There was a land grab in beer distribution last week that saw several craft breweries expand into new markets.
SweetWater Brewing Co. signed with River City Distributing in an agreement to bring the Atlanta, Ga.-based brewery’s beer to Louisville, Ky. Oskar Blues announced its plans to expand into Indiana in November via a partnership with three wholesalers. Boutique brewer Maine Beer Co. began distributing in Chicago. The news of Terrapin’s entrance into Louisiana was a bit premature, but a deal is looming. Lastly, a deal with Red Dirt Beverage Co. will bring Avery Brewing back to Oklahoma after it pulled out of the market in 2011.
Elsewhere, three other craft breweries are expanding their reach with new wholesale and retail partnerships.
Minneapolis, Minn.-based Indeed Brewing Co. signed with Dahlheimer Beverage for distribution throughout its home state. Dalheimer will handle distribution throughout the northwest, north, and west suburban Twin Cities metro market, according to Nathan Berndt, Indeed Brewing’s co-founder.
Dalheimer will be Indeed’s only distributor for the foreseeable future, however, Berndt said that the brewery will continue to self-distribute its beer in select Twin Cities markets. Indeed, which launched in 2012, plans to brew about 5,700 barrels in 2013 and will look to grow in 2014. Next year, its capacity will grow to about 20,000 barrels while production will increase to approximately 12,000 barrels, Berndt said.
Meanwhile, The Denver Post reported that Tivoli Distributing Co. will soon begin distributing Aspen Brewing Co., beer throughout Colorado. Aspen’s Independence Pass Ale, Conundrum Red Ale and This Season’s Blonde can be found in liquor stores in The Centennial State this week.
Finally, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Texas’ oldest craft brewery, earned new retail placements at 30 Chipotle locations throughout the Houston area. The company’s beers are currently sold throughout Texas, Louisiana and Colorado, and the brewery today announced new distribution in Florida.
“We’ve been serving beer enthusiasts along the Gulf Coast for nearly 20 years — first in Texas and for the past three years in Louisiana — and we think we’ll fit right into the markets along Florida’s Gulf Coast,” Saint Arnold Founder Brock Wagner said in a press statement.