Oskar Blues is one state closer to becoming the next nationally distributed craft beer brand. The craft brewery – which operates production facilities in Lyons, Colo. and Brevard, N.C. – today announced plans to expand into Louisiana, the 42nd state where its products are now sold.
Building on an existing partnership with the 28-million case Crescent Crown Distributing in Arizona, Oskar Blues signed an agreement with the wholesaler’s Louisiana outfit for coverage throughout the southern part of the state.
“Crescent Crown is extremely pleased to continue our solid partnership with the Oskar Blues Brewery in the Bayou State from New Orleans to the Lake Charles markets,” Bubba Moffett, the president of Crescent Crown Distributing, said in a press release. “Oskar Blues is a proven and committed supplier partner that delivers innovative beer brands supported with industry leading marketing resources and tools that position them as a key supplier in any craft beer portfolio.”
Oskar Blues plans to initially roll out canned offerings in April and will introduce draft beer in the weeks following its launch. The company has also scheduled a series of market visits to coincide with the second half of the famed New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest, which takes place between April 24 and May 3.
“We are on a mission in 2015 and there is NO BETTA place in the world for that launch than NOLA,” Oskar Blues founder and CEO Dale Katechis said in a press release.
The company also said it plans to enter “four to five” more states before 2015 comes to a close. In January, Oskar Blues told Brewbound it plans to brew more than 200,000 barrels in 2015.