Distribution update: Wiseacre Brewing marks 10th anniversary with expansion to San Diego + moves from Arches Brewing, Rupee Beer and more

August 29, 2023Keith Gribbins

With exactly one zillion breweries operating across America, distribution news is always a steady constant in the CBB mailbox. Every week, we get announcements on new alliances, upcoming state expansions and even reductions from breweries growing and shrinking their distribution footprints. Here is some of that wholesaler news. Enjoy! If you have distribution news, send it to [email protected].

Wiseacre Brewing Co. recently announced that it has launched distribution in San Diego. After months of planning with Wiseacre’s local distribution partner Brown Bag Beverage, three of the Memphis-based breweries’ year-round beers — Air Bath Session IPA, Gotta Get Up to Get Down Coffee Milk Stout, and the Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal-winning Tiny Bomb Pilsner — will be available, along with Seasonal and Specialty Releases, at San Diego retailers like BevMo, Total Wine and others.

Wiseacre was founded in 2013 with Tiny Bomb as its first beer. In the 10 years since, Tiny Bomb has grown to become the #4 Craft Pilsner in the country. Davin Bartosch, Wiseacre brewmaster and co-founder, anticipates that it will be a hit in the West Coast IPA capital.

“My brother Kellan and I have spent a lot of time taking in the natural beauty of San Diego while growing up in the beer industry, and we think our refreshing Tiny Bomb is going to pair perfectly with the landscape of beers the city is famous for,” Davin said. “Tiny Bomb Pilsner combines the excellence of Memphis’ renowned water, often hailed as the nation’s ‘sweetest,’ with the richness of German pilsner malt and the essence of local wildflower honey. It’s remarkably crisp and light, an ideal contrast to California’s bold, intense brews. And with just 129 Calories, it aligns with the growing preference for lower-calorie options among craft beer enthusiasts.”

“As we step into the San Diego market, we think Wiseacre has a lot to offer locals, but Tiny Bomb is a stand-out that will anchor our strategy,” remarked Kellan Bartosch, cofounder of Wiseacre. He continued, “Tiny Bomb’s popularity has surged by an impressive 29% across Wiseacre’s reach since 2021. With the prevailing surge in demand for approachable, lower ABV craft beers, we think these figures will gain even greater momentum moving forward.”

Tiny Bomb and Wiseacre’s rapid growth has been fueled in part by the state-of-the-art production facility Wiseacre built in Downtown Memphis in 2020. Not only did the new facility quintuple the brewery’s previous capacity, but it also led to the development of new beers and the creation of new packaging options, which include 12-, 16- and 19.2-oz cans coming in 6-packs, 4-packs, 12-packs, Variety Packs, and single-serve. Wiseacre’s new facility ensures that Wiseacre is well-positioned to adapt to the fast-changing landscape of craft beer with those points, but also because the packaging equipment greatly increases shelf life compared to competition.

As Wiseacre expands its footprint westward, it remains committed to its hometown and hometown fans. To celebrate 10 awesome years in Memphis, Wiseacre will host the first ever BAM! Wiseacre Beer and Music Festival on Saturday, October 21st at its OG taproom location on Broad Avenue in Memphis. In collaboration with production company Mempho Presents, BAM! will focus on Memphis-centric music, pulling together a lineup of bands and musicians with a connection to the Bluff City. In addition to Lucero the headliner, bands include Kuroma, Blitzen Trapper, Psymon Spine, and Dead Soldiers.

In between acts, the Stone Crush stage will feature sets from DJ Leroy along with live acts from the Stone Crush compilation of Memphis Modern Soul like OT Sykes, Kick, and more. BAM will also feature the recently revealed “Shell on Wheels” Mobile Shell stage, providing an amazing, historical Memphis landmark a way to show up at our festival, too. Tickets are available at https://wiseacrebrew.com/events-and-tours#id=bam-and-mempho-presents.

Wiseacre is currently sold in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin, meaning that Wiseacre fans in a total of 20 states and the District of Columbia can buy their Wiseacre favorites closer to home.

Arches Brewing recently joined beverage platform Bevana Partners to expand the production and distribution of its award-winning beers. With a strong focus on traditional lager brewing, Arches will now be able to reach customers in new regions and to be more accessible in its core Georgia market. Fans of refined, clean, well-crafted beer styles will be able to find them more readily than ever before, both in their favorite bars and restaurants, and in the comfort of their own homes through Bevana’s online storefront.

Founded in 2016 with an eye toward bringing chemistry and art together in the pursuit of better beer, Arches Brewing has become a staple of the Atlanta area in the seven years since. Specializing in lagers, but with a breadth that allows plenty of space for ales such as hazy IPAs, Belgians and stouts, the Arches brand has become synonymous with quality and consistency in its home market.

