The Fastest Growing Craft Beer Brand in the US Brings Jai Alai IPA & More to the UK Market
TAMPA, FL , NOV 29, 2018 - International expansion continues for Cigar City Brewing with the addition of the United Kingdom to the Tampa-based brewery’s distribution network. CCB has partnered with James Clay, the UK’s leading craft beer distributor, to distribute its ale and lager offerings, including award-winning Jai Alai IPA, throughout Britain. Kegs and twelve-ounce cans of Jai Alai IPA, Invasion Tropical Pale Ale, Maduro Brown Ale, Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale and CCB's newest year-round offering, Guayabera Citra Pale Ale, began to arrive at the UK’s finest craft beer establishments earlier this month.
Looking to build on the strong UK presence of CANarchy portfolio-mate Oskar Blues Brewery, Cigar City Brewing enters the UK market poised for strong and sustained growth. The fastest growing craft beer brand in the United States, CCB grew by more than 60% in 2018 and boasts the 2nd best-selling craft six-pack can in Total US Multi-Outlet and Convenience. National and international awards and accolades have garnered attention for the brewery since their inception in 2009.
“We’re thrilled to bring our Florida-inspired beers to the craft beer enthusiasts of the UK,” said CCB’s El Lector Neil Callaghan. “British beer finds a wonderful balance between innovation and tradition, and we’ve been inspired by the British beer community since our inception. After collaborating with some fantastic breweries in the UK and participating in UK beer festivals for years, we’re finally able to deliver Cigar City Brewing’s dynamic beers to Britons full-time, thanks to the help of the amazing folks at James Clay. Nobody knows the UK beer market better than James Clay’s team, so we know we’re in good hands.”
Matthew Eyre, James Clay Head of Sales, said, “Cigar City Brewing is a beacon in the global beer scene, epitomizing the energy, creativity and quality of US craft beer. We are taking great care to ensure UK beer lovers can appreciate Cigar City Brewing’s phenomenal Jai Alai IPA in perfect condition through a cold shipping and storage chain. With such a huge array of beers available in the UK market, only the world’s finest beers will stand out. We are delighted that through our partnership with Cigar City Brewing, we can offer UK beer lovers just this.”
Market launch events took place throughout Scotland, Wales and England on Friday, November 16, at ten world-renowned beer venues; during which James Clay representatives educated attendees about CCB’s unique history and offerings.
CCB’s beer, including award-winning Jai Alai IPA, is available in twenty-three states including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Delaware, California, Massachusetts, Arizona, Maryland, Wisconsin and Kentucky, as well as Puerto Rico, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, and now the UK.
Visit Cigar City Brewing’s website [www.cigarcitybrewing.com] for full beer information and to find CCB beer closest to you.
About Cigar City Brewing:
Cigar City Brewing, makers of Jai Alai IPA and Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, was founded in 2009 by Joey Redner with the goal of creating world-class beer that reflected the flavors and history of the Tampa Bay region. This unique approach has resonated with local and national markets and the brewery has quickly grown to produce over 140,000 barrels of beer annually. Accolades have poured in since the brewery’s inception, including appearances on ratebeer.com’s Top 10 Breweries Worldwide six times. Cigar City Brewing is a key partner in CANarchy, a craft brewing collective that represents the largest canned craft beer supplier in the country.
About CANarchy
Founded in 2015, CANarchy is a disruptive collective of like-minded brewers dedicated to bringing high-quality, innovative flavors to drinkers in the name of independent craft beer. The portfolio of craft breweries, partially funded by Fireman Capital Partners, includes Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Squatters Craft Beers and Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing Company and Three Weavers Brewing Company. CANarchy was ranked #9 on the BA’s list of the 2017 Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewers as ranked by sales volume. The platform brewed 359,000 bbls in 2017, reaching all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and parts of 17 countries spanning five continents. In 2018, CANarchy was named “Brewery of the Year” by Brewbound; and collective member Cigar City Brewing grew by more than 60%, making it the fastest growing Top 50 Craft Brand this year. City Brewing’s Jai Alai and Oskar Blues Brewery’s Dale’s Pale Ale are currently the #2 and #4 sold craft can six packs in Total U.S. Multi-Outlet and Convenience.
About James Clay
James Clay, founded in West Yorkshire, England, is a family owned business entering their fourth decade of trading. The company has built a reputation not only as a leading distributor, but also an internationally acclaimed importer and brand manager with UK responsibility for prominent breweries such as Stone Brewing, Erdinger Weißbrau, and Anchor Brewing Co. To find out more please visit: https://www.jamesclay.co.uk/ or call 01422 377 560.
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