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].
Cincy’s Urban Artifact Brewery expands distribution footprint to West Virginia
Urban Artifact, an award winning Cincinnati brewery, recently announced it is expanding its distribution to include West Virginia. Since opening its doors in March 2015, Urban Artifact has been strategically growing its footprint throughout the country and thanks to a partnership with North Central Distributors, Urban Artifact’s beers and Fruit Tarts can now be enjoyed by fans across the Mountain State.
Scotty Hunter, Urban Artifact’s director of sales, explained: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with North Central to bring Fruit Tarts to the great state of West Virginia. It is exciting to get our products to longtime fans in the state as well as reaching an even wider audience of drinkers across the state.”
The feeling is mutual. Andrew Folio, president of North Central Distributors, said: “We at North Central are excited and honored for the privilege to represent Urban Artifact in the state of West Virginia. As the premier Fruit Tart brewery in the U.S. and being a regional brewer based out of Cincinnati, I have no doubt these beers will be well received in the Mountain state.”
The brewery will be sending its full portfolio to the state, for sale in retailers, restaurants and bars. Urban Artifact specializes in — and coined the beer style designation Fruit Tarts — which is an ale focused on fermenting out real fruit highlighting the fruit’s flavor, color and aroma characteristics. Its flagship products include: Gadget, a blackberry-raspberry Midwest Fruit Tart; Teak, a tropical American Fruit Tart; Peaches & Cream, a peach nitro Fruit Tart; Spyglass, a lemon-lime Fruit Tart; and Pickle, an ale brewed with cucumber and dill.
Urban Artifact’s runaway sensation, Teak, was ranked in the World’s Top 20 Beers in 2022 by Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine. The industry publication called Urban Artifact the “master of the modern American fruit beer.” They loved Gadget as “Their popular berry bomb The Gadget was easily one of our favorites of the past year, with its jammy flavor and quenching, balancing tartness.” and “Tiki-toned Teak drops pineapple, pink guava and limes into the blender, only suggesting the smooth coconut of piña colada via an umbrella-drink mind trick. If the nose promises sweetness, the sip deftly avoids it, keeping all that bright pineapple and earthy guava integrated, full and balanced, with a sharp, zesty accent from the lime.”
Urban Artifact is currently sold in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, France (Yes, in Europe) and now West Virginia. This means Urban Artifact lovers can now find Fruit Tarts year-round in a total of 19 states and two countries.
SweetWater, Green Flash and Alpine Beer are now available in Nevada
SweetWater Brewing Co., Atlanta’s craft beer trailblazer and the 10th largest craft brewer in the United States, recently announced its extended family of craft brands, which includes Green Flash Brewing Co. and Alpine Beer Co., is now available in Nevada.
SweetWater’s portfolio of popular hop-forward beers, including SweetWater’s 420 Extra Pale Ale, Green Flash’s West Coast IPA and Alpine’s Duet IPA, are now available in more than 1,000 points of distribution across 44 states, including the following retailers: Costco, Lee’s Liquor, Walmart, Safeway, Whole Foods Market, Albertsons, Vons, Trader Joe’s and Target.
Ty Gilmore, president, U.S. beer at Tilray Brands Inc., said, “Nevada is a key market in our strategic expansion plan across the West. We see sky-high potential in that market, which will expand the exposure and reach of our growing family of craft beer brands.”
SweetWater’s best-selling craft beers will be distributed statewide in both cans and kegs across Nevada through Breakthru Beverage, including:
- SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale (5.7 % alcohol by volume (ABV)): SweetWater’s flagship beer, this best-selling West Coast-style ale is accentuated with a stimulating hop character.
- SweetWater H.A.Z.Y. IPA: (6.2% ABV): A straight-up juice bomb endowed with a double dry hop of Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado and Azacca for a blast of mango, stone fruit, lime and pine.
- SweetWater Blue Wheat Beer (4.6% ABV): A unique, light bodied wheat ale enhanced with a hint of fresh blueberries.
- Green Flash West Coast IPA (7% ABV): Green Flash’s flagship brew, this best-seller helped define the West Coast-style IPA style.
- Green Flash West Coast Hazy IPA (6.5% ABV): A hazy twist on Green Flash’s iconic West Coast IPA that delivers a wave of tropical flavors and aromas of pineapple, stone fruit and lime.
- Green Flash West Coast Imperial IPA (8.9% ABV): An amplified version of the iconic West Coast IPA featuring an epic wave of hops that deliver grapefruit zest bitterness and balanced by notes of dark caramel.
- Alpine Duet (7% ABV): Alpine’s original West Coast-style single IPA that strikes a harmonious hop balance.
- Alpine Nelson (7% ABV): A hazy straw hued ale with tropical hop aroma, named after the outstanding Nelson Sauvin hop varietal from New Zealand.
