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].
NYC’s Alewife Brewing teams up with 31st & Wharton for Pennsylvania distribution
Queens, New York-based Alewife Brewing is now bringing its excellent craft beer to great cities like Philadelphia, Harrisburg and many others in Pennsylvania in 2023. Alewife Brewing will be distributed through 31st & Wharton, servicing counties in eastern Pennsylvania with a warehouse located in Philadelphia.
“We know Philly and its neighboring towns are made up of huge craft beer fanatics,” said Patrick Donagher, cofounder of Alewife Brewing. “We’re thrilled to be bringing our unique flavors and quality brews to the craft beer lovers of Philadelphia. It’s an honor to be a part of the city’s rich brewing history and we can’t wait to share our passion with this community.”
“Death to Ego, our flagship IPA, is a true representation of our commitment to quality and innovation. We can’t wait for the people of Philadelphia to try it and experience the bold, hoppy flavor that has made it a favorite among our loyal customers. Alewife Brewing will be a great addition to retail shelves and taps at local bars. We couldn’t be happier to be in the great state of Pennsylvania,” added Alewife Cofounder Roz Donagher.
“We are very excited to launch the Alewife brand in Eastern PA,” said Jason Miller of 31st & Wharton. “As our portfolio develops, brands like Alewife prove to take craft beer quality and creativity to the next level. While there will be a sharp focus on the Philly metro region, Alewife will be available from Harrisburg to Scranton.”
Brewed in Sunnyside Queens, Alewife Brewing has an array of flagship beers and exciting new beer releases for 2023. Year-round classics include Sunnyside Blonde Ale, Death to Ego Hazy IPA, Queens Blvd Double IPA, Thousand Stars German-Style Pilsner and 7 Line Amber. Many one-off and repeat beers include Mind Mist NE/Hazy IPA, Tripping on the Forest Floor Brown Ale, Motueka Prophecy Cold IPA, Riwaka Prophecy Cold IPA, Altered State Hazy Double IPA and many more coming soon.
Maui Brewing is headed to Georgia with United Distributors
Maui Brewing Co. will broaden its distribution footprint to 26 states, partnering with United Distributors of Georgia beginning this month. MBC fans in Georgia will be able to purchase Maui’s core craft beverages including Bikini Blonde Lager, Big Swell IPA, Coconut Hiwa Porter, Pineapple Mana Wheat, and Sunshine Girl Golden Ale as they are distributed to restaurants and retailers in both draft and cans.
“After successful launches in the border states of Tennessee and Alabama in 2022 and countless requests from our fans in Georgia, we felt the time was right to bring Aloha to the Peach State,” stated Mike Schaa, division director-east for Craft ‘Ohana.
While discussing the new market launch with various craft brewing friends, Maui Brewing collaborated with New Realm Brewing of Atlanta on Mahalo Y’All Berliner Weisse, brewed with sweet tea, peach, and mango. Mahalo Y’All is available on draft only with limited distribution. Look for Maui Brewing craft beverages to hit retailers including, but not limited to, select Kroger stores, Total Wine & More, local independent liquor stores, bars, and restaurants in the area.
Urban South Brewery and Ben E. Keith partner for distro across greater Houston
Urban South Brewery, known for producing high-quality, sessionable and affordable craft beers and hard seltzers, recently announced its partnership with Ben E. Keith distribution to bring its award-winning beers to even more consumers in the greater Houston, Texas, area.
“Ben E. Keith is eager to build on Urban South’s successful Houston tap room by partnering with them to distribute their outstanding beers to consumers throughout Houston, College Station and SE Texas,” said Kevin Nettleton, general manager of Ben E. Keith Distribution.
“Since launching our Urban South-HTX brewery in 2020, we’re proud to have become a central player in the growing Houston craft beer community,” said Anna Jensen, Urban South Brewery-HTX’s director of operations. “We’re thrilled to take the next step in sharing Urban South beers beyond our Houston tap room and into grocery stores, bars, and restaurants across the region.”
Craft beer fans can now find Urban South’s ode-to-Houston brew, called HTX IPA, as well as its flagship Paradise Park American Lager and Lime Cucumber Gose in cans at retailers across southeast Texas, including HEB, Specs, Total Wine, Kroger, Central Market and Whole Foods. Customers will also now see their favorite Urban South beers on draft at many restaurants and bars across the region, offering flagship beers as well as seasonal special releases like the famous “Spilled” fruited sour series.
The Urban South team will lead tastings and promotional events around Houston all month long to celebrate the distribution launch. Follow Urban South HTX’s social media accounts for event details and where to find Urban South’s beers. Urban South Brewery’s headquarters in New Orleans has select distribution across the South, including Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. This new partnership between Urban South-HTX location and Ben E. Keith brings its popular drinks to a wider audience in Texas.
