RALEIGH, N.C. – Mims Distributing Company, a wholesale beverage distributor in North Carolina, has added Atwater Brewery to its roster of brewing partners. Founded in 1997, the Detroit-based brewery is one of Michigan’s oldest craft breweries, offering more than 20 brews, including Dirty Blonde Ale, Vanilla Java Porter and World Beer Cup award-winner Decadent Dark Chocolate Ale.
Housed in a 1919 factory warehouse, the tradition-rich brewery crafts heritage-style German lagers through a 200-year-old process used by the old Detroit breweries, as well as equipment imported from Germany. Atwater Brewery’s mission is to create brews that their employees want to drink, living up to their slogan, “We drink all we can and sell the rest.”
Owner Mark Rieth has helped grow the brewery to become the largest in metro Detroit and third-largest in Michigan. Last year, Atwater Brewery sold a record 40,000 barrels, a 68 percent increase over 2013. The brewery is expanding capacity to meet its goal of 60,000 barrels in 2015 by hiring an additional 20 employees. Atwater Brewery is also finalizing a production facility location in the Southeast and North Carolina is a major contender.
“We are excited to announce our partnership with Atwater Brewery,” said Chip Mims, CEO of Mims Distributing Company. “Mark and company have created awesome traditional lagers that will really impress North Carolina beer lovers. Mims cannot wait to introduce these brews to our expanding market.”
“We are so excited to enter the North Carolina craft beer market with Mims Distributing,” said Rieth. “Mims shares our love for great brews and this partnership will absolutely help us reach our distribution goals by connecting us to craft beer lovers throughout the state.”
ABOUT MIMS DISTRIBUTING
Mims Distributing Company, established in 1964 in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a family-owned beer and wine distributor servicing the entire state of North Carolina. The company offers the MillerCoors brands that domestic beer fans enjoy, and maintains extensive knowledge of what’s brewing in the craft beer industry. These expert brew sellers also share their passion for excellent beers on Tales from the Cask, a popular award-winning craft beer podcast covering everything from locally grown hops to seasonal ales and beyond. A proponent of the Triangle’s craft beer explosion, Mims Distributing offers favorites from AleSmith Brewing Company, Anchor Brewing, Carolina Brewing Company and Sierra Nevada Brewing, to name a few. Mims Distributing also recently reentered the wine distribution business. In addition to believing in the delicious beers and wines they sell, Mims Distributing is committed to supporting the local community, donating more than $60,000 in financial and in-kind donations to area nonprofits each year. A family-friendly company, Mims Distributing was the recipient of the 2013 and 2014 Carolina Parent Family-Friendly 50 award. Mims Distributing is also dedicated to sustainability as a way of life, and in 2013 was recognized with a Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women (TCREW) Champion Award in the Green and Sustainability category, as well as named a top three “green” Triangle business by Raleigh Downtowner Magazine. As always, Mims Distributing advocates for drinking in moderation. For more information, visit http://www.mimsdistributing.
ABOUT ATWATER BREWERY
Located in Detroit’s historic Rivertown district, and housed in a 1919 factory warehouse, Atwater Brewery was founded in March of 1997 with the purpose of carrying on the rich history of breweries in Detroit. Our brewing process, however, is over 200 years old. Our imported Kasper Schultz brew house allows us to brew our brands in the true heritage-style of traditional German lagers. All of our main brewing equipment was brought in from Germany, where precision and passion for beer has its roots. Likewise, we only use the finest malt and hops from Germany to brew our lagers. Our specialty ales, on the other hand, are brewed with only the finest American hops. All of which makes Atwater beers distinctly fresh and flavorful. Which is exactly why we live by the slogan: “We drink all we can and sell the rest.”