With exactly one zillion breweries operating across America, 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!
Holidaily Brewing, a gluten-free brewery, expands footprint throughout Texas
Holidaily Brewing, a gluten-free brewery committed to creating delicious, safe and quality gluten-free beers, recently announced its strategic expansion throughout the dynamic state of Texas. In addition to its gluten-free product differentiation, founded and majority owned by Karen Hertz, Holidaily is touted as the only certified women-owned brewery in the country.
“Holidaily wasn’t born in Texas, but we got here as fast as we could,” stated Karen Hertz, founder and CEO of Holidaily Brewing. “Both personally and professionally, our expansion into the state of Texas has considerable magnitude. My husband, Jake, grew up in Austin — we also have family in and around the state. I believe Texas, from a business perspective, is ripe for disruption when it comes to good gluten-free beer offerings.”
Holidaily is be available throughout the state in Whole Foods, Total Wine & More, HEB, select Bucees locations and other notable retailers. As part of wider go-to-market strategy, the company is launching Texas specific labels of its flagship, Favorite Blonde Ale. The favorite blonde is the No. 1 selling gluten-free beer in Texas and Holidaily’s top sku. In addition to the blonde, their Fat Randy’s IPA, Big Henry Hazy IPA and a seasonal rotator will be available throughout the state.
Holidaily Brewing has statewide distribution with Dynamo Specialty Distributing as its strategic distributor partner of record, self-described as the “gold standard partner for high-growth beverage brands in Texas.”
“We are excited about our partnership with Holidaily,” said Derek Haverkamp, brand manager at Dynamo. “They are one of the fastest growing beer brands in the country, and we see the demand for a world-class gluten-free beer exploding in Texas.”
Holidaily Brewing Co. is the passion project of Karen Hertz, who survived both melanoma and thyroid cancers, leading to a treatment regimen including a gluten-free diet. Hertz struggled to find a great-tasting, 100% gluten-free beer and was driven to solve this problem. After years of research and testing, Holidaily Brewing Company was born.
Holidaily Brewing Co. is a 100% certified dedicated gluten-free brewery, one of only 15 in the United States. The brewery and two tasting rooms are located in Colorado with a distribution footprint that includes Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, California, Oregon, Washington and Texas.
Karl Strauss releases Octoberfest throughout California, Nevada and Arizona
Karl Strauss, San Diego’s longest continuously operating post-Prohibition brewing company, has released its seasonal Oktoberfest beer for the 36th year in a row. The German-style Märzen lager is more widely distributed than ever before in 2024 with Nevada locations being added for the first time. The beer had previously only been distributed in California and Arizona.
Six packs of 12-oz Oktoberfest bottles are available at retail outlets in the three states, while Oktoberfest on draft is being poured at several restaurants, bars, and brewpubs throughout the region. For a store and location finder, visit www.karlstrauss.com/find-karl/.
Examples of distribution locations are Las Vegas’ Tuscany Suites & Casino, Anaheim’s Medieval Times, Disneyland’s California Adventure, Buena Park’s Pirates Dinner Adventure, San Diego’s The French Gourmet, and multiple Islands Restaurants.
Karl Strauss’ eight Southern California brewpubs are offering an Oktoberfest stein-and-fill promotion for $15, and refills of Oktoberfest and select Karl Strauss beers in the newly designed take-home stein are $6. Karl Strauss brewpubs are located in Downtown San Diego, Downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Temecula, and the San Diego County communities of Carlsbad, Sorrento Mesa, and 4S Ranch.
Oktoberfest is 5.0% alcohol-by-volume (ABV), and it has a golden amber color. It uses a blend of Vienna and Munich hops, along with Perle hops imported from the Hallertau region of Germany. It has toasted malt flavors, nutty undertones, and a crisp, clean finish.
Karl Strauss’ Executive Chef recommends pairing Oktoberfest with his new seasonal special, Pork Schnitzel Sliders, which feature beer-brined pork loin, pickled onions, beer-brined bacon, arugula, tomato, and chipotle ale mayo — all on a San Diego Pretzel Company bun.
Karl Strauss released its first version of an Oktoberfest beer “Blonde Bavarian Oktoberfest Beer” in 1989, the same year the brewery was founded. Blonde Bavarian was part of Karl Strauss’s first Oktoberfest celebration at the brewery’s original location on Columbia Street in Downtown San Diego. The official 2024 Oktoberfest festival in Germany takes place from September 21-October 6. This year marks the 189th iteration.
Crank Arm Brewing partners with Johnson Brothers for North Carolina distribution
Crank Arm Brewing Co., a beloved local North Carolina independent craft brewery known for its innovative beers and affinity for cycling, recently announced a new distribution partnership with Johnson Brothers Mutual of NC. This strategic alliance will significantly expand the brewery’s reach, making its popular brews more accessible to beer enthusiasts throughout the entire State of North Carolina.
Johnson Brothers, a leading distributor in the beverage industry, brings a wealth of experience and a strong network to the partnership. Its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction aligns perfectly with Crank Arm Brewing’s values.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Johnson Brothers,” said Adam Eckhardt, co-owner and cofounder at Crank Arm Brewing. “Their expertise and distribution capabilities will allow us to introduce our beers to the good people of North Carolina from Murphy to Manteo and continue to grow our brand.”
