Oskar Blues will continue its ‘aggressive’ expansion efforts next month when it launches new distribution in Missouri via a wholesale arrangement with Major Brands Inc.
The Longmont, Colo.-based craft brewery — which also owns and operates a secondary production facility in Brevard, NC — yesterday announced it will broaden its footprint, launching draft and can packages on November 10 with a string of market blitz initiatives and kick-off events.
The expansion into Missouri follows previous rollouts in Idaho, Minnesota, Delaware, Nevada and Kansas earlier this year.
A full press release with additional details is below.
Longmont, CO, and Brevard, NC–Oskar Blues Brewery, creator of the first American craft beer in a CAN, has partnered with Major Brands, Inc., of Missouri, to start distribution of the brewery’s full line-up of beers, in both CANS and on draft, in November.
“Major Brands is excited to be Oskar Blues’ choice in Missouri and we are ready to show Missouri what Oskar Blues is all about. Our companies’ shared passion for excellence and for giving back to our communities will ensure a successful partnership,” says Sue McCollum, Major Brands CEO.
The official Oskar Blues brew launch will take place during the week of November 10th with kick-off events and a market blitz featuring a full team of Oskar Blues and Major Brands folks.
“There were a lot of good options and great distributors that we talked with in the state but partnering with this third generation beverage distributor, led by Sue McCollum, was the right move for us,” says Oskar Blues Director of Business Management Chris Russell. “We are confident that we are positioned for a successful partnership with Major Brands, and we look forward to getting our beer into the hands of excited beer retailers and beer drinkers in the great state of Missouri very soon.”
Oskar Blues is bringing all of its award-winning beers to bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and bottle shops throughout the Show-Me state.
Dale’s Pale Ale, Mama’s Little Yella Pils, and Old Chub CANS will be available in 12-ounce six-packs and a variety 12-pack called CANundrum. Dale’s and Mama’s will also be sold in 19.2 single-serve Imperial pints or stovepipe CANs.
- Oskar Blues newest CAN, Old Chub Nitro, is available in 16.4-ounce over pint four-packs.
- The Imperials, Deviant Dale’s IPA and G’Knight Red IPA, will be sold in 16-ounce four-packs.
- Fall/Winter Seasonal, Ten FIDY, and Spring/Summer Seasonal, GUBNA, will also be available in 12-ounce four-packs of CANS.
The Missouri launch follows additional Oskar Blues distribution in Kansas, Nevada, Delaware, Minnesota, Idaho, southern Alabama, and central California in 2014, bringing the number of states that Oskar Blues distributes in to 36 total.
Look for more details on the Missouri launch and specifics of Oskar Blues kick-off events in the coming weeks.
More about Oskar Blues Year-Round Brews:
- Dale’s Pale Ale: As Oskar Blues’ flagship beer, this American Pale Ale delivers balanced rich flavors of malts and hops (6.5% ABV, 65 IBUs). The award-winning beer was named the “Top U.S. Pale Ale” by The New York Times and is the number-one selling pale ale in Colorado.
- Mama’s Little Yella Pils: This Bohemian Style Pilsner is a refreshing balance of Saaz hops and specialty German malts while providing a gentle flavor (5.3% ABV, 35 IBUs). Like summer in your mouth.
- Old Chub Scotch Ale: Strong Scotch Ale, brewed with rich malts, specialty and smoked grains to deliver flavors of semi-sweet cocoa and coffee (8% ABV).
- Old Chub NITRO: Old Chub, but on NITRO, which adds a creamy, velvety mouth-feel. And a little less ABV (6.8%).
- G’Knight Imperial Red IPA: The dry-hopped double-red IPA embodies a strong aroma and malty hopped flavors while providing a rich finish (8.7% ABV, 60 IBUs).
- Deviant Dale’s IPA: American-style India Pale Ale, exemplifies aromas of citrus, grapefruit rind and piney resins to deliver a full-flavor (8% ABV, 85 IBUs).
About Major Brands
About Oskar Blues Brewery
Founded as a brewpub by Dale Katechis in 1997, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse in 2002 using a tabletop machine that sealed one can at a time. In 2008, the makers of the top-selling pale ale in ColoRADo, Dale’s Pale Ale, moved into a 35,000-square-foot facility in Longmont, ColoRADo. The brewery has since experienced explosive growth-packaging 59,000 barrels of beer in 2011 and 86,750 barrels in 2012. In December of 2012, Oskar Blues opened the doors to an additional brewery in Brevard, North Carolina. Recently, Oskar Blues secured an additional 60,000 square feet in their Colorado location to allow additional production and add six full-size Brunswick bowling lanes to the Tasty Weasel Taproom.Together, the breweries packaged 119,000 barrels of beer in 2013, distributing their trailblazing craft brews to 36 states and Washington, D.C.