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Before you freak out know that this is a distribution agreement only…But a company rep did tell a local publication that the brewery is “testing things out.”
Here’s what we know…
For weeks rumors had been swirling according to LEO, that Kentucky-based Against the Grain was “selling out” to Big Beer. And as it turns they have entered into a “Kentucky-only” distribution agreement with Pabst, but that’s it (at least for now).
Katie Molck, Against the Grain’s Marketing & Media Maven told the local publication that the Louisville brewery is “testing things out” and would be “taking advantage of [Pabst’s] distribution network.”
Against the Grain’s growth and evolution is an unusual story to begin with. When it launched in 2011 Molck said that the brewery, “focused our sales outside of Kentucky because that’s where craft beer was most popular at the time,” and that the new plan is to grow in its own backyard… “Expanding distribution in Kentucky is our main goal. We’re coming back home.”
In 2017 Molck told American Craft Beer that In keeping with their name Against the Grain has long had a business philosophy that goes a little “against the grain” adding “that they’d started distributing their beers in Europe the same year that they launched.”
In addition to having participated in all kinds of collaborations with European brewers like Denmark’s Mikkeller, they’ve grown their own distinct European following over the years. All this on top of an almost 40 state distribution footprint here in the states.
Ironically what Against the Grain doesn’t have is a significant retail presence in its home state. And their new agreement with Pabst is increasingly important as craft beer consumers continue to migrate from more nationally distributed craft beer brands to those with a more local profile.
This isn’t the first time that Pabst has entered into a distribution agreement with a craft brewery according to LEO…
“Against the Grain is the second brewery with which Pabst has partnered in such a relationship. Michigan’s New Holland Brewing teamed with Pabst in early 2017 and has since focused on distributing Dragon’s Milk nationwide by leveraging Pabst’s sales and distribution platform.”
