E-Malt.com News article: USA, GA: SweetWater Brewing reports 32% increase in production in 2013

Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing announced on January 15 that it sold 144,000 barrels last year, up 32% versus 2012, according to Brewbound.

Growth was driven primarily by its flagship offerings — 420 Extra Pale Ale and SweetWater IPA — as well as the company’s variety 12-pack, Tackle Box, which grew 215 percent.

“420 Extra Pale Ale led in overall volume, experiencing a 22-percent increase over 2012, with IPA following closely after sales grew 46-percent,” the company said in a release.

Approximately 75 percent of the company’s overall growth came from existing markets.

The release also highlighted the brewery’s plans to broaden its distribution footprint in 2014. SweetWater will expand into Virginia at the end of this month and has inked deals with Virginia Eagle for distribution in the Northern Virginia and Charlottesville markets, Loveland in Richmond, Capital Eagle in Washington D.C., and Hoffman in Southeastern Virginia.

The brewery said that it will look to sell its beer in 12 states before the end of 2014 and is already eyeing expansions into Mississippi, Ohio and Texas.

About SweetWater Brewing Company

SweetWater Brewing Company is an Atlanta‐based craft brewery living by the motto “Don’t Float the Mainstream!” Distribution is limited to the Southeast as SweetWater’s brews are designed to be consumed fresh. The award‐winning lineup of year‐round beers includes SweetWater 420, IPA, Blue, LowRYEder and Georgia Brown. SweetWater also features a Catch and Release series of beers available on a limited basis throughout the year, and an experimental, one‐time‐only Dank Tank series.


17 January, 2014