New Belgium signs seven agreements for Florida distribution

New Belgium heads to Florida – hopefully just in time to give the Miami Heat a flat tire! Hey oh!

New Belgium Brewing signed agreements with seven distribution partners in Florida with plans to start selling beer in the state July 29. Gold Coast Distributing, JJ Taylor, Florida Distributing, Cone Distributing, Goldring Gulf and Champion Brands are all Miller Coors houses while Daytona Beverage is in the AB network.

New Belgium said it will roll out 22-ounce packages of some of its core brands first — Fat Tire, Ranger, 1554 — along with seasonal and Lips of Faith offerings in July. Draft and 12-ounce packages will follow 60 days later in September.

“Florida will be our 32nd state of distribution and it’s probably the one we’ve heard from most often about, ‘when are you all going to get here?’” said Jeff Sipes, Florida sales director for New Belgium. “A lot of us have friends and family in state so it’s a bit of a homecoming that way. We’re excited.”

New Belgium opened Alaska and Louisiana early this year.