agreement with Craft Beer Guild Distributing of New Hampshire. Entering the Granite State with IPA and Storm Door Porter, both styles can be found throughout New Hampshire on draft and in stores, including Hannaford Supermarkets. The brewery plans to increase style variety in the very near future.
RiverWalk Brewing owner Steve Sanderson sees the expansion as a natural progression, “For us it’s really about meeting consumer demand. Being so close to New Hampshire, a lot of people had heard of us, tried our beer, and wanted to buy it from their local New Hampshire establishment. Now they can, and we’re equally as excited to bring them what they want!”
Troy Dickson, Market Manager for Craft Beer Guild Distributing of NH, sees a bright future, “We are thrilled to partner with Steve Sanderson and the team at RiverWalk Brewing. From the outset it was clear to us that his vision for beers that are inventive, cosmopolitan and purposeful, coupled with his aggressive plans for the future, solid team and facility, were a match with our values and goals as a craft beer distributor. We look forward to working with Sanderson and his team for many years to come.”
RiverWalk recently opened a new, larger taproom and brewery. The 20,000 square foot space houses a 30 barrel brewhouse, taproom featuring twelve rotating taps, beer-inspired food menu and a private events room.
MadTree Brewing announces expanded distribution to Nashville
MadTree Brewing Co. has expanded its distribution footprint, partnering with Ajax Turner Co. in the Nashville, Tenn., metropolitan area. Beginning in late January, Ajax Turner will distribute draft and package versions of MadTree’s core lineup of beers including PsycHOPathy IPA and Lift Kölsch, along with seasonal offerings, Luna Lux white IPA and Rubus Cacao chocolate raspberry stout. Launch event details will be made available at madtreebrewing.com/nash.
“Ajax Turner was an easy choice for us as we align on all the same goals of bringing great beer to and supporting the community of middle Tennessee,” says Co-Founder Brady Duncan. “We are really looking forward to hanging out and having a beer with Nashville.”
“We are really excited to have MadTree Brewing join the craft beer portfolio. The brewery’s focus on quality beer and community is what caught our attention,” said Kyle Lawing, Ajax Turner Craft and Import Beer manager. “The MadTree name is already familiar to many in the area and people have been asking for it for a long time. We are proud to finally be able to bring MadTree to the area.”
Silva Brewing signs with Stone Distributing Co., beers to hit Santa Barbara County first
Since Silva Brewing’s inception, getting a taste of its critically acclaimed beers meant venturing to its tasting room in Paso Robles, Calif., or to neighboring bars and restaurants in San Luis Obispo County. That will change this month, care of a partnership with California-based Stone Distributing Co., which will utilize its manpower and expertise to shuttle Silva Brewing beers to areas of the Central Coast south of SLO County, starting with an immediate, concentrated focus on Santa Barbara County.
“We’ve received an abundance of inquiries from our fans asking when our beer will be available in Santa Barbara, and we’re excited to announce that day has arrived,” says Silva Brewing co-founder and head of operations Mary Jo Silva. Initially, this will include four beers from Silva Brewing’s year-round core offerings: Paso Pale Ale, 1st Gold German-style Kolsch, Nut Farm Walnut Milk Stout and Hop Maniac Classic West Coast-style IPA.
In addition to Santa Barbara County, Stone Distributing Co. will make occasional deliveries to retail accounts in Southern California. Additionally, Silva Brewing will continue its partnership with Central Coast Distributing to distribute its entire draft-beer line-up throughout SLO County and northern Santa Barbara County.
“I’m super stoked that Stone Distributing has taken us on as a supplier partner. I feel like we’re part of the family now and I know they’ll do a great job for us in the Central Coast and, eventually, in Southern California,” says co-owner and brewmaster Chuck Silva. “We expect this added distribution will take our existing facility to a maximum capacity of 1,200 barrels in 2018.”
In 2017, Silva Brewing’s first full year in operation, the company produced 600 barrels, releasing a dozen diverse beers. In doing so, Silva established a reputation for exceptional quality along with strong regional followings, not only in Paso Robles, but south in San Diego County. That is where Silva honed and perfected his skills for a decade as brewmaster for Green Flash Brewing Co., the country’s 37th largest craft-brewing interest. That is also the home-base for Stone Distributing Co., an offshoot of the country’s ninth largest craft-beer operation, Stone Brewing. Like the vast majority of consumers, Stone’s leadership appreciates Silva’s long and illustrious track record and is enthusiastic about a mutually beneficial partnership forged by industry veterans.
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