By Chris Laine – The Oakland Press
New Belgium Brewing Company of Fort Collins, Colo. will begin distribution in Michigan starting August 27.
The Colorado-based brewery, most famous for its ‘Fat Tire Amber Ale,’ has inked deals with 22 Michigan distributors to carry its beer starting August 27. The recent deal will bring New Belgium’s distribution footprint to 29 states and the District of Columbia.
Select beers from Fort Collins-based brewery will be available in Michigan beginning August 27. New Belgium will initially roll out 22-ounce bottles of Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Trippel, Shift and Red Hoptober, as well as Lips of Faith offerings Super IPA (with Alpine Brewing) and Biere de Mars; where draft beer will follow distribution in October.
To coincide with entering the Great Lakes State, New Belgium Brewing and Michigan-based Brewery Vivant are launching the first of two collaborative beers. “Escoffier”is being brewed in Grand Rapids and will be distributed through Brewery Vivant’s network. The beer is named after the French master chef of the same namet’s deep amber in color and uses one of Brewery Vivant’s house Belgian yeast strains, as well as wild yeast from New Belgium called Brettanomyces Bruxellensis.
“Michigan has already been a great partner with a broad network of breweries, distributors and beer lovers,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium’s spokesman. “Working with Brewery Vivant has been a great way to meet and work with local brewers while making something new and unique for both breweries.”
A release party is scheduled at Brewery Vivant on August 27, followed by a Michigan release of draft and signature 16-ounce cans. A second beer will be brewed in Fort Collins and released through New Belgium Brewing’s national network. The second beer will be part of the Lips of Faith series, available in 22-ounce bombers and draft in November.
New Belgium’s Michigan wholesaler network includes: Anderson Distributing Co, Atlas Distributing, Bud Distributing, Earl Smith Distributing, Fabiano Brothers, Floral City Beverage, Four Seasons Beer Distributors, Great Lakes Distributing Co., Griffin Beverage, H. Cox & Sons, Hubert Distributing, Huron Distributing, Ludington Beverage, Main Beverage, Marchetti Distributing, Mervenne Beverage, O & W, Peterlin Distributing, Peteprin Distributing, Pike Distributing, Tyler Sales Co and Westside Distributing Co..
In addition to producing craft beers, New Belgium engages in programs such as employee ownership, open book management and environmental stewardship.
For more information on New Belgium Brewing, visit their website at www.newbelgium.com.