DESTIHL Brewery to Launch Distribution in Northeastern Ohio

Bloomington, IL — In a new agreement announced today, DESTIHL┬« Brewery, of Bloomington, Illinois, and The House of LaRose, of Brecksville, will join forces to distribute DESTIHL’s acclaimed and award-winning craft beer brands in Northeastern Ohio.

“The agreement with House of LaRose is an exciting opportunity for DESTIHL beers to be available in another great craft beer market,” says DESTIHL founder, Brewmaster and CEO, Matt Potts. “It also allows us to work alongside a well-respected, family-operated distribution partner that has demonstrated enormous business savvy, infrastructure and beer knowledge as well as an immense and steadfast passion for our brewery’s wide array of unique beers.”

In the near term, DESTIHL will launch a diverse selection of its beer brands, including draft kegs and 12-ounce cans of its Hoperation OverloadTM Double IPA (in 4-packs) and Abbey’s Single (a Belgian-style Abbey Single Ale) (in 6-packs), as well as draft kegs of ClariceTM Belgian Dark Strong Ale, TenebrousTM Black RyePA, Antiquity Rye Wine, Black AngelTM Stout and its hugely popular Strawberry Blonde Ale (the bronze medal winner in the fruit beer category at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival┬«), which is also expected to be launched in 12-ounce cans later this month. Ohio will also get its hands on beers from DESTIHL’s Wild Sour Series, including Counter ClockWeisseTM (a Berliner-style Weisse) and Gose, and by late summer, the brewery is also planning to begin bottling its renowned, multi-award winning Saint Dekkera┬« Reserve Sour Ales, which are spontaneously fermented sour ales that have been barrel-aging for over a year now at the brewery’s new production brewery. The new facility enabled DESTIHL to add over 300 oak barrels and some French foudres to its already successful sour beer program, with plans to have over 1,000 oak barrels in use by the end of next year. This will help the brewery meet the growing demand for its Reserve Sours in places such as Ohio.

Rod Herstich, Director of High End Brand Development for The House of LaRose, said, “After our visit to DESTIHL’s Brewpub and its production brewery, I was convinced that Matt and his team were on to something very special. Quality was the first and last impression, and their beers were nothing less than amazing. They have locked into the future growth and direction of the craft category with its expanding barrel aging and sour program along with its automated canning line. We are truly excited to begin this venture with the DESTIHL team.”

Jim LaRose, the company’s President and COO, added, “DESTIHL has quietly built a reputation of brewing award winning, unique and outstanding beers. The House of LaRose is excited to have been selected as DESTIHL’s wholesaler-distributor partner for Cleveland, Akron and Canton Ohio. Matt Potts and his team at DESTIHL are brewing tremendously innovative and exciting beers. There has certainly been a buzz in the Northeast Ohio craft community about DESTIHL, and we are thrilled to be bringing their brands to our retail customers and to the consumers of Northeast Ohio so that they can taste first-hand why people are talking about and driving long distances to drink these great beers. Now folks will be able to enjoy DESTIHL in Ohio.”

DESTIHL’s first shipment to Ohio goes out today.

About DESTIHL

DESTIHL opened its first gastrobrewpub (DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works) in Normal, Illinois, in November 2007 and added its second gastrobrewpub in downtown Champaign in April 2011, where the company focuses on both artisan food and beers. DESTIHL’s 20,000sf production brewery in Bloomington, IL commenced operations on May 31, 2013 and includes a 25-barrel brewhouse, several large fermenters having a capacity of 10,000 barrels annually and 100,000 cubic feet of barrel-aging space. The brewery currently distributes its beers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana and now Ohio, with launches planned already this summer in Florida, Washington State, Oregon, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

About the House of LaRose

The House of LaRose has been a beer and beverage distributor in Northeast Ohio for over 75 years. It has proudly distributed products from the leading local, regional and national brewers over the years and continues to provide its market with exciting products. It services retail partners with both high-volume, leading brands as well as hand-sold craft brands from various local and national brewers. LaRose is grateful for its relationships and partnerships with its suppliers and retail customers, and it works hard every year to bring the highest quality products and services to satisfy customers’ needs so that the consumers in its market can continue to enjoy the best beers and other beverages produced in the industry.