- Alpine Infinite Haze: (6.5% ABV): A brilliant Hazy IPA with endless aromas of citrus and berry with notes of fresh apple, peach and orange peel.
One of Atlanta’s original craft breweries, founded 26 years ago, SweetWater Brewing is now the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States. With two flagship breweries in Atlanta, Georgia, and Fort Collins, Colorado, SweetWater’s award-winning craft beers and ready-to-drink cocktails are available coast to coast and in more states than ever before. Inspired by the outdoors, SweetWater is a passionate advocate for healthy waterways and conservation initiatives. Through its annual Save Our Water campaign, SweetWater continues to raise funds to support nonprofit organizations fighting for clean water and habitat conservation, including the Waterkeeper Alliance, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and Trout Unlimited.
SweetWater Brewery is a subsidiary of Tilray Brands, a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company.
Maui Brewing and Modern Times expand across California, including Dodger Stadium and Greek Theatre
Maui Brewing Co. continues to extend its distribution footprint by increasing the number of distributor partners in southern California and the Central Coast.
Distribution partners Allied Beverages in San Luis Obispo County and North Santa Barbara County, Scout Distribution in Kern County along with areas of Lancaster, Palmdale and Victorville, Gillespie Distributing Co. in Inyo and Mono Counties and Alford Beverages in Imperial County are achieving placements for year-round favorites such as Bikini Blonde Lager at select Albertsons, Vons, Ralphs and Target stores. Along with Maui Brewing, Maui Hard Seltzer will be available at select BEVMO!, CVS and Whole Foods locations, as well as local independent liquor stores, restaurants and bars.
In addition to these placements, Maui Brewing baseball fans can enjoy Bikini Blonde Lager at Dodger Stadium throughout the season. For admirers of Maui’s Coconut Hiwa Porter, Buffalo Wild Wings in California will begin featuring the brew with toasted coconut on draught, while the Greek Theatre in LA will carry the porter in cans.
“We are excited to expand our distribution footprint in the state of California,” said Adam Stockton, division director — West for Craft ‘Ohana. “We feel we have aligned ourselves with great wholesale partners that will allow us to reach a wider audience and make it easier for Maui fans to find our brands.”
To locate products near you, enter your zip code in the online finders at Maui Brewing Co. and Maui Hard Seltzer.
Maui Brewing is now housed under the business umbrella Craft ‘Ohana, which also owns the Modern Times brand. Along with this distro news about Maui, concerts and sporting events can also expect more placements for Modern Times Beer + Coffee. Concertgoers and sports fans can enjoy Orderville Hazy IPA 19.2-oz cans at San Diego’s Pechanga Arena and in the Los Angeles area at Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium and the historic Greek Theatre.
Orderville Hazy IPA has been Modern Times’ top-selling beer and a staple of the California craft beer scene for the better part of a decade. It has seen consistent growth in various on- and off-premise channels, including a 20 percent increase of the 19.2-oz format in grocery the past 12 months.
Along with Orderville Hazy IPA, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles will be offering Modern Times’ in-house roasted Idea Machine coffee, along with an exclusive Greek Theatre coffee blend available for purchase in the gift shop.
“We are honored these iconic venues in southern California have chosen Orderville Hazy IPA for their summer sports and concerts series,” said Rich Collins, national accounts director. “The experience of sipping your favorite beverage and watching your favorite performer or sports team is just really magical. We are just thrilled to be a part of that experience.”
San Diego’s Belching Beaver starts distribution in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Belching Beaver, the “Dam Good Times” brewery headquartered in San Diego County’s City of Oceanside, has started distribution in Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County via wholesale distributor Wilson-McGinley. Pennsylvania becomes the 13th state outside of California and the farthest east to carry the brewery’s beer.
Seven different beers, including two on draft, are now available at restaurants, bars and retail locations throughout the Steel City and surrounding areas. There is one 12-pack variety pack and one 19.2-oz stovepipe can being sold at retail as well.
The two beers on draft are Peanut Butter Milk Stout Nitro (5.3% ABV) and Deftones Phantom Bride IPA (7.1%). Head of Production and Quality Manager Thomas Peters worked with Deftones lead singer Chino Moreno to create Phantom Bride IPA, one of the brewery’s first core beers that was named after the Deftones song. Pittsburgh-area establishments carrying the draft beers include Duke’s Upper Deck, Industry Public House, The Yard and William Penn Tavern.
There are four different six-packs of 12-oz cans available: the original Peanut Butter Milk Stout (5.3%), Deftones Phantom Bride IPA, Hazers Gonna Haze Hazy IPA (6.6%) and Tropical Terps IPA (6.6%), which is the latest addition to the brewery’s core lineup. It is the company’s first core beer that uses terpenes, which are aromatic compounds naturally found in citrus fruits, pine trees, hops and cannabis. Terpenes bring to the juicy IPA new flavors and aromas that are unattainable from hops alone, featuring tropical notes of melons, mango, guava and pineapple. The terpenes used for the beer were not derived from cannabis.
