Founders Brewing Company will expand its distribution once again next month when it begins distributing in Maryland via a wholesale arrangement with Baltimore-based Legends Ltd. Distributing, a Sheehan Family Companies operation.
“Our arrival in Maryland has been a long time coming,” Mike Stevens co-founder and CEO of Founders said in a press release. “We have a great fan base in Maryland and they have been very vocal about wanting to see our beer on local shelves. The Founders team is beyond happy we can finally make that happen.”
Founders, which already distributes its beer through a number of other Sheehan Family groups throughout the U.S., will initially send year-round and seasonal offerings to Baltimore, Howard, Frederick, Carroll, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties, the company said. Founders will expand across the rest of the state later this year.
The company said it also plans to release limited quantities of specialty brands in the state, including some Backstage Series beers.
Founders announced it would expand its production of the Backstage Series and other limited-release brews in January, when the company opened a new distribution center and began building a second brewery just one mile from its Grand Rapids, Mich. headquarters. The new brewhouse, which will be used for the production of experimental and specialty offerings, is expected to be operational this summer.
The addition of Maryland, its 37th state, is the fourth new territory Founders has entered in the last 12 months. The company has also broadened its reach in parts of Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas and Northern California this year.