Press Release:
(Randolph, MA) – Recently updated 2013 statistics show that craft beer sales continue to gain momentum in Massachusetts. This data reveals that through May beer shipments are down 1.6%, or 27,808 barrels, in 2013. Despite this loss, the craft category continues to grow its sales and share of the total beer business. Craft beer shipments grew 14.04% (+32,263 barrels) a share gain of 2.18% vs. same time period 2012, bringing total share to 15.87%. At this trajectory, it is not unrealistic to think craft beer could reach a total 17 share by the end of 2013 in Massachusetts.
To help drive this exponential growth the Massachusetts Beverage Alliance, a unique collaboration of five separate beer and specialty beverage distributors, continues to search for new breweries and specialty cider makers to help offer sales and distribution services throughout the commonwealth.
In September of 2013, the MBA has announced distribution partnerships with two new companies, bringing its total portfolio to eighteen:
Cambridge, MA. Born from a proud family tradition of winemaking, this small local cider maker works in partnership with local apple growers to deliver a modern line of craft cider. Available primarily in the Greater Boston market since January, Bantam will now be available throughout the entire state of Massachusetts by early October. The 2 styles available will be: Wunderkind; a bright, crisp, delicately balanced cider and their newest offering Rojo; a semi-dry, unfiltered cider, aged with tart cherries and black peppercorns. Both styles are available in draught and 22oz bottles. 22oz bottles will have a suggested retail price of $7.99 per bottle. Wunderkind is also available in 12oz bottles for on premise sales.
One of Vermont’s newest and exciting breweries will now be available in Massachusetts. Started by two seasoned brewers from Vermont, Allen Van Anda and Jamie Griffith created Lost Nation Brewing with the mission of offering “good, honest beer”. We will begin by offering 3 styles on draught: Gose; a traditional German beer style that was
all but extinct 30 years ago, is amazingly refreshing brewed with coriander and salt and has a slight tart finish, Saison Lamoille; a slightly lower alcohol version of the farmhouse style, is a hazy golden beer with notes of fruit, spice, and funk, and Petit Ardennes; a light bodied blond beer with notes of spice, herb, and tropical fruit, this beer has great flavor and character for a 4.2% beer. These beers will be available in late September in the Greater Boston market and portions of Western Mass.
About the Massachusetts Beverage Alliance The Massachusetts Beverage Alliance LLC is a network of like- minded beer distributors who share the mission of providing, promoting, and building quality craft and specialty import beer and ciders throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Alliance’s network consists of five wholesale partners – Atlas Distributing Inc., Burke Distributing, Colonial Wholesale Beverage, Commercial Distributing Company and Merrimack Valley Distributing Company. Together with our brewer partners, we are committed to bringing the freshest and best tasting beer to consumers and retail partners in our respective markets.