WAUCONDA, Ill. -- Small Town Brewery announced that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Pabst Brewing Co. to meet the increasing nationwide demand for its Not Your Father’s Root Beer, as first reported by CSP Daily News.
Pabst began selling Not Your Father’s Root Beer in March 2015 and is currently distributing it to 30 states. Not Your Father’s Root Beer is the fastest-selling new product in the craft-beer category in the 2015 year-to-date period through May 23, according to Nielsen data.
“The last year has been an amazing ride. We’ve had Not Your Father’s Root Beer go from being available in a few dozen Chicago bars and restaurants to becoming one of the most sought-after craft beers in the country,” said Tim Kovac, founder and brewmaster of Small Town Brewery, Wauconda, Ill. “Pabst has a storied history of working with iconic and cherished American brands, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with them as we look to meet the tremendous nationwide demand for Not Your Father’s Root Beer.”
The distribution deal signals Pabst first foray into the craft-beer category.
“Small Town has created an entirely new category with Not Your Father’s Root Beer," said Eugene Kashper, chairman and CEO of Pabst Brewing Co., Los Angeles. "Many have tried and failed to make similar products, so Tim's success is really the result of years and years of dedication to brewing. He has perfected a truly groundbreaking product, and it's a great honor for us to represent it.”
Not Your Father's is now available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Pabst expects Not Your Father’s Root Beer to be available nationwide by the end of 2015.
Small Town's brews are inspired by the gruit brewing tradition and recipes passed down by Kovac’s ancestral family brewer from the 1600s. Not Your Father’s Root Beer is spiced with wintergreen, sassafras bark, oak, vanilla, anise and a host of other spices.
The beer’s three variations--5.9% ABV, 10.7% ABV and 19.5% ABV--have earned “World Class” consumer BeerAdvocate ratings of 96, 98 and 98, respectively. Small Town now offers Not Your Father’s nationally in a six-pack, 12-oz. glass format at 5.9% ABV, with plans to roll out the 10.7% and 19.5% ABV versions in future.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.