ALEXANDRIA, VA — America’s 3,330 licensed beer distributors are celebrating the excitement that craft beer brings to the beer industry during American Craft Beer Week, May 14-20, 2012, a national celebration highlighting the culture and contributions of craft beer and the nearly 2,000 craft breweries across the United States.
“Beer distributors are proud to serve as partners with America’s craft brewers,” said Craig Purser, president & CEO of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA). “Distributors work with craft brewers to deliver the greatest choice and variety of beer available in the world to American consumers of legal drinking age. Beer distributors take great pride in serving as the vehicle to market for these brands and providing choice and variety to the consumer.”
“American Craft Beer Week is a great opportunity to recognize the unparalleled number of styles, varieties and flavors of beer — more than 13,000 different labels — available in the marketplace today. This diversity is due in large part to the effectiveness of the independent three-tier distribution system and effective state regulation. The system provides a level playing field for brewers working to grow and get established,” continued Purser. “American Craft Beer Week is also a good time to nominate a beer distributor for the Sixth Annual Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award, which honors the beer distributor that does the most to market, promote and sell craft beer.”
NBWA and the Brewers Association (BA) will jointly present the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award on October 13, 2012, at the Great American Beer Festival® in Denver, Colorado. In addition to the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award, a Craft Beer Distributor Achievement Award and a Craft Beer Distributor Recognition Award will be presented. Nominations must be submitted by August 15, 2012. For entry rules and the nomination form, visit www.nbwa.org/industry-tech/craft-beer-distributor-of-the-year-award.
For more information about American Craft Beer Week, including celebratory events in your area, visit www.craftbeer.com/pages/news-and-events/american-craft-beer-week.
The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America’s 3,300 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America’s beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @MrBeerGuy on Twitter and visit www.facebook.com/Mr.BeerGuy.