USA, CO & MN: Oskar Blues Brewery distributing its craft beer in Minnesota

Oskar Blues Brewery of Longmont, Colorado entered the Minnesota market this month. With 119,000 barrels brewed in 2013, Oskar Blues is Colorado's second largest brewing company (behind New Belgium Brewing Co.) and roughly the size of St. Paul's Summit Brewing Co, Bizjournals.com reported on February 6.

Founded by Dale Katechis in 1997, Oskar Blues brews one-third of its beer at a second brewery in North Carolina it opened in December 2012.

Oskar Blues' Minnesota distributor is Original Gravity.

Oskar Blues cans its beer. Customers can find six packs or mixed 12-packs of Dale's Pale Ale, Old Chub Scotch Ale and Mama's Little Yella Pils. Kegs are also being distributed to bars and restaurants.

The beer is now sold in 32 states.

“There is already a strong following for our flagship brew, Dale’s Pale Ale, in the region so we look forward to introducing all of our products to Minnesotans,” Oskar Blues Director of Marketing Chad Melis said in a statement.

Town Hall Brewery of Minneapolis said it sees Oskar Blues as a blueprint for how a brewpub can grow into a larger craft beer company.

12 February, 2014