The Dam Good IPA Variety 12-pack includes three cans each of Phantom Bride IPA, Hazers Gonna Haze Hazy IPA, Fall of Troy Orange & Vanilla Imperial IPA (8.8%) and No Worries West Coast IPA (6.2%), which won the Gold Medal at the 2022 International Beer Cup, hosted by the Craft Beer Association of Japan, in the American-Style India Pale Ale category. The 19.2-oz stovepipe can is of Fall of Troy Orange & Vanilla Imperial IPA.
“Leave it to Belching Beaver to be the newest beer from our friends out West to be available in the greater Pittsburgh area,” said Wilson-McGinley President John McGinley. “Belching Beaver’s track record in its hometown and throughout its previous distribution list speaks for itself. The brewery flat out has quality beer, and we are thrilled to be bringing it to the Burg and beyond.”
Belching Beaver, which served as the Official Craft Beer of The Mint 400 off-road race in Las Vegas in March, is also distributed to Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
“We found a great partner in Wilson-McGinley to extend our reach to the vibrant city of Pittsburgh,” said Belching Beaver Director of Sales Marc Truex. “Our passionate commitment to creating quality craft beer aligns perfectly with Wilson-McGinley’s values. Together, we are poised to make a significant impact in the Steel City’s craft beer scene. Get ready for some Dam Good Times, Pittsburgh.”
Dock Street Brewery partners with Cape Beverage for New Jersey distro
Cape Beverage Distributing recently announced the addition of Philadelphia-based brewery Dock Street Brewery to its distribution roster. Cape Beverage will begin distributing a number of top brands from Dock Street Brewery across most New Jersey retailers starting this April.
“Dock Street Brewing Company is thrilled to partner with Cape Beverage,” said Dock Street Brewing Creative Director Renata Vesey. “As Philadelphia’s first craft brewery, we have always considered New Jersey a sister state and a second home, and it feels amazing to be in such capable hands with Cape Beverage. They really understand our brand and our goals for reintroducing Dock Street to New Jersey, sharing our story and getting our award-winning beer on draught lines, in pint glasses and filling coolers all over the state.”
Dock Street Brewery has cultivated a reputation for quality and innovation and has had growth since starting as Philadelphia’s first microbrewery in 1985. The south Philadelphia brewery is gearing up to expand into a second location in Fishtown, which will be used primarily as a taproom to showcase its variety beers, one-offs and any other future programs the brewery has in store. Dock Street has 12 different beers on tap, including a rotating selection of staples, seasonals and one offs, plus a large range of 16-oz cans available to go in four-packs.
“We are extremely excited to add a woman-owned, Philadelphia craft brewery to our portfolio for full distribution across New Jersey,” said Cape Beverage Brand Manager Chris Verderame. “It is very nice to reunite with owner and founder, Rosemarie Certo. In 2008, I worked for a wholesaler that distributed Dock Street across South Jersey. I’m thrilled about their return to market and I know New Jersey consumers are going to feel the same way. Dock Street continues to make world class beer since 1985.”
Cape Beverage looks forward to bringing yet another stellar craft beer brand to more New Jersey consumers. The full list of products to be distributed include:
Bohemian Pilsner is 5.0% ABV and brewed in the style of the original pilsner beers of Bohemia. It contains a grist consisting solely of German pilsner malt is carefully decocted to produce a bright golden color and soft, nutty malt flavor.
Golden IPA is 6% ABV, made with oats and a touch of caramel malt, making it a mouth coating light body balanced with medium bitterness.
King Juice Hazy Double DIPA is 8% ABV. This hazy, sticky, double dry hopped, silky smooth, and perfectly balanced DIPA is brewed with oats, wheat and chock full of Mosaic, Citra and Centennial.
Futuro Italian Pilsner, is 4.8% ABV. This grist of German Pilsner malt is carefully decocted to develop a delicate and crisp malt base, onto which an assertive noble hop profile is built with frequent kettle additions of Hallertau Tradition, Hallertau Blanc and Styrian Aurura.
Barracuda is a 4% ABV Berliner Weisse. Brewed with raspberry and hibiscus to lend an alluring rose-colored hue alongside their delightful fruity and floral contribution.
Summer Haze, a 5% ABV Pale Ale. This hazy, straw-hued, light bodied Pale Ale is brewed with Pilsner, Munich, and Flaked Wheat which makes for a silky smooth body with a mildly sweet backbone.
Citrahood, a 7% ABV, New England style IPA brewed with Tangerine puree.
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