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Fair State Brewing Cooperative launches Minnesota’s first cannabis beverage fulfillment, copacking and distribution center

January 23, 2023Keith Gribbins

Image from the Fair State Brewing Co-Op Twitter post below.

Minneapolis’ Fair State Brewing Cooperative is a member driven craft brewery. Founded in 2014, Fair State’s in-house brew crew focuses on (among other things) brewing traditional lagers (like its Pils brand), tasty hoppy concoctions (think Big Doinks) and great sours (like Farm Launch). Its 2,000 members get to be involved in these creations. Members get both 1) benefits (things like taproom specials, exclusive parties and discounts on merch) and 2) the opportunity to provide insights into the brewery’s operations (things like formulating beer recipes, picking fresh berries for fruited sours and choosing and volunteering hours to various philanthropic organizations). With a lifetime membership ($300), members even have the ability to vote and run for the brewery’s board of directors, but membership can be as cheap as $5 per month.

It’s a cool premise for a craft brewery, and here comes more coolness from Fair State Brewing Cooperative. Let’s all welcome the Chill State Collective to the party. Chill State Collective is a cannabeverage distributor, fulfillment center and packaging hall from the minds behind Fair State, which was founded by Evan Sallee, Niko Tonks and Matt Hauck. This weed drink collective involves not only Chill State’s own hemp-derived THC beverage (also called Chill State), but six beverage brands have signed onto the cooperative, including Happi, Plift, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Find Wunder, Offfield and Cann. That’s a solid lineup. As of July 1, 2022, food and beverages containing THC are legal in the Gopher State. From the press release:

“We are bringing experienced operators and strategic thinkers together in a new beverage segment, which is really unique,” said Chill State Collective Principal and Program Director Rob Shellman. “We have the best of the best and are dedicated to running this business in a mission-driven and responsible way for Minnesota. We’re aiming to encourage safe cannabis discovery through exceptional quality.”

Chill State Collective is MN’s first hemp-derived 🌿 beverage distributor offering co-packing, sales + distro to a group of top-tier partners: @bentpaddlebeer, @drinkcann, FIND WUNDER, Happi, @enjoyofffield + @drinkplift. Follow along @drinkchillstate → https://t.co/RRgp6OcmIb pic.twitter.com/oUjnoRxUtY

— Fair State Co-op (@FairStateCoop) January 17, 2023

According to its website, the collective is comprised of beverage industry professionals with over a decade of experience. The group can help in lots of different areas — recipe formulation, packaging decisions, go-to-market strategies and beyond. Specifically, Chill State is offering:

Copacking (carbonated or non-carbonated)

  • Capabilities: 7.5, 8.4, 12, 16 and 19.2 oz
  • Standard, sleek or slim cans

Warehousing

  • 42,000-sq-ft facility

Distribution

  • Dedicated drivers
  • Fleet of delivery vehicles

Channel specific teams

  • New product development (raw materials + packaging)
  • Dedicated field sales (on- and off-premise)
  • Marketing and event management
  • A merchandising team
  • The Chill Team (a dedicated sampling team)

That’s a pretty interesting list to consider. Along with the launch of the cannabis beverage distribution center, Chill State is launching its second cannabis beverage — Pineapple Express. The original Chill State beverage includes King Louis and Grapefruit Kush terpene flavors. Chill State’s cannabis beverages are recognizable for highlighting flavors from terpenes, which are hyper-potent plant-derived aroma compounds. Both beverages are light with zero calories, added sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Chill State cannabeverages are currently available for purchase at various stores, bars and restaurants to anyone 21 and older throughout Minnesota, and it’s looking to maybe add more brands to the lineup. According to the site:

In Spring of 2023 we will be sharing partners with whom we will commit to supporting and collaborating with, both financially and ideologically, as we grow Chill State Collective.

Learn more right over here.

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