Grayton Beer opens distribution to neighboring Mississippi (now enjoy this beery photo blog)

Are you looking for sugar-white sand, turquoise water and refreshing craft beer? Try Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. (between Laguna Beach and Destin). Just make sure you take us with you. ‘Cause we want to snag us some Grayton Beer Co. beverages. Now, if you’re in Mississippi, you can snag some too. Grayton Beer, the South Walton, Fla., craft brewery, announced last week a partnership with A&B Distributing, Mitchell Distributing and Southern Beverage to open distribution throughout Mississippi.

The three Mississippi-based distributors will foster the expansion of Grayton Beer’s classic, contemporary beers throughout the state. The first roll out will include four of the breweries Year-Round Series including 30A Beach Blonde Ale, Pale Ale, Fish Whistle IPA and Salt of the Gulf, a Leipzig-Style Gose.

The expansion into Mississippi follows the brewery’s success in other neighboring states including Georgia, Tennessee and the progression in preexisting Alabama and Florida panhandle markets. Started in 2011 by founder Jamey Price, originally from Vicksburg, Miss., and a graduate of the University of Mississippi, Grayton Beer’s expansion into this new market is especially poignant.

“Since conception we aimed to make beer that complimented the area it was made in,” said Price. “After seeing the reaction of the masses and the growth of the beer’s popularity across the Southeast we knew we had something special that reached far beyond our Walton County beach town. As a Mississippi native I am especially proud to introduce our beers to this market.”

Last year, in response to the emerging markets, the brewery, located in South Walton County, expanded its production capacity with the addition of four 120-barrel (bbl) fermenters and one 240-bbl brite tank. The new equipment increased the brewery’s capacity to over 2,000 bbls per month.