TAMPA, Fla. — Cigar City Brewing continues to expand the distribution footprint for its world-class beers with the addition of the Chicago metro area to the Tampa-based brewery’s distribution network. CCB has partnered with Windy City Distributing to distribute its portfolio of unique ales and lagers, including the award-winning Jai Alai IPA. Kegs and twelve ounce cans of Jai Alai IPA, Invasion Tropical Pale Ale and their newest year-round offering Guayabera Citra Pale Ale will be available throughout Chicagoland beginning on February 19th.
Looking to build on the strong relationship between Windy City Distributing and their CANarchy portfolio-mates Oskar Blues Brewery and Perrin Brewing, Cigar City Brewing enters the Chicagoland market poised for strong and sustained growth following their launch. One of the fastest growing brands in the country, CCB boasts the best selling craft six-pack can through national IRI reporting in Jai Alai IPA with other year-round and seasonal offerings complementing. National and international awards and accolades have garnered attention for the brewery since their inception in 2009.
“Chicagoans know their beer and we’re confident that we can make a splash in the area with our unique, Florida-inspired offerings,” said CCB’s El Lector Neil Callaghan. “Windy City Distributing’s team knows the market better than anyone and their world-class operation will allow us to grow in an organic, viable way. Plus, we get to go out for deep-dish pizza with the Windy City team!”
“Windy City Distributing has had a tremendous relationship with Oskar Blues Brewing for the past 6 years,” said Windy City Distributing President Bob Collins. “We are thrilled to be taking this next step with our supplier partner by bringing Cigar City Brewing and their award winning beers to Chicagoland. We’ve been courting the Cigar City Brewing team since 2013 because the Chicagoland consumers have been clamoring for the beer. Well, the wait is over and we are so very proud to be representing this incredible brewery.”
Market launch events will be taking place throughout Chicago in March with numerous Cigar City Brewing representatives traveling from Tampa to celebrate with Chicagoans. These events will feature additional Cigar City Brewing beers and will be incredible opportunities for Chicago’s craft beer fans to learn about Cigar City Brewing’s history and its award winning beer from the people who know it best.
Cigar City Brewing’s beer, including award-winning Jai Alai IPA, will be available in fourteen states encompassing Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Utah, Texas and Illinois starting in mid-February. Cigar City Brewing’s ales and lagers are also exported to Denmark.
Visit Cigar City Brewing’s website [www.cigarcitybrewing.com] for full beer information and to find CCB beer closest to you.
About Cigar City Brewing
Cigar City Brewing, makers of Jai Alai IPA and Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, was founded in 2009 by Joey Redner with the goal of creating world-class beer that reflected the flavors and history of the Tampa region. This unique approach resonated with local and national markets and the brewery has quickly to produce over 90,000 barrels of beer annually. Along with Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing, Squatters Craft Beers and Wasatch Brewery, Cigar City Brewing is a part of CANarchy, a craft brewing collective that represents the largest canned craft beer supplier in the country.