E-Malt.com News article: USA, NJ & CO: Hunterdon Distributing expands gluten-free beer portfolio

Hunterdon Distributing has signed a contract with New Planet Gluten-Free Beer and plans to begin distribution of their products by the end of April 2012, Craftbeer.com reported on April, 13.

The inaugural launch will include all three New Planet styles: Tread Lightly Ale, 3R Raspberry Ale and Off Grid Pale Ale.

New Planet was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2009. In just three years the company has grown from selling cases out of the back of a pickup truck to acquiring distribution in 32 states and winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival for their 3R Raspberry Ale.

The company takes great pride in their guaranteed gluten-free, sorghum-based brews and also in supporting the environment on both the local and global scale.

As the number of people with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivities continues to rise, gluten-free products are becoming more predominant on store shelves across the country. This is particularly the case in the craft beer industry. While brands such as New Planet and Bard’s Tale from Minnesota have been on the market for several years now, traditional craft breweries are also beginning to experiment with brewing an alternative style for consumers maintaining gluten-free diets. Dogfish Head recently released Tweason’Ale, a sorghum-based ale made with strawberries and honey and several other craft breweries have announced plans to produce gluten-free products in the near future.

As Hunterdon sales reps will attest, there has been a huge demand for gluten-free beer in the market with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Hunterdon is proud to be adding New Planet to their gluten-free portfolio which currently consists of Bard’s Tale Gluten-Free Lager, Dogfish Head Tweason’Ale, Epic Glutenator and a handful of specialty ciders and meads.


18 April, 2012