To locate nearby retailers, visit the Beer Finder map on Urban South’s website: https://urbansouthbrewery.com/beers/beer-finder
Surreal Brewing launches distribution in Virginia in partnership with Specialty Beverages VA
Surreal Brewing Co., the non-alcoholic craft beer brand from Northern California, recently announced its latest partnership with Virginia’s premier beverage distributor, Specialty Beverage. After successfully launching a series of distribution deals in key markets and experiencing significant growth throughout the states of Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Ohio, Cofounders Donna Hockey and Tammer Zein-El-Abedein hope to build upon the momentum they have gained to introduce Surreal Brewing to craft beer loving consumers across the state of Virginia seeking great tasting options for moderation.
“Surreal Brewing sells through distributors as well as through our e-commerce platform and has many orders coming from the East Coast,” said Hockey. “Our goal is to get delicious NA beer to people in real-time without waiting for it to be delivered from CA. We are happy to serve the mid-Atlantic region through Specialty Beverage.”
Since launching in 2018, Surreal Brewing has been a pioneer in the non-alcoholic beer category bringing healthy, delicious, first-to-market brews that won’t compromise the health goals of its consumers. As the most awarded and healthiest line of non-alcoholic craft beer in the United States, all Surreal Brewing’s non-alcoholic craft beers are made from all-natural, non-GMO ingredients, are low in calories, contain zero sugar and are available in a wide variety of brews and flavors, including limited-edition seasonal beverages, providing craft beer enthusiasts with delicious options that maintain the bold, refreshing taste of traditional craft beer.
As more and more consumers seek options for moderation, partnerships with distributors such as Specialty Beverage will be necessary for Surreal Brewing’s expansion in Virginia and meeting the state’s high consumption and high demand for non-alcoholic beer. Pushing the boundaries of the non-alcoholic craft beer industry, Surreal Brewing strives to think differently and create a unique product, bringing a new non-alcoholic beverage experience to consumers in Virginia.
Tennessee Brew Works is now serving in Memphis
Micro-brewery Tennessee Brew Works recently announced distribution of its beers throughout Memphis, Tennessee. Tennessee Brew Works will be featuring its lineup of Tennessee-inspired beers including the popular Hippies & Cowboys IPA, State Park Blonde ale that is brewed in collaboration with the Tennessee State Parks, River Drifter Hazy IPA, Urban Hiker Tennessee Lager, Southern Wit Belgian White and more.
The brewery has partnered with Eagle Distributing of Memphis for distribution of their craft beers. Releases will begin the week of February 20, 2023, and be available at area bars, restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores over the coming weeks.
Tennessee Brew Works is an award-winning brewery that more recently won a coveted Great American Beer Festival competition medal for the Farmer’s Beat farmhouse ale, a collaboration between the brewery and Delvin Farms, the largest Community Support Agriculture (CSA) farm in the state.
The brewery makes considerable efforts to be good stewards of the land and community by sourcing raw materials from local Tennessee farmers including grains used in some of its top selling beers. TBW introduced the Tennessee Grain Initiative, with ambitions of establishing barley as a new cash crop for the state. TBW officially created the state’s first All-Tennessee grain beers in 2018, partnering with Batey Farms (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Tennessee State Parks. The all-Tennessee grain State Park Blonde ale is notably the official beer of the Tennessee State Parks and benefits the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy for the preservation of the state’s 57 State Parks. TBW have since partnered with Willis Farms (Hillsboro, Tennessee) as a major grain supplier.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to share our Tennessee borne creations with Memphis,” said Christian Spears, founder and president of Tennessee Brew Works. “We look forward to growing our relationship with the community and enjoying some beers together along the way.”
Island Brands USA expands distro around the country via direct-to-consumer partner BevMax
Island Brands USA is riding the coastal wave all the way across the country this spring with new, expanded distribution of its top-selling premium beers through BevMax. Just in time for warm weather, Island Brands’ Island Coastal Lager, Island Active, and its 12-can variety packs will be available in 28 states — including beer meccas like New York, Oregon, California, and Colorado — for online ordering and shipping, beginning in March.
“This is enormous for us as we’ve been working to fulfill our fans’ desires to get their hands on Island Brands’ products beyond our core distribution area in the Southeast,” said David Sexton, director of business development for Island Brands USA. “Partnering with BevMax allows us to get our clean, top-quality beers to people all over the country — and we can’t wait to hear what they think.”
Island Brands was recently recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the country, earning a spot on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list. In addition, the innovative company announced a portfolio expansion into high-quality spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails, complementing its lineup of superpremium beers and flavored malt beverages.
Island Brands is furthering its mission to give back in meaningful ways, including being a proud member of 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate at least 1 percent of annual sales directly to approved environmental nonprofits worldwide. Island Brands has raised more than $5.4 million through a successful crowdfunding campaign that is closing soon.
Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., Island Brands USA is a lifestyle company that uses only the finest, all-natural ingredients to produce premium beer, flavored malt beverages, craft spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails. Its products are available at major retailers and popular bars through rapidly expanding domestic and international distribution, online direct-to-consumer ordering and fleet wide on Carnival Cruise Lines. Founded in 2016, the innovative company’s growing portfolio of all clean, high quality beverages cater to active, socially conscious consumers.
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