Sun King signs two distribution deals, spreads across Indiana

Sun King Brewing, a central Indiana staple, is starting to shine its rays (or grow its reign — choose your pun) across the state. Sun King announced that after a series of capacity expansions, and after vetting a number of distribution options, its brews will be available in the southeast and in the northern part of Indiana.

Sun King Brewing Co. is the brainchild of Colt and Clay Robinson. Since the first batch of beer was crafted on July 1, 2009, Sun King has continued to grow in popularity and size. Sun King produced 500 barrels (bbls) of beer that year, but in 2012, Sun King produced more than 15,000 bbls and self-distributed all of it to more than 700 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in central Indiana.

“Indianapolis and the surrounding areas have always been our main focus and have been relatively easy to service,” said Omar Robinson, Sun King’s president. “In order to share our beers with the rest of the state, we need logistical support, so when approaching new territories we felt it would be best to work with distribution partners that live and work in those areas. We are excited to be working with Indiana Beverage and North Vernon Beverage to give more Hoosiers access to our beer.”

Distribution began with North Vernon Beverage, which covers the I-65 corridor down to Jeffersonville and New Albany. Indiana Beverage will launch Sun King in the northern part of the state on Feb. 25 with a kick-off event at Beer Geeks in Highland, Ind.

“Sun King will continue to enforce a policy that mandates our beer be warehoused, delivered, stored and sold cold to help ensure the quality and freshness of our beer, so don’t expect to find it on your grocer’s shelf,” said Dave Colt, owner/brewer of Sun King.

Indiana Beverage is a family-owned beer wholesaler that distributes more than 550 brands of beer to retail partners such as liquor stores, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, taverns and other retail outlets throughout Northern Indiana.

North Vernon Beverage has been in the beer distribution business since prohibition (1933) and has been managed under the same ownership since 1979. They currently service in excess of 700 retail accounts in an 11 county area in South Central Indiana.