Brewer, Distributor Collaborate on Draft-Only Brew

Kansas City, MO – Santa Fe Brewing Company and Central States Beverage Company are excited to announce they will partner to brew the first ever brewer/distributor collaboration beer. This unique beer, which will be brewed on site at Santa Fe Brewing Co., will be packaged in kegs only and is being brewed exclusively for sale in the Kansas City market area later this year.

With the popularity of craft beers reaching an all-time high, consumers now have more choices than ever when it comes to satisfying their thirst for fresh, flavorful, quality hand-crafted beers. As Santa Fe’s local distributor in Kansas City, Central States takes on the responsibility of ensuring that Santa Fe beers stand out in its distribution area with craft beer fans and retail partners alike. To assist in achieving this mutual goal, Central States and Santa Fe decided that it was time to add a unique twist to the brewer/brewer collaborations, which are highly popular in the industry and thus the brewer/distributor collaboration idea was born.

“Central States is thrilled to be partnering with Santa Fe on this project and we have assembled a great team of professionals to brew this special beer with Santa Fe Brewing Company,” said Jon Poteet director of marketing for central states. “Our crew includes 3 Certified Cicerone’s, 2 Certified Beer Servers, 2-3 local home brewers and a chef to oversee menu pairings. One fun aspect of this program is that 1-2 of the home brewer participants will have to win their way on to the collaboration team.”

One of the biggest challenges for a craft brewer entering a new city outside of their home market area is the brewers’ ability to gain traction and long-term sustainability with their brands in the new area.

“Santa Fe Brewing Company is thrilled to help our distributor partner bring this idea to life. This program not only fits in with our small-batch Saturday program, but also allows us to extend our roots as a brewery in a bigger, bolder way within the Kansas City market while staying true to who we are as a brewer. Central States has been passionate about our brands prior to our arrival in their city and this program will allow the Santa Fe brands to grow to the next level in Kansas City. We excited to announce this collaboration during American Craft Beer Week, or as Central States has dubbed it KC Craft Beer Month,” says Brian Lock, owner of Santa Fe Brewing Company.

About Central States

High Life Sale Company, DBA Central States Beverage Company was founded as a distributor of alcoholic beverages on May 28th, 1932 by signing an agreement with Miller Brewing Company to be the distributor for the Miller Brewing Company brands in Kansas City, Mo. Since 1932, the company has grown and today we are proud to represent over 30 brewers in Kansas & Missouri. Central States Beverage Company is locally owned and operated by the Mos family in Kansas City since 1932.

About Santa Fe

Santa Fe Brewing Company is New Mexico’s oldest and most award-winning microbrewery. We currently have distribution throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Kansas & Missouri. All of our beers are brewed, canned and bottled on premise in Santa Fe New Mexico. Year round favorites include Happy Camper IPA, Imperial Java Stout, Santa Fe Pale Ale, Santa Fe Nut Brown, State Pen Porter, and Chicken Killer Barley Wine. Seasonal styles include Freestyle Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Black IPA, and Irish Red Ale.