Pioneer of the first craft beer in a can to launch five brands statewide, Feb. 24
The maker of the country’s first craft beer in a can, Oskar Blues, and Nevada’s leading wholesale distributor, Wirtz Beverage, announced today a new partnership to bring the well-loved brand to the state for the very first time. Under the agreement, Wirtz Beverage Nevada will have the exclusive statewide rights to market and sell Oskar Blues’ collection of year-round brews, including its flagship brand, Dale’s Pale Ale, beginning February 24.
“Our partnership with Wirtz Beverage is an incredible opportunity for us to build our brand in a really fun market,” says Chris Russell, Oskar Blues’ Director of Business Operations. “We’re new to Nevada so it was important for us to find a partner with a long-standing reputation and a statewide reach. Wirtz Beverage has both. They touch every corner of the state from the Vegas strip to the mountains of Lake Tahoe, and even the world’s ‘Biggest Little City’ Reno. They’re held in high-regard by customers in each area.”
Headquartered in Longmont, Colorado, Oskar Blues was founded in 1997 by Dale Katechis. In 2002, the adventurous company pioneered craft beer in a can with Dale’s Pale Ale. Last year, Oskar Blues sold more than 119,000 barrels produced from two breweries in Colorado and North Carolina. Production is expected to significantly increase in 2014 with expansion into eight new states. Oskar Blues is a top 25 brewery and one of the country’s fastest growing companies. In addition to craft beer, its diverse holdings include brew pubs, restaurants, a mountain bike line and farm.
“Oskar Blues is an iconic brand and we look forward to growing a strong partnership,” says Kent Bearden, Craft Portfolio Specialist at Wirtz Beverage Nevada. “There’s a great craft beer movement happening in our home state and we can’t wait to share Oskar Blues quality products with beer lovers everywhere.”
When Oskar Blues launches with Wirtz Beverage, it will roll-out five of its year-round beers in cans and on draft including: Dale’s Pale Ale, Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Old Chub Scotch Ale, Deviant Dale’s IPA and G’Knight Imperial Red IPA. Releasing shortly after will be Gubna Imperial IPA. The companies will host a series of launch events in each of its major markets including consumer tastings and industry gatherings.
For more information about all things Oskar Blues please visit them on the web and find them on Facebook (OskarBluesCans, OskarBluesBrewerySoutheast) Twitter (@oskarblues, @oskarblueswnc, and Youtube.
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. Together, the breweries packaged 119,000 barrels of beer in 2013, distributing its trailblazing craft brews to 31 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
About Wirtz Beverage Nevada
Wirtz Beverage Nevada, with offices in Las Vegas and Reno, is a statewide leader in distribution of fine wine, spirits and beer brands. The company is a member of Wirtz Beverage Group, one of the country’s leading wholesalers with interests in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa. Learn more about Wirtz Beverage Nevada by visiting its website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
