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].
San Diego’s Bay City Brewing announces distribution deal with Karl Strauss
Bay City Brewing Co., a leading craft brewery based in San Diego, California is proud to announce a distribution agreement with Karl Strauss Brewing Co., a pioneer in the San Diego craft beer scene. This partnership marks a significant achievement for Bay City Brewing, reflecting the culmination of relentless effort and commitment by the entire team in San Diego.
“This partnership with Karl Strauss is not just a milestone for Bay City Brewing; it’s a leap towards realizing our vision of growth and reaching more beer enthusiasts across Southern California,” said Chad Robley, co-owner of Bay City Brewing Company. “It’s a testament to our team’s hard work and the quality of our craft. We’re excited to introduce our unique line of beers to new communities.”
With this deal, Bay City Brewing will broaden its horizons beyond San Diego, targeting expansion into key Southern California markets including Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire. This move will make Bay City’s acclaimed beers available off-premise in major grocery stores, thanks to Karl Strauss’ extensive distribution network.
“Bay City Brewing is eager to bring its beloved beer selections to bars, restaurants, and retail locations throughout Southern California with Karl Strauss’s support,” said Greg Anderson, co-owner of Bay City Brewing Company. “This expansion signifies a new chapter in Bay City Brewing’s journey, promising to bring its passion for craft brewing to a broader audience.”
Bay City brews will start to appear on grocery store shelves and in restaurants throughout Southern California in April.
For more information about Bay City Brewing, visit https://baycitybrewingco.com/beer/. Bay City Brewing Co. is a leading craft brewery based in San Diego, California, known for its innovative brewing techniques and commitment to quality. Founded in 2015 by Greg Anderson and Benjamin Dubois, Bay City Brewing Company produces over a dozen craft beers, including seasonal options. In 2020, Bay City opened their East Village location, featuring a Tasting Room plus a rooftop bar which commands panoramic views of the San Diego skyline. Bay City Brewing Co was recently recognized by San Diego Business Journal as one of San Diego’s top five fastest-growing private businesses in 2023.
Denver’s Ratio Beerworks expands availability throughout Colorado
Ratio Beerworks recently announced its next phase of growth with the launch of statewide distribution across Colorado by partnering with CSA Distributing. Kicking off on Monday, April 15th, this expanded distribution footprint will bring Ratio’s diverse portfolio of beers and DIY ethos to over 500 accounts throughout the Centennial state within the first three months. Rollout will initially begin with an immediate expansion of availability through the greater metro Denver area, followed soon thereafter with strategic market launches across the rest of the state in the months to follow.
Jason zumBrunnen, cofounder and brewmaster of Ratio said, “Everyone here couldn’t be more excited about this new opportunity to join the CSA portfolio and to bring Ratio beer from our Denver home to the rest of the state. CSA has done such a great job with so many high-quality brands. We are honored to be one of them now.”
For the past nine years, Ratio has focused on thoughtfully growing and sustaining the Denver Metro market while continuing to elevate the quality of packaged beer that it has released to the public. Their taprooms and self-distribution teams have created a premier and loyal customer base that CSA will continue to grow and bring to additional cities and communities in Colorado.
For the initial state-wide launch, Ratio is excited to introduce the following brands to a wider audience in 12-oz cans.
- King of Carrot Flowers Carrot Elderflower Saison – 2023 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medalist
- Sparks Fly Juicy IPA
- Cityscapes Mexican Style Lager
- No Shade Pilsner (arriving in late April)
“Ratio has done an incredible job establishing a foothold in the craft beer scene in Denver over the last nine years and becoming a mainstay in draft accounts. Our team has been enjoying beers out of their taproom for years, and it’s really been great getting to know their team this past year and working together on a partnership. On the distribution side, our initial focus is to ensure that we don’t skip a beat in transition with their existing customers. We also see a huge opportunity to expand package distribution and grow the brand throughout Denver’s off premise retailers. We really can’t wait to get more Ratio cans into the hands of Coloradan beer lovers, ” said Alan Stone, General Manager.
Ratio Beerworks, founded in the heart of Denver’s River North District of Denver at 2920 Larimer Street, focuses on meticulously crafted beer. Ratio’s profile includes a wide variety of traditional styles with a modern twist. With deep roots in the punk rock music scene, Ratio’s co-founders sought to translate the industry’s sense of community, DIY spirit, and strong musical influences via the beer and taproom experience. Since its launch in 2015, Ratio has
expanded to add a second taproom and production facility in Denver’s Overland neighborhood. It has also gained overwhelming critical acclaim in recent years, earning a gold medal at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) for King of Carrot Flowers Carrot and Elderflower Saison, a silver medal at the 2022 World Beer Cup for Dear You French Saison, a bronze medal at the 2022 World Beer Cup for Genius Wizard Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, a gold medal at the 2021 GABF for Domestica American Standard Ale, and a silver medal at the 2020 GABF for Dear You French Saison.
For more information please visit www.ratiobeerworks.com.
