Smuttynose Brewing Co. is delighted to announce their new California distribution partnerships with Craft Beer Guild Distributing of California (San Diego) and El Dorado Distributing (Signal Hill, CA in the Los Angeles area) who will bring New Hampshire’s leading craft brewer’s beers to the West Coast starting in September, 2013. Both distributorships are part of the L. Knife & Sons family of wholesalers. The deal with these new L. Knife divisions makes California the 24rd state where Smuttynose beers are available.

Smuttynose has successful, existing relationships with L. Knife family in Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Kentucky and Wisconsin, so the California deal includes a certain amount of familiarity, but the newness of the situation creates an excellent opportunity for both brands brands to grow together. “We’ve shown strong growth in other L. Knife markets and they certainly know our beers,” said Smuttynose Founder and President Peter Egelston, “I have faith that we will see similar results in the California market, even though it’s a different landscape because we’re both starting fresh.”

The first Smuttynose shipment consists of bottled Big Beer Series releases; Homunculus and Rhye IPA, as well as three kegs of Cluster’s Last Stand that are heading to Stone Brewing Co. Smuttynose’s collaboration partner on the beer. Kegs of Finestkind IPA will also be heading to the Golden State.

Founded in 1994, Smuttynose is New Hampshire’s leading craft brewery. In 2012, its 50 employees worked to brew, package and sell nearly 41,000 barrels of beer. After nearly 20 years in their original home in Portsmouth, the international award-winning brewery will move into its new, LEED Gold-registered brewery and visitors’ center on the historic Towle Farm in Hampton, NH in 2014.

Style: IPA

ABV: 8.4%

Review: Golden orange in color, this beer is very hazy. It has great head retention, a beautiful cream color.  This beer tastes slightly more like an ESB than an IPA with its very bitter taste.  A very earthy and herbal taste, with an extremely dry finish.

Portsmouth, NH

Style: Belgian golden with edible flowers

Staff Review: Golden wheat in color with just a hint of haziness. Traditional Belgian ethers, bubble gum, honeysuckle and wildflower on the nose. We picked up lavender right away. This beer was designed around the flowers. Appropriately carbonated. Flowers and perfume dominate the palate with the Belgian influences providing just the right amount of support. This beer will pair well with a rainy spring afternoon.