Kona Brewing Goes National

With an expansion into nine new states, the Craft Brew Alliance-owned Kona Brewing brand will be sold nationwide in early 2015.

In a press statement, the company said it plans to enter Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia next January. The brewery will lead with its Longboard Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale brands, selling those flagship offerings on draft and in six-packs.

Earlier this year, CBA expanded the Kona brand into three new markets: Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The beach-themed craft offering has driven much of CBA’s growth in recent years. Kona depletions grew 15 percent during the third quarter and are up 14 percent year-to-date. That growth was driven primarily by Big Wave, Castaway IPA and variety packs, the company said during a November earnings call.

A full press release is below.

Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii, December 5, 2014 — The “Liquid Aloha” experience is going national as Kona Brewing Company expands into the final nine states that currently don’t have distribution, making Kona one of the few craft beer brands available in all 50 states during the prime summer season of 2015. Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia will be the newest states slated to carry the Hawaiian brand’s lineup, with distribution beginning as early as mid-January 2015.

Kona Brewing has experienced double-digit growth for more than five consecutive years, both in its home market of Hawaii and across the U.S. Mainland. Not only has the craft brewer’s growth trajectory been robust, it has also outpaced the overall craft beer category in terms of year-on-year growth since launching on the mainland.

“In early 2015 we are approaching our 21st anniversary of brewing high-quality craft beer, and this national push is a perfect tribute to that milestone,” said Kona Brewing Company brand manager Aaron Marion. ”It’s been two years since Kona first touched down in the heart of the country, and the reception of our Hawaiian brews has provided a nice groundswell. We look forward to bringing some warmth and a taste of Hawaii to the growing market of craft beer drinkers in the central U.S., especially during these cold winter months.”

Their award winning Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale with both be represented, available on draught and in six-pack bottles. Additional company information is available on their website at konabrewingco.com, where craft beer lovers can also find the nearest bar, store or restaurant to purchase their favorite Kona brew by clicking on the company’s beer locator link, located under the “Find Beer” tab on the brand’s homepage.

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About Kona Brewing

Kona Brewing Company was started in the spring of 1994 by father and son team Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa, who had a dream to create fresh, local island brews made with spirit, passion and quality. It is Hawaii’s first and largest craft brewery and is best known for flagship beers Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale. The Hawaii-born and Hawaii-based craft brewery prides itself on brewing the freshest beer of exceptional quality, closest to market. This helps to minimize its carbon footprint by reducing shipping of raw materials, finished beer and wasteful packaging materials. The brewery is headquartered where it began, in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. For more information call 808-334-BREW or www.KonaBrewingCo.com