With exactly one zillion breweries operating across America, distribution news is always a steady constant in the CBB mailbox. Every week, we get 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! If you have distribution news, send it to [email protected].
Coronado Brewing goes with Stone Distributing for southern California distro
Beginning this December, Stone Distributing Co. will distribute the brands of Coronado Brewing Co. in southern California. Stone Distributing Co. will represent Coronado Brewing’s brands in territories including San Diego County, Orange County, Los Angeles County, as well as large portions of San Bernadino and Riverside County.
“Coronado Brewing is a phenomenal addition and a seamless fit to the Stone Distributing portfolio,” explained Brian Fried, Stone Distributing’s newly appointed general manager. “Coronado is a quintessential SoCal brand with a passionate fan base that’s growing fast. Stone Distributing has the team and the infrastructure to help propel that growth. We’re honored to partner with this iconic brand.”
Coronado’s sales are currently up 20+ percent year-to-date thanks in large part to the company’s two hottest brands, Weekend Vibes IPA and Salty Crew Blonde Ale, both of which earned recent GABF medals in 2019 and 2020. Weekend Vibes ranks as the 8th best-selling India Pale Ale in SoCal, up 18.2 percent, claiming the highest growth trends of the top ten IPAs in that category. It’s counterpart, Salty Crew Blonde, ranks as the third best-selling blonde/golden ale in SoCal, more than doubling total sales year over year at +121.4 percent.
Stone Distributing has demonstrated outsized performance as it continues to gain share in the highly competitive SoCal market. Recent Nielsen data (last 13 weeks ending 10/29/22) shows Stone Distributing up 1.7 points of market share, growing to 12.8 percent of the total craft/FMB/Hard Seltzer market in southern California.
With both organizations trending in a positive direction, the partnership looks to be set up for immediate and sustained growth for the Coronado portfolio of brands.
“Stone Distributing has a proven track record and is highly regarded by our retailers,” said Coronado Brewing Chief Commercial Officer Clinton Smith. “We’re both ready to win, and we see 2023 as a big opportunity to grow our business further into all channels. With an aligned vision, we are looking forward to a long-term partnership with the Stone Distribution team next year and well into the future.”
Rhinegeist goes to Houston with Silver Eagle Distributors
Cincinnati-based Rhinegeist Brewery recently announced its expansion into Houston, Texas. The chance to expand distribution to Houston’s large, diverse market is an exciting move for the brewery, and Rhinegeist has launched a two-stage expansion into the Space City, which began in August of this year.
To get these products into the hands of local purveyors and consumers, Rhinegeist has partnered with Silver Eagle Distributors Houston, an independent beverage distributor with a broad selection of domestic and import brands, craft beers, spirits and more, serving the greater Houston area.
Thirsty Houstonians have enjoyed Rhinegeist’s dynamic line of full-flavored hard craft beverages called RGBevs in trusted stores across the city since mid-August. The line features convenient 12-oz cans of:
- Bubbles (Apple, Peach and Cranberry Splash)
- Lemmy Nade (Hard Lemonade)
- Wowie Colada (Pineapple and Passionfruit Colada)
- Geist Tea (Hard Tea)
An assorted variety of Rhinegeist draft staples are also now available on tap at bars across the city, including:
- Truth (India Pale Ale)
- Cheetah (Lager)
- Glow (Fruited Sour Ale)
- Geist Tea (Hard Tea)
“Silver Eagle Houston is excited and honored to bring Rhinegeist’s vibrant RGBev brands to our local retailers and consumers,” said Tom Montague, vice president of sales. “We are really excited about the expansion in October, which will bring Rhinegeist’s nationally-acclaimed craft beer brands to Houston consumers.”
“We have been talking with the team at Silver Eagle Houston for years and have been humbled by their continued interest in selling our brands in the great state of Texas,” added Matt Steinke, VP of sales at Rhinegeist. “Silver Eagle Houston is a world class distributor operating at an extremely high level. The RGBevs line offers a variety of flavorful options for customers exploring the beyond beer space and is the perfect addition to Silver Eagle Houston’s portfolio. We are very excited to work with Silver Eagle Houston to provide their customers with these dynamic new beverages beginning in August, as well as a limited selection of draft beer to market this fall.”
Revision Brewing announces distribution changes in central and southern California
New distribution changes have taken place for Revision Brewing Co. in both central and southern California. The brewery’s beer is now being distributed through Donaghy Sales in the Central Valley, Santa Cruz, and Monterey and through Guardian Distributors of LA for the greater Los Angeles and San Diego markets.
The changeover to Donaghy Sales came after Delta Pacific Beverage sold off part of its distribution footprint. Beers from Revision Brewing were transferred over to Donaghy Sales for the Central Valley, Santa Cruz, and Monterey territories, however, Delta Pacific Beverage will continue to distribute Revision Brewing brands in its core counties, such as Contra Costa, Alameda, and Santa Clara to name a few.
