Sun King Brewery Celebrates New Distribution in Chicago
We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Indianapolis’ Sun King Brewery to Chicago this August. We’ll be sending out detailed information on release events, where you can purchase Sun King beers, and more in the coming weeks. Until then, please see the press release from Sun King below and let the anticipation build.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Indianapolis (July 11, 2017) – Sun King Brewery, one of the leaders of the independent craft beer movement in Indiana, is excited to announce distribution of its award-winning, flavorful and fresh beer in Chicago beginning this August. For the first time, Sun King fans in Chicago will be able to purchase award-winning brews such as Sunlight Cream Ale, Wee Mac Scottish Ale and Osiris Pale Ale, seasonal beers such as Pachanga (a new Mexican-style lager available this summer), Fistful of Hops, Oktoberfest and a rotating IPA series, along with select specialty and Sun King King’s Reserve beers. Sun King will be available in liquor stores, grocery stores, and on tap at local restaurants and bars where independent craft beer is appreciated and enjoyed.
“For the past eight years, Sun King has been making great beer with the goal of becoming Indiana’s beer,” said Clay Robinson, co-owner of Sun King Brewery. “We haven’t sold our beer outside of the state due to constraints caused by our own capacity and restrictions that were in place because of antiquated state laws. Having worked to increase Indiana’s barrelage limitations and increase Sun King’s capacity to make more beer, we’re now in a position to not only meet the demands of Hoosiers throughout the state, but are also to share our beer in other markets where craft beer enthusiasts want to enjoy it. Chicago is one of those places, and we’re excited to begin distributing there in August.”
Sun King’s $2 million expansion to its downtown Indianapolis brewing facility and continued investments in new brewing technology, processes and equipment – like adding another 420- barrel tank to its production line – have helped Sun King respond to the growing demand for its fresh, flavorful beer. This increased capacity enables Sun King to make its beers more widely available to Hoosiers and fans in other states. Demand for craft beer continues to grow with sales up 6.2 percent nationally according to the Brewers Association, and sales of craft beer in Chicago are expected to grow to $18 million in 2018 according to Mintel.
“We’ve met countless Sun King fans from Chicago who either travel to our tap rooms in Indiana or attend regional festivals and events, like the Festival of Barrel Aged Beers, for an opportunity to enjoy our brews,” said Dave Colt, co-owner and head brewer of Sun King. “We’re excited to not only be able to make it more convenient for them to purchase and enjoy our beers, but to also to increase awareness of our tasty brews and continue to achieve smart, sustainable growth in the independent craft beer industry. This also gives us the opportunity to collaborate with our friends at great independent Chicago craft breweries like Revolution Brewing, Half Acre, Solemn Oath and Haymarket.”
Lakeshore Beverage in Chicago will help expand the distribution of Sun King’s extensive variety of beers on tap and in cans at hundreds of bars, restaurants, liquor and grocery stores throughout Chicago. And Chicago craft brewery Revolution Brewing and Sun King will debut a collaboration beer on September 9 during Sun King’s CANvitational the largest beer festival in the Midwest dedicated to canned beers.
“We couldn’t be more exited to partner with Sun King Brewing to bring their award-winning brands to Chicago,” says Austin Sawyer, sales director for Craft and Import Brands at the Hand Family Companies, owners of Lakeshore Beverage. “These beers have never been offered outside the state of Indiana, so we are extremely proud to pioneer Sun King’s regional growth and expand their fan base here in Chicago.”
Sun King is teaming up with Lakeshore Beverage to host several launch events and “tap takeovers” in Chicago, including the Windy City Smokeout, July 14-16, and the Green City Market BBQ, July 20, at which customers can sample brews and enjoy special promotions on the purchase of a variety of Sun King’s beers.
About Sun King Brewery
Sun King Brewing Company is the brainchild of Dave Colt and Clay Robinson. With the help of family and friends – Omar Robinson, Andy Fagg and Steve Koers – the first keg of Sun King beer rolled out the door for delivery in July 2009. Now available on tap and in cans throughout Indiana, Chicago and Louisville, Ky., Sun King has grown into a leader in the independent craft brewing movement. Sun King’s brewers hand craft flagship, seasonal and specialty beers that have been rewarded with multiple medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and Indiana Brewers Cup competitions. The brewery also partners with hundreds of community organizations throughout Indiana in order to help them raise awareness and funds for great causes. Visit www.sunkingbrewing.com for more information. Sun King Brewery is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Lakeshore Beverage
Lakeshore Beverage is a Chicagoland distributor that is deeply passionate about bringing the world’s best beers and beverages to Chicagoland. The Company was founded in January 2014 with the merging of the five separate distributorships of City Beverage and River North Sales and Service. Since then, Lakeshore Beverage has transitioned to one distributorship operating four warehouses with a corporate office located in the West Loop of downtown Chicago. A member of the Hand Family Companies, Lakeshore Beverage distributes approximately 23.5 million annual case equivalents and has approximately 650 employees.