Michael Morris, director of brewery operations and cofounder at Crank Arm Brewing relayed: “When looking for a partner to represent Crank Arm Brewing Co. in the marketplace, we became increasingly impressed with the level of excellence they brought to the discussions about Crank Arm Brewing.”
With Johnson Brothers’ distribution network in place, Crank Arm Brewing’s craft beers will become available at more bars, restaurants, and retail grocery stores. This expansion will provide beer lovers with greater access to the brewery’s unique and flavorful offerings.
Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and established in 2013, Crank Arm Brewing Co. is dedicated to the cycling community and crafting high-quality, innovative craft beers. With a focus on using the finest ingredients and pushing the boundaries of flavor, Crank Arm Brewing has gained a loyal following for its exceptional brews over the years. Crank Arm Brewing has won 3 Great American Beer Festival in long and storied award-winning history.
Southern Pines Brewing partners with Anheuser-Busch network in 90 counties of North Carolina
Southern Pines Brewing, a veteran-owned company celebrating its 10th year in business, recently announced a new distribution agreement with the Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Network for 90 counties in North Carolina. The new partnership will cover territories from Murphy to Corolla, North Carolina. Distributed statewide in North Carolina since 2018 and South Carolina since 2023, Southern Pines Brewing is excited that this new distribution alignment will allow them to connect with even more communities across the state.
CEO and Cofounder, Micah Niebauer said, “We couldn’t be more excited for this new partnership. Working alongside these family-owned companies that have generations of history in their areas perfectly aligns with our motto of being ‘Rooted in the Community.’”
“We are thrilled to add Southern Pines Brewing to our family of North Carolina brewers,” said Jay Harris of Harris Beverages. “Their ethos of service and community perfectly align with who we are as a business; coupled with the fact they make great beer makes it a natural partnership.”
“It all starts with the people … We recognized very early on in the relationship that the two cultures mirrored one another,” said Eric Monsess, general manager, Craft Division. “When it’s meant to be, you work twice as hard to make it happen. We are beyond excited to enter into this new partnership with a top-notch local craft brewery offering solid core brands along with a never ending explosion of innovation keeping the brewery relevant with the ever changing consumer demands.”
The new wholesalers now distributing Southern Pines Brewing beer around the state are Bud of Asheville, Adams Beverages, Standard Distributors, R.H Barringer Distributing Co., Harris Beverages, Carolina Eagle and OBX Beverages. Southern Pines Brewing will still be distributed by long-term partner Healy Wholesale in the nine counties of the Sandhills of North Carolina, and it will retain the distribution rights for its home county of Moore where it self-distributes.
Shock Top and Gator Athletics partner, distribute beer at its sporting facilities
Tilray Brands, Inc. recently announced the first craft beer partnership with Shock Top and the Florida Athletic Department. Raise your glasses Gators fans because Shock Top, the king of zest, is officially stepping into the Swamp. As the proud and first craft beer sponsor of Gator Athletics, Shock Top will create an immersive fan experience at games and beyond with the Gators’ first officially licensed co- branded craft beer, gameday giveaways, tailgate activations, and a campaign that celebrate the Gators year-round. Shock Top will also be distributed at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field.
Prinz Pinakatt, Chief Marketing Officer at Tilray Beverages, said, “Partnering with the Florida Gators is the perfect opportunity for Shock Top to expand its presence in the Sunshine State. Connecting with fans on gamedays and tailgates is a crucial aspect of our strategy, and the passionate fan base of the Gators provides the ideal platform for us to do just that. Our beers are the perfect complement to any gameday experience, and we are thrilled to introduce the Gator Nation to our brand’s spirited vibe. Whether fans are cheering on the Gators at the stadium, tailgating, watching from a bar, or enjoying the game from home, Shock Top will be there to enhance their gameday experience.”
The partnership will begin with the 2024 football season kicking off with the release of a special edition co-branded Shock Top craft brew for Gator fans — a first-of-its-kind for Gator Athletics. Arriving on shelves across Florida just in time for the first game day, this limited craft brew will also be featured at Gator Fan Fests to spread cheer and beer. Fans can also register to win a Flyaway trip to see the Gators take on the Texas Longhorns in Austin November 9. Enter to win. Rules and restrictions apply.
And it doesn’t stop at football! Shock Top will also be at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center during basketball season and the Condron Family Ballpark for baseball. Wherever the Gators growl, Shock Top will be there.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Shock Top to offer the first, officially licensed craft beer for Gators fans,” added Darren McPhail, General Manager of Florida Gators Sports Properties. “This partnership represents more than just a refreshing brew for our fans—it’s a testament to our commitment to enhancing the Gator game day experience across all sports. We look forward seeing fans all over the state enjoying a Gator-branded Shock Top this fall.”
The Gators-Shock Top collaboration was created through Athletics multimedia rights holder Florida Gators Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield — the media and technology company powering college athletics — and CLC, a division of Learfield and UF’s exclusive trademark licensing agent.
Shock Top and the Florida Athletic Department are not only about fun and games — they’re also about drinking responsibly. All co-branded materials will feature messages promoting moderation and responsible consumption, ensuring that every “Cheers!” is a safe one.
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