Rochester Mills Beers Now Available in Meijer Stores Across Michigan

Michigan-based Rochester Mills Beer Co. and Production Brewery announce expanded distribution of two of its core brands, Lazy Daze Amber Lager and Milkshake Stout, to 99 Meijer stores across Michigan.

“Meijer is committed to supporting Michigan breweries, as evident in the growing number of quality, locally brewed craft beers they offer,” said Mike Plesz, founder of Rochester Mills Production Brewery. “It is especially gratifying to see Rochester Mills beers added to shelves of stores we have shopped at for years.”

Lazy Daze Amber is a Vienna Style Lager. A clear filtered beer that boasts a rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor from a combination of German hops and Munich malt for a subtle sweetness. Milkshake Stout is a deep dark beer featuring a smooth texture and surprisingly light body. The combination of four different malts with a low hop level creates rich, sweet roasted chocolate, caramel and coffee flavors