USA, GA & OH: SweetWater Brewing Company expanding distribution to Ohio

A well-known Georgia brewer is moving into Ohio and it’s taking some of the competition back home with it, wcpo.com reported on July 15.

SweetWater Brewing Company of Atlanta is expanding its distribution to Ohio.

The company said recently that it pumped in $19 million to launch the effort. Ohio is the southern brewer’s northern-most distribution point. The beer should start flowing to the Buckeye State in September.

SweetWater is ranked in the top 20 of the nation’s breweries by sales volume according to the Brewer’s Association.

“While on a recent tour through Ohio, I could feel the energy and excitement throughout the state surrounding craft beer,” Jeff Chassner, director of new market business development at SweetWater Brewing Company, said via a release. “We feel now is the perfect time for us to tell our story and bring our award-winning brands to the Buckeye State to further complement their already established craft lineup.”

The company said it started expanding operations in 2012 and quadrupled overall capacity. The company is already selling its lineup in Kentucky. They hope to be in 12 states by the end of 2014.

The move also sees one of Cincinnati’s brewers heading down south to Atlanta. Mt. Carmel Brewing Company’s Patrick Clark recently took a position with SweetWater.

The brewery said it is still finalizing deals with distribution partners but Ohioans will soon see the iconic rainbow trout tap handles in the coming months.

The brewery is planning several launch events to commemorate the expansion as well.

16 July, 2014