As for southern California, Guardian Distributors of LA will now be distributing Revision Brewing beers in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego county. Revision Brewing sees the distribution mashup for central and southern California as a chance to ignite the brand in outlying areas where more attention will be beneficial.
“The southern California craft beer scene has really exploded, and Revision is excited to be in the mix,” expressed Jeremy Warren, CEO and founding brewmaster.
Revision Brewing is currently distributed in 16 states and eight countries. All production takes place at the 30,000-sq-ft brewery in Sparks, Nevada, on a 20-bbl, three-vessel brew system. Revision Brewing is finalizing additional distribution in multiple new states and countries that are soon to be announced.
RationAle Brewing expands its non-alcoholic craft beer into Nevada with Breakthru Beverage Group
RationAle Brewing, the San Diego-born, Sonoma-brewed non-alcoholic craft beer brand, recently announced plans to build upon its successful partnership with Breakthru Beverage Group and move across state lines into Nevada for increased on-premise and in-store distribution. In summer 2022, RationAle partnered with Breakthru to bring its “Brews without the Booze” to Colorado and plans to leverage the relationship to continue to crush society’s drinking rules, one state at a time.
Breakthru Beverage Nevada is a statewide leader in the distribution of fine wine, spirits and beer. The northern Las Vegas facility features Breakthru’s flagship Alchemy room, complete with a 30-ft-long bar top with three full cocktail training stations, state-of-the-art bar equipment and a one-of-a-kind draft training system.
“Expanding into Nevada is particularly noteworthy for RationAle, given it’s home to Sin City, a destination internationally revered as a hub for alcohol and overindulgence,” shared Jamie Fay, founder and CEO of RationAle Brewing. “As a non-alcoholic beer brand that maintains the quality and taste of craft beer, we’re excited to provide locals and tourists alike with more options to crush their favorite brews within the settings they have chosen to moderate their boozing.”
Launched in late 2021, RationAle has added variety, flavor and innovation to the fast-growing U.S. non-alcohol beer category, providing brew-loving consumers with delicious options to enjoy craft beer in moderation. All of RationAle’s completely-crushable, non-alcoholic craft brews are served in 12-oz cans, made with high-quality ingredients and in small batches, maintaining the bold, refreshing taste of traditional craft beer.
“We here at Breakthru Beverage in Nevada have been looking for a solid non-alcoholic craft beer to add to our portfolio for a while. We finally found it with RationAle Brewing,” shared Deacon Nauslar, vice president of beer, Breakthru Beverage Nevada. “Currently, RationAle is small but with a lot of runway ahead of it, and we couldn’t be more proud to be its distributor in the great state of Nevada. Here’s to RationAle Brewery in 2023 and beyond.”
As Breakthru continues to make targeted investments, this expansion aligns with Breakthru’s broader beer strategy and the category’s position within the company’s total beverage alcohol portfolio. RationAle’s expansion into Nevada follows its Oregon growth, partnering with Bigfoot Beverages and Maletis Beverage, and its partnership with Karl Strauss Brewing Co., to strengthen distribution throughout southern California with its full lineup, including: Citrus Hazy IPA, West Coast IPA, Mexican Lager and New England IPA.
RationAle’s Brews without the Booze are sold in six packs of 12-oz cans, available via RationAleBrewing.com, and continue to carve out desirable beer fridge real estate in strategic retail and on-premise partners throughout California, Colorado, Oregon and Nevada, including Whole Foods Market, Market of Choice, Erewhon Market, Mollie Stone’s, Olivers, Lassen’s, and Seaside Market.
Icelandic craft beer brand Einstök expands into upstate New York
Einstök Beer Co. recently announced further expansion of its award-winning Icelandic ales in the Empire State.
“Einstök is pleased to have entered into a distribution agreement with the Craft Beer Guild New York,” said David Altshuler, Einstök cofounder and president. “CBG New York, located in New Paltz, New York, which services Westchester and Rockland counties, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region and the Adirondacks, offers Einstök the ability to broaden distribution throughout the markets well served by CBG New York.”
Craft Beer Guild distributes a broad portfolio of high-quality craft and imported beer brands. Einstök’s U.S. distribution continues to experience healthy growth. Since its inception in 2011, Einstök’s U.S. sales has consistently grown every year. Based on data from Statistics Iceland, Einstök is still the largest exporter of alcoholic beverages originating from Iceland.
Located just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle in the fishing port of Akureyri, Iceland, the Einstök Brewery taps the purest water on earth to create its craft ales. At present, Einstök brews Icelandic White Ale, Icelandic Arctic Pale Ale, Icelandic Arctic Lager, Icelandic Toasted Porter, Icelandic Wee Heavy and award winning seasonal brews: Icelandic Arctic Berry Ale, Icelandic Lime & Juniper Pils, Icelandic Doppelbock and Icelandic Winter Ale. Along with the United States and its home country, Iceland, Einstök is now available in 24 countries, inclusive of the British Isles, Europe, China, and Taiwan.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.