(Longmont, CO) – Ten years ago funky little Oskar Blues Grill & Brew started the “Canned Beer Apocalypse” by stuffing their voluminously hoppy Dale’s Pale Ale in a can. Today Oskar Blues announced a partnership with Stagnaro Distributing (Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky) & Superior Beverage Group (Columbus to Cleveland) to expand their line of boundary busting canned beer to the burgeoning craft beer scene of Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
“This CAN easily be the biggest craft beer launch Ohio has ever seen,” said Mike Stagnaro, President & CEO Stagnaro Distributing.
This announcement follows record setting releases in the Alabama and Chicagoland markets over the previous two months by the brewery. Oskar Blues’ passion play announcement to open an additional brewery in the beer and outdoor centric mountains of North Carolina has allowed the rapidly growing brewery to create capacity to open new markets for the first time in three years. The North Carolina brewery is on pace to begin brewing beer in December of 2012 and produce 40,000 barrels in 2013.
Oskar Blues grew from 13,000 barrels (2007) to 59,000 barrels (2011) in five years while craft beer in-a-can has come of age. America’s first craft brewery to brew and can their beer is projected to produce 90,000 barrels in 2012.
Last year Oskar Blues began “The Oskar Blues Ordeal” bus trips and claimed three medals at the GABF. This year during GABF the brewery will be releasing 16oz. cans of the 2012 World Beer Cup Gold Medal winning G’Knight Imperial Red IPA, a second collaboration beer with Sun King Brewery in the Ball Corporation Alumi-tek Can and a yet to be announced revolutionary NEW package to craft beer. Join the free release of this new package at the Blake Street Tavern (Denver, CO) on Thursday with live music by Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams and Oskar Blues Beer. Below is a short list of ways to keep an eye on what’s happening with Oskar Blues during this year’s festival.
It’s All About the Package Party – Thursday October 11th – Blake Street Tavern
Featuring CANS from the Evolution of Craft beer and a NEW PACKAGE RELEASE FROM OSKAR BLUES. Details & Entry for the General Public Entry Ticket, you can print the FREE entry via OB facebook http://www.facebook.com/OskarBluesCANS?ref=hl#!/events/369000383179876/
Draft Magazine GABF OB Giveaway – OB Ordeal, GABF ticket & Hotel Giveaway with Draft Magazine – http://draftmag.com/new/feature/win-drafts-oskar-blues-gabf-giveaway/
BEER RELEASES
1. “G’Knight Imperial Red IPA” will be released in 16oz. cans that week.
2. The 2nd collaboration between Sun King Brewery and Oskar Blues Brewery in the Ball Alumi-tek Can, CHAKA was the first.
CHAKA Details: http://thefullpint.com/beer-news/sun-king-and-oskar-blues-collaborate-on-chaka/
3. A NEW CAN PACKAGE release from Oskar Blues Brewery…… http://www.facebook.com/OskarBluesCANS?ref=hl#!/events/369000383179876/
GABF OSKAR BLUES SILENT DISCO – Find our beer fueled silent disco dance party at Between section I10 and M1 in the GABF Hall.
OSKAR BLUES ORDEAL – SOLD OUT
Wed, Thursday and Friday via bus. For additional details: http://www.oskarblues.com/blog/oskar-blues-brewery-gabf-ordeal
Find a list of all Oskar Blues GABF events: http://www.oskarblues.com/blog/greatamericanbeerfestival2012
In addition to distributing in 29 states Oskar Blues has two beer-blessed restaurant locations and launched a fistful of new projects in 2011, including the opening of their sustainable Hops & Heifers Farm, producing their own line of mountain bikes with REEB Cycles (www.REEBcycles.com), rolling out the Bonewagon Food Truck and posting a 52% increase in nationwide revenue. The brewery grew from 42,000 barrels in 2010 to 59,000 barrels in 2011 without opening any new markets – the 17,000 barrel increase represents nearly the equivalent of what the brewery produced in all of 2008.
ABOUT OSKAR BLUES
Dale Katechis founded the quirky brewpub turned regional craft brewery inside his original restaurant and music venue in 1999. Three-dimensional brewing since 1999, Oskar Blues began the “Canned Beer Apocalypse” in 2002 when Dale’s Pale Ale became America’s 1stCANNED craft beer. For additional info, interviews, images or samples please contact Chad Melis at [email protected], # 720.273.8888 or visit www.oskarblues.com
