Sockeye Brewing Adds Utah Distribution
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MyBeer Buzz
From Sockeye:
Sockeye Brewing from Boise, Idaho is answering the request for a sessionable addition to the Utah beer market. In Utah, a brew must be below 4% alcohol by volume to be available in convenience and grocery stores. The venture has been on the table for more than a year while M&M Distribution has patiently waited for the brewery while it continued expansion to meet the overwhelming demand for its lineup of five beer styles already available in Idaho and Eastern Washington. Sockeye is currently adding a 14,000 sq. foot warehouse for more packaging and distribution.
“We have submitted our entire line-up of packaged beers for inclusion into Utah state liquor stores and are hoping to be accepted, although it’s not an easy approval process. All our canned beers are over the 4% abv cutoff for convenience and grocery chain stores. Those core four beers and a seasonal style have been accepted into Utah beer bars for purchasing already. We have secured a place for our new High Lakes Session IPA in Maverik C-stores,Smith’s Food stores, and Walmart Superstores. We are very proud of our solid sales and relationships with many retail chains in Utah, Idaho and Washington,” Said Tylar Bell, Director of Sales for Sockeye Brewing. “M&M is the perfect partner for us and has been in our planning process for quite some time. We are very appreciative that they allowed us an opportunity to develop a great new beer for the market. We knew our brewers would have no problem developing a session style IPA. These guys know hops.”
High Lakes Session IPA comes in at 4% abv and whopping 80 IBUs. Sockeye knows the demand for the hopped up beer styles well, having built a second brewery along with a canning line in 2012 to meet the demand for its longtime flagship brew Dagger Falls IPA. Sockeye’s newer session-style IPA is crafted with the full flavors and aromas of its big brother, but with a low alcohol by volume so as to increase drinkability without losing its signature full hop character. It has a fresh, piney hop aroma with a slight hint of caramel malt to balance the bite, and a hop forward flavor with citrus up front and a mild spiciness throughout. It is easy drinking and smooth with enough hop bitterness to remind you that it is unquestionably an IPA originating in hop country USA. It will be hitting shelves in the grocery and convenience chain stores throughout its distribution area this February. Head Brewer Josh King is excited about the new release. “We have a huge following of hop lovers here in Idaho who have really catapulted our growth into canning and distributing. Our Dagger Falls IPA is typically over 65% of production and these fans are growing. I’m happy we were able to build a beer with the same big character that we are confident will do well in the growing market for lower alcohol, flavor packed craft beers.” His smile says it all.
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