Record Number of Nominees Announced for Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Brewers Association (BA) announced the nominees for the Seventh Annual Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award. The award recognizes an American beer distributor who goes above and beyond in their efforts to actively market, sell and promote craft beer.

The Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award will be presented jointly on October 12, at the Great American Beer Festival, hosted by the BA, in Denver. In addition to the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award, a Craft Beer Achievement Award (first runner-up) and Craft Beer Distributor Recognition Award (second runner-up) also will be presented. The nominees for this year’s award include:

7G Distributing, LLC — Cedar Rapids, Idaho
Ace Distributing — York, Pa.
Beechwood Sales & Service — New Berlin, Wis.
BountyBev — Nashville
Central States Beverage Co. — Kansas City, Mo.
DBI Beverage Sacramento — West Sacramento, Calif.
DBI Beverage San Francisco — South San Francisco, Calif.
DeCrescente Distributing Co. — Mechanicville, N.Y.
Euclid Beverage LLC — North Aurora, Ill.
Heart of America Beverage Co. — Springfield, Mo.
High Country Beverage Corp. — Loveland, Colo.
J.J. Taylor Distributing Florida, Inc. – Tampa
J.J. Taylor Distributing Minnesota, Inc. — Minneapolis
Kohler Distributing Co. — Hawthorne, N.J.
Manhattan Beer Distributors LLC — Bronx, N.Y.
Massachusetts Beverage Alliance LLC — Randolph, Mass.
Mims Distributing Co., Inc. — Raleigh, N.C.
Morris Distributing Co., Inc. — Petaluma, Calif.
Muller Inc. — Philadelphia
Mussetter Distributing Inc. — Auburn, Calif.
Oak Beverage Inc. — Blauvelt, N.Y.
Origlio Beverage — Philadelphia
Pepin Distributing Co. — Tampa
Powers Distributing Co. Inc. – Orion, Miss.
Shore Point Distributing Co., Inc. — Adelphia, N.J.
Town & Country Distributors Inc. — Itasca, Ill.

“With craft beer’s tremendous growth and independent beer distributors’ excitement for picking up new craft brands, it is no surprise that once again there was a record number of nominees for the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award,” said NBWA president Craig Purser. “Consumers continue to demonstrate their passion for craft beer and appreciation of the wide variety of flavors beer has to offer. America’s more than 3,300 beer distributors take great pride in serving as the vehicle to market for these brands and providing choice and variety to the consumer.”

BA President Charlie Papazian applauded beer distributors for providing a valuable service by giving craft beers a presence in the marketplace. “This award recognizes the creativity, innovation and specialized services independent beer distributors are providing on behalf of independent craft brewers,” Papazian said.

According to mid-year data released by the BA, in the first six months of 2013, small and independent American brewers saw dollar sales up 15 percent and volume up 13 percent. During the first half of 2013, approximately 7.3 million barrels of beer were sold by small and independent American brewers, up from 6.4 million barrels sold during the first half of 2012. The BA also reported that there are 2,538 breweries operating in the U.S. as of June 30, 2013, an increase of 446 breweries since June 2012.