Distribution Roundup: New Holland Taps Central U.S.; Newport Hits Maine

New Holland Expands Throughout Central U.S.

New Holland Brewing announced last week plans to launch distribution in four new markets in the central U.S., rounding its distribution footprint out to 24 states and Washington D.C., with 17 also carrying its line of spirits.

Through a network of five wholesalers, the Holland, Mich.-based brewery will begin distributing its beers and spirits throughout Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa, with launch events scheduled to take place in August and September.

The company has tapped the services of CR Goodman for coverage in Colorado, Quality Brands and Double Eagle for distribution throughout Omaha and Lincoln, Neb. respectively, Worldwide Wine and Spirits in Kansas, and Glazer’s in Iowa.

“It is amazing to see the remarkable level of service in the craft distribution game,” said Fred Bueltmann, the brewery’s vice president of sales and marketing, in a news release. “We have come a long way as an industry and we are impressed and excited to work with our new partners.”

New Holland will launch with its year-round offerings (Mad Hatter IPA, Sundog Amber Ale, Full Circle Kolsh, Monkey King Saison, The Poet Oatmeal Stout, and Dragon’s Milk Barrel-Aged Stout), several seasonal offerings, and a number of spirits.

Newport Taps Vacationland

Rhode Island’s Newport Storm Brewery is headed north. The company’s beers will soon be available in Maine per a new partnership with Vacationland Distributors, LLC, the wholesaler announced this morning.

The launch will be a gradual one, however, as the brewery rolls out nine recipes over the next 12 months, according to a news release.

“After 15 years, it is really exciting to have my beer available in the state I spent the first 22 years of my life in,” said Derek Luke, brewmaster and founder of Newport Storm. “My parents are still in Scarborough in the same house I grew up in, and I’m looking forward to bringing Newport Storm to Maine where I first learned to brew.”

Newport will hit the Maine market on Friday, August 29 at the Portland Brew Festival.

Aztec Migrates to the Empire State

Vista, California’s Aztec Brewing is expanding east, partnering with Garal Wholesalers Ltd. of Long Island for distribution in a number of New York territories including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx, as well as the Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

“We are extremely excited to be entering the New York market,” said James Valles, Aztec sales director, in a press statement. “Adding a second distributor on the east coast has been a key component of our overall growth plan.”

It’s just the fourth market for the brewery, which has been employing an all over the map approach to distribution with established availability in Maryland, Mexico and at home in Southern California.

Great Raft Plans for Wider Availability

Great Raft Brewing hasn’t partnered with any new wholesalers just yet, but the Shreveport, La.-based brewery has detailed plans for wider availability, as reported by Gambit Weekly.

The company has announced a two-phase expansion plan, which will not only bolster its presence in Shreveport/Bossier, Monroe, and Ruston where its beers are currently sold, but also enable it to expand into New Orleans, the North Shore and Baton Rouge.

Brewery co-founder Lindsay Nation told Gambit that new distribution will kick off in New Orleans and grow from there.