Oskar Blues Expands Distribution to Chicago

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 craft savvy Windy City Distribution to expand their line of boundary busting canned beer to the burgeoning craft beer scene of Chicago.

Oskar Blues and Windy City Distribution have created a distribution plan that will focus on the 8 county area around Chicago and will kick off with events and promotions on August 20th, 2012. 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 can their beer is projected to produce 95,000 barrels in 2012. Continued growth, increased infrastructure and the addition of a North Carolina brewing location in 2012 has allowed capacity to make the Chicago market the second official new market for Oskar Blues in the past three years.

Oskar Blues’ head brewer, Dave Chichura, has long-standing ties in the Chicago craft beer scene. He was the original head brewer for Rock Bottom Brewery in Warrenville, IL in 1998. During his time in Chicago, he was introduced to friends Jim & Jason Ebel of Two Brothers Brewing Company, Peter Crowley, owner of The Haymarket Pub & Brewery, as well as to Tim Marshall who has recently opened Solemn Oath Brewery in Naperville. “I’m excited to be back in the Chicago craft beer scene and am looking forward to the collaboration opportunities with old friends,” says Chichura.

In addition to distributing in 27 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 40% increase in nationwide beer sales. 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.

We gotta full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses…Hit it.

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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 1st CANNED craft beer. For additional info, interviews, images or samples please contact Chad Melis at [email protected], # 720.273.8888 or visit www.oskarblues.com

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