Distribution Roundup: Breakthru Brings Goodwood to South Carolina; Founders Adds Montana

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Breakthru Beverage Enters South Carolina with Goodwood Brewing

Breakthru Beverage Group has officially entered the South Carolina beer market.

The multi-state beer, wine and spirits wholesaler — which was formed in late 2015 after Wirtz Beverage Group and Charmer Sunbelt Group merged — said Monday that it would begin distributing products from Goodwood Brewing Company in March.

A variety of the brewery’s offerings, including its Louisville Lager and Spruce Tip IPA in 12 oz. cans as well ass Walnut Browne Ale, Bourbon Barrel Ale and Bourbon Barrel Stout in 12 oz. bottles, will be sold throughout South Carolina next month. All of those beers will also be available for purchase in kegs, according to a press release.

“Introducing craft beer to our operations in South Carolina is a pivotal moment for Breakthru, and we look forward to expanding upon our already strong portfolio,” Breakthru Beverage Group executive vice president of sales and marketing Kevin Roberts said via the release.

“Goodwood’s unique brewing process and flavor profile fit perfectly within our portfolio that includes some of the most eclectic, sought-after and best-tasting beverages in the region, and will enable us to better service our customer and consumer demands while becoming a TBA solution in the state,” added Sean O’Connor, the president of Breakthru Beverage South Carolina.

Goodwood, which currently operates out of a 20,000-barrel facility, is in the process of expanding production with a second location capable of brewing 75,000 barrels of beer annually.

“By adding some additional wood-touched beers (Spruce Tip IPA and Hemp Gose) to our core lineup and with our second brewery coming soon, we’re finally in a position to bring our wood-touched and barrel-aged brews to new customers in new states,” Goodwood CEO Ted Mitzlaff added in the release. “We are excited to partner with Breakthru South Carolina to add The Palmetto State to our footprint.”

Louisville-based Goodwood brews its beer with limestone water and then wood seasons those offerings on oak, ash and other woods, or in reclaimed wine, brandy or Kentucky bourbon oak casks. The company’s beer is currently sold in Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Missouri.

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Founders Brewing Expands Distribution to Montana

Starting in April, Founders Brewing’s beer will be available in all major markets in Montana, the company announced Monday.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan-headquartered brewery has signed with Great Artisan Beverage Montana’s wholesale network, which includes Summit Beverage, Cardinal Distributing, Fun Beverage, Gusto Beverage and Briggs Distributing.

“I speak for all wholesalers in the GAB Montana network in saying that we are extremely excited to partner with Founders in bringing the high-quality and award-winning beers that they are so well-known for to our craft-seeking customers,” Summit Beverage President Greg Markovich said in a press release. “We feel that their brand positioning, innovation and marketing fits the Montana lifestyle and offers our craft enthusiasts a fantastic option.”

Founders, known for its All Day IPA and KBS imperial stout, will send its first shipments of year-round, seasonal and specialty beers in bottles, cans and kegs to Montana in March, the company said.

The Michigan brewery’s beer is now available in 43 states, having aggressively increased its footprint in the last year, extending distribution in Kansas and Alabama and adding coverage in the Pacific Northwest.

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Reuben’s Brews Extends Distribution in the Pacific Northwest

Reuben’s Brews is beginning its first play outside of its hometown of Seattle. Beginning in May and June, the company will extend its footprint in the Pacific Northwest, signing with Maletis Beverage for coverage in the greater Portland area as well as Vancouver, Washington.

Click Distributing East will sell Reuben’s beers in Eastern Washington. Additionally, Rebuen’s Brews will also enter Northern Idaho.

“For the last couple of years, people have been asking us when our beers will be available outside of Western Washington, particularly in Eastern Washington and Portland,” co-founder and brewmaster Adam Robbings said in a press release. “We believe we have to earn the right to be called a Pacific Northwest brewery, and we hope that the quality of our beers — underlined by our beers’ recognition both nationally and internationally — will encourage beer lovers throughout the region to try and enjoy our brews.”

Reuben’s Brews more than doubled its production in 2016, and the brewery recently signed a lease on a warehouse in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle that will be dedicated to the production of sour beers.

“We decided to wait until we had a separate facility before commencing barrel aged sours,” Robbings said in the release. “We’re excited to build on our GABF Gold Medal winning Gose with new brett and barrel-aged sours in the coming months and years.”

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Upland Brewing Co. Sends Sour Ales to New York

Speaking of sours, Indiana’s Upland Brewing Co. has partnered with Remarkable Liquids for distribution of its wood-aged sour ales throughout New York.

“Selling our wood-aged sours in New York is a big accomplishment for the brewery,” Upland Sour Beer brand manager Dusty Howe said via a press release. “Over a decade of hard work has gone into growing our program and launching this market is an exciting payoff for those efforts.”

The partnership began after Howe met Remarkable Liquids Spencer Noakes at last year’s Craft Brewer’s Conference.

“At a time when people are experimenting, educating themselves, and falling in love with sour beers, we think Upland is an absolute must along that journey,” Noakes said in a release. “The breadth and quality of what is coming out of their Wood Shop Brewery is second to none.”

Upland plans to send 750 ml bottles of Peach (made with 7,000 pounds of local peach extract) and 550 ml bottles of small-batch experimental beers Iridescent (dried apricot and ginger) and Revive (pineapple and chamomile) to the state.

Ursula Brewery Signs with Western Distributing Company

Aurora, Colorado-based Ursula Brewery has reached a distribution deal with Western Distributing Company for coverage in Colorado, according to Denver’s Westword. The company said the move is part of laying “the groundwork” to expand its packaged beer offerings into cans.

Moeller Brew Barn Begins Distribution to Columbus and Cincinnati

Moeller Brew Barn is now working with Ohio Beer Co. to distribute its beer in Columbus and Cincinnati, according to a post on the company’s Facebook page.

The brewery will begin offering four canned beers — Wall Post Red, Honeywagon IPA, Burbank Blonde and Baked Oatmeal Stout — according to the “Ohio Breweries” blog.