“We are really excited to team up with Bevana to help us grow our footprint and share the beer we love with so many more people,” explained Jamey Adams, cofounder and brewmaster of Arches. “We look forward to having more of our products available in our own backyard, but also opening markets across the Southeast. We felt Bevana was equally as passionate about the styles we brew and took a vested interest in our long-term success.”

Through their partnership, Arches will be able to brew more volume than ever before, circumventing their chief bottleneck as they have struggled to keep up with the high demand for their beers. The company will also gain access to Bevana Partners’ growing network of top tier wholesalers, helping to bridge the gulf between breweries and its customers.

“We are here to help breweries like Arches in getting back to their reason for existing in the first place,” explains Aaron MJ Gore, Bevana Partners’ business development officer. “We focus on getting the beer to stores and to customers, and let the Arches founders get back to focusing on the incredible beers and experiences that have made them so well-respected in the first place. That’s what creates value for customers, and that’s where we want to let them return their focus to.”

Debuting with favorites such as the Mexican Empire Vienna Lager and Lloyd’s Light Lager, Arches’ beers will continue to see distribution throughout Georgia, with new markets on the horizon for launch in the coming months. The brewery’s popular rotating line of international pilsner styles will also continue, each time bringing a unique spin to the most popular style of beer in the world.

Arches Brewing’s beers will also be offered through Bevana’s online shop, where beer from all of the platform’s beverage partners may be ordered and shipped directly to customers’ homes or businesses. With the ability to deliver beer to customers in forty-two states, it helps beverage makers and drinkers cut through the noise and the barriers that stand in the way of enjoying the best drinks that the world has to offer, regardless of location.

Rupee Beer is on a mission to bring Indian inspired beer to the world and recently announced its further expansion into the South with the addition of South Carolina. Rupee Beer is specially brewed to pair with Indian and spicy flavors by world renowned master beer brewer and Indian chef. It is the first Indian-inspired beer to bridge the gap between world cuisine and craft brewing, with placement at select Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Costco and Total Wine locations.

Rupee is growing the presence of its multi award-winning Basmati Rice Lager at 4.75% ABV and Mango Wheat Ale at 4% ABV. Both SKUs are currently available across 12+ states. Brothers Van and Sumit Sharma, sons of Indian restaurateurs in the business internationally for over half a century, found themselves continually frustrated they could not find any Indian beer in Maine — where their family immigrated to from the United Kingdom and Germany in the early 90s.

They decided to not only create their own beer, but set out to game change the food and beverage industry in a bold and diverse way. The Sharma brothers strategically partnered with global craft brewing legend Alan Pugsley, 40+ year master beer brewer, lover of Indian food as a British expat, and creator of over 80+ global beer brands, to create Rupee Beer and re-write everything society understands about craft lager as it relates to spicy world cuisine.

Brewed with pristine quality in mind and premium rice, maize, malt, and three types of hops, Rupee Beer dismantles the traditional lager experience by lowering levels of carbonation to allow for a more comfortable and enjoyable dining experience.

Craftwell Cocktails, a sister brand of 2 Towns Ciderhouse, recently announced distribution in the state of California through its partnership with Classic Beverage, Scout Distributing, Delta Pacific Beverage, Mussetter Distributing, and Morris Distributing. California is the fourth state, following Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, that the craft beverage producer will distribute its premium canned cocktails.

Craftwell Cocktails are landing in stores immediately across the state for Californians to enjoy the warm rays of summer with a cold canned cocktail.

Launched in March of last year, Craftwell Cocktails are a line of premium cocktails that have quickly grown to become the #1 ready-to-drink canned cocktail in the state of Oregon. Prioritizing taste above all else, the ready-to-drink Craftwell Cocktails are crafted in the Pacific Northwest with real fruit and carefully selected ingredients that lead to a refreshing and delicious taste.

Golden state retailers and consumers will now have access to the full lineup of canned cocktails, including Pineapple Margarita, Peach Mojito, Grapefruit Paloma, Strawberry Margarita, and Blueberry Cosmo. Packaged in ready-to-drink cans that are easily portable, Craftwell allows consumers to create a unique cocktail moment just about anywhere. Each cocktail is 10.5% ABV and available in 4-packs of 12-oz cans at retail stores, bars, and restaurants.

“We are excited to extend our craft beverages to the sunny state of California,” said Nels Jewell-Larsen, co-owner and vice president of business development for 2 Towns. “California is a natural extension of our West Coast adventuresome spirit and vibe.”

For more information, visit craftwellcocktails.com.