Best Day Brewing adds Electro-Lime NA beer to Alaska Airlines offerings
Best Day Brewing, one of the fastest growing non-alcoholic beer brands in the country, recently relaunched its top-selling seasonal release Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza into its core collection. The light and refreshing non-alcoholic Mexican-style lager, crafted with sea salt, fresh lime puree, corn and Montueka hops, became a fan-favorite amongst Best Day’s dedicated drinkers. Following the meteoric success of the limited release, it was only fitting to bring the crisp brew into the core line.
Additionally, continuing the brand’s partnership with Alaska Airlines, announced in December 2023, the Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza will become the latest official NA beer of Alaska Airlines. Starting mid-April, this product will replace Best Day Brewing’s non-alcoholic Kölsch for Alaska Airlines travelers.
Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza will join Best Day’s core collection this week and will be offered on all Alaska Airlines flights starting mid-April. Best Day Brewing’s Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza is also available for purchase on bestdaybrewing.com and at select retailers including Whole Foods, BevMo, Target, Total Wine, and H.E.B., and Amazon. On Alaska Airlines, Electro-Lime is complimentary in First Class and Premium Class and available for purchase in Main Cabin and in select lounges.
“When the Electro-Lime launched as our first rotational offering, we were overwhelmed by the positive response from our customers,” said Tate Huffard, founder and CEO of Best Day Brewing. “After it was off the shelves, we received an endless amount of inquiries from customers asking for more. It made it a no-brainer to bring it back and offer it year-round.”
Best Day Brewing prides itself on creating non-alcoholic beers with the same taste profiles as their full-strength counterparts. Best Day removes the alcohol from its beers through state-of-the-art proprietary technology where the beer never rises above the fermentation temperature. The result is a beer that maintains a robust flavor profile and complexity, without the alcohol. Best Day Brewing is continuing its seasonal rotations with the current Belgian White and new releases slated for spring and summer 2024.
Follow @bestdaybrewing on Instagram for the latest brand updates. For sales inquiries, reach out to [email protected].
Kit NA Brewing expands footprint, secures Wegmans distro and grows East Coast presence
Kit NA Brewing, renowned for its award-winning and crushable non-alcoholic beer, rcently announced a significant milestone in its growth through an expansion of footprint and distribution across key chains. This exciting development includes three new chain authorizations and two chain expansions, marking a significant milestone for the brand, with new distribution down much of the East Coast.
Kit NA Brewing has secured authorization at several prominent retail chains in the East region. Beginning in early 2024, Kit NA Brewing products hit the shelves at Wegmans, Big Y, and Price Chopper outlets for the first time. Furthermore, Kit is enhancing and expanding its current assortment and distribution within Whole Foods and Total Wine, further solidifying its foothold in the market.
This expansion also extended into five new states along the East Coast. The newly added territories that now carry Kit’s non-alcoholic craft beer include New York Metro, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, DC Metro, Virginia, and Georgia. This strategic expansion broadens the company’s geographical reach to most of the East Coast.
Kit NA Brewing is proud to welcome five new distributors and key partners into its network including Lake Beverage, Hop & Wine, Sarene Craft Beer, Try-It Distributing, and Savannah Distributing. These distributors will play a key role in Kit NA Brewing’s continued success and growth. With the launch of these distributors, Kit NA Brewing is better equipped than ever to meet the growing demand for premium non-alcoholic beer which is growing 31.7% vs the prior year.
Kit’s GM, Billy Keighley comments: “The Kit team has done an incredible job building our story via the independent market over the last 6 months, which has led to a compelling proposition to the key chains throughout the east coast. We are incredibly humbled to be receiving such a warm welcome across so many amazing retail and wholesale partners as we look to enable more people to have a Kit!”
Dokkaebier signs distribution agreement with Saccani Distributing
Dokkaebier, the leading craft brewery inspired by Asian-influenced ingredients, announced it has signed a distribution agreement with Saccani Distributing Co. The partnership brings Dokkaebier’s flagship kimchi sour and other globally recognized and award-winning craft beers to new grocers and retailers in 22 counties in Central and Northern California.
“We are proud to start our partnership with such a great brewery that brings creative packaging and innovative flavors to the market, including the kimchi sour and classics like the rice kolsch,” said Saccani Distributing Company sales manager Bill Earley. “Dokkaebier will be the only brand of its kind at Saccani and will be an asset for cornering the market for Asian-inspired beers.”
Dokkaebier is one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in the U.S. In less than four years, the Asian-inspired craft brewery has created and released 50 original craft beers, which are available nationwide in the U.S. and abroad in Germany and the European Union.
Dokkaebier opened its flagship brewery and taproom in downtown Oakland, California, after completing its acquisition of Federation Brewing in April 2023. According to the San Francisco Business Times, Dokkaebier is already the 12th largest brewery in the San Francisco Bay Area by barrels of beer produced.
Dokkaebier is the leading craft brewery inspired by Asian-influenced ingredients. Launched in 2020, the brewing company’s 50 original craft beers have won international acclaim, including best-in-class recognition and medals at the World Beer Championships, Annual Brewski Awards and the Red Dot Design Award.
Shiner announces expanded distribution deal for craft spirits
The Spoetzl Brewery and Distillery, the family-owned and independent craft brewer of the iconic Shiner Bock,recentlyannounced the addition of Shiner Craft Spirits to its ongoing partnership with Andrews Distributing. Shiner opened an on-premise distillery in 2023 and began offering Shiner Craft Vodka, Shiner Craft Gin, and Shiner ‘Shine white whiskey. Over the last year, Shiner Craft Spirits were only available to purchase at the Spoetzl Distillery.
After a successful first year which saw a Gold Medal awarded to Shiner ‘Shine at the San Diego International Spirits Challenge and Esquire recognizing Shiner Craft Gin as one of their 3 top gins in 2023, the spirits will now be made available on shelves starting April 1 exclusively in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, the largest market for Shiner Beers.
Andrews Distributing, a key partner for Shiner for nearly three decades, is essential to Shiner’s status as the leading craft beer in Texas. The expansion of their initial agreement gives Shiner the opportunity to introduce the DFW-based community to the new craft spirits with the goal of expanded distribution across Texas and nationally.
Texas-based licensees who would like to become a customer and access Shiner’s portfolio of brews and craft spirits can visit www.andrewsdistributing.com.
“Andrews Distributing is a tremendous asset to Shiner,” says John Brozovich, Shiner’s President & CEO. “Thanks to their dedicated team, we’re proud to introduce Shiner fans in the DFW area to our new Shiner Craft Spirits which uphold the highest quality that our beers are known for.”
“Working with the Shiner team is a genuine pleasure,”said Mike McGuire, comanaging partner and CEO at Andrews. “We’re thrilled to get Shiner’s Craft Spirits on shelves in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We look forward to continuing to grow together in 2024 and beyond.”
Shiner Craft Spirits will be available on shelves on April 1 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for a suggested retail price of $19.99 for Shiner Craft Vodka and $25.99 for Shiner Craft Gin and Shiner White Whiskey.
Figueroa Mountain Brewing teams up with Stone Distributing in southern California
California craft brewery Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., founded in 2010, has teamed up with Stone Distributing to distribute in southern California. The distribution move will consolidate its distribution footprint from Los Angeles County all the way to south to the border including the counties of Orange, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernadino.
Figueroa Mountain now has nearly all of California covered with distribution and sells their products primarily only in the Golden State for now. They have seen significant growth throughout California in recent years, with a 26% overall growth for 2023, outpacing the craft beer industry. “We have been seeing great success in both our chain volumes as well as broad market growth, our innovation and additional large format offerings have allowed us to reach a larger audience and we project double digit growth again in 2024” explains John Nyguen, Sales Director for Figueroa Mountain Brewing.
Figueroa Mountain leading products have included Hoppy Poppy IPA, Lizard’s Mouth Imperial IPA, Agua Santa Mexican Lager and now the Non-Alcoholic Variety Pack including both 101 Blonde and Hiker’s High Hazy IPA plus the flagship Hoppy Poppy in an NA format. “We are really excited about the Non-Alcoholic space and have seen a huge response on our initial release, now with increased presence through our amazing chain partners and now with the strength of the team at Stone Distributing, we expect to see volumes grow quickly.”
“Teaming up with Stone Distributing is a great step towards our growth and execution of our Southern California business plan, we have been very thankful for all of our distribution partners to date and this seems like the logical next step to maintaining growth and being good partners for all of our accounts both chain and broad market,” states Jaime Dietenhofer founder and CEO of Figueroa Mountain Brewing. “They are a top-tier distributor, and we feel that their focus and capabilities are a great match for us going forward.”
Stone Distributing (SDC) was founded in the spirit of craft camaraderie. When no distributor in the late 90s would accept Stone’s hop-forward beers, the brewery self-distributed and brought along other craft brands as well to form an impressive portfolio for Southern California. More than two decades later, SDC is now among the largest independent distributors of specialty beverages in the country. In 2022, SDC became a standalone distributor, independent of Stone Brewing Co. SDC is known for their focus on brand building and offering a diverse portfolio including craft beer, hard kombucha, hard tea, non-alcoholic beverages and more.
Brian Fried, General Manager of SDC, is excited about the new partnership and what it means for SDC and the market. “We are thrilled to welcome Figueroa Mountain Brewing to the SDC family, their dedication to brewing exceptional craft beer aligns perfectly with our mission to provide consumers with the finest selection of premium beverages. We look forward to working closely with Figueroa Mountain Brewing to expand their reach and introduce their outstanding products to even more of the Southern California market.”
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. was founded in 2010 by the father and son team Jim and Jaime Dietenhofer. Through their passion for craft beer, they have sought to share the beauty and the spirit of the Santa Ynez Valley with beer lovers throughout the state. Their beer can be found in bars, restaurants, and grocery stores throughout California, as well as in their taprooms throughout the region.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.