Since Bell's now surrounds New Jersey in our neighboring states, has anybody heard anything about the company expanding into New Jersey?
They've been rumored for a year or two now. I hear 2016 at some point...but pretty sure I heard 2015 before as well.
So sign with the "red" AB wholesale network, like Anchor, Victory, Ithaca, Firestone-Walker, etc., or the "blue and silver" Miller(and/or)Coors houses as have BBC, Sierra Nevada, Saranac, Brooklyn, Yuengling, Great Lakes, etc., and compete against the numerous Hunterdon-distributed brands! Although, from what I understand, Hunterdon is now just one more division of L.Knife & Sons/Sheehan Family Co's and they already do carry Bell's in at least one of their states (can't find that info on their site w/o searching zip codes). https://www.sheehanfamilycompanies.com/portfolio/bells-brewery-inc Seems like it's been longer than that - probably started when they hit PA and then revived again when they started NY state distribution (despite the stories of Bell's "feud" with the state).
I get so disappointed when I see something like "Bell's enters Tennesse" and we still dont have it in NJ...uggh. No hate for TN , i just never really thought of it as a craft beer destination.
Perhaps that is why - it is probably easier for a brewer with near-maxed out brewing capacity to supply a state with a smaller population and less "craft" demand than a populous state with a larger "craft" market share.
the rumors go back at least 2 years ago. I remember one of my beer guys telling me that they would be carrying Bell's in time to get Hopslam.
supposedly has to do with bottle deposits on their bottles, and an oddball NJ law that can only allow a certain amount... etc blah blah stupid ABC bs stuff.
