I also want to interview brewers and ask them to distribute in Nebraska or if they have plans to distribute here, hoping for some breaking news here or just some fun stuff. I don't know if I will do video on this, I don't have the best video capabilities but we will see. What I need your help on is what breweries would you like me to ask? I have a short list going, keep in mind it has to be someone we have a chance at, meaning don't tell me to ask New Glarus or Russian River for example, they don't distribute outside of their current state except for a little from Russian River here and there. Think logical and logistical otherwise I am going to get a blank look, might anyway. So here is my short list.
Surly
Oskar Blues
21st Ammendment
Free State
Bell's
Out of all of these I bet Bell's will be the best chance. The problem with them is that they are notoriously hard to speak with I have heard. We will see. The others I listed I have heard are nearing maxed capacity. I bet we have a shot at 21st Amendment because they are close in MN but I am not sure of his capacity at this point. I thought I read Free State is beginning to package but I bet this will be a capacity issue as well. Anyway, that is my short and quick list, who else should I ask?
5 comments:
I second the Oskar Blues, it's stupid they don't distribute here. I don't get why you can get Bell's at the Hy-Vee in CB but not anywhere in Omaha. Might talk to Founders, I emailed them a while back and although they sent back a fairly humorous reply said they were at capacity currently, but when they expand in the next few years they will look at us, wouldn't hurt to remind them we're still interested.
Founders would be good too and the IA Bells thing is frustrating I know, especially since I am no where near IA. I am thinking that when Nebraska joins the Big 10 our travelling fans will help open the market for a lot of things including beer. That may sound silly but I think the Big 10 region kind of keeps to themselves a little. Not that there is a lot of us craft beer/football fans out there but those that are will show up at breweries. I know I plan to travel to away games with brewery tours planned. Just little stuff like that and seeing our highlights and scores every night and debating whether we will beat Michigan, etc. will keep is in mind and possibly get us further distribution.
Great choices to look at getting here in NE. Surly will be a tough one
to get down this far because they have fairly recently pulled out of all markets but the Minneapolis Metro market. A couple more to consider would be Saranac (FX Matts) out of Utica NY and Magic Hat out of VT.
Talk to Fort Collins Brewery. I had talked to one of their marketing people in June and they seemed like they were interested in re-distributing in Nebraska. However, I have not been able to get an email reply from the person...probably never checks his email.
I had a new beer from them at the fest called '1900'. This was named for their current address. Very tasty session beer...available at the Mall of the Bluffs Hy-Vee.
They are also moving to Odell's old place, so capacity shouldn't be an issue.
I was suggested Stone. That seems like a silly leave out. CJ thought he had heard that Stone needs people to email them in large numbers to open up distribution. Almost begging them to come, seems about right with their persona. So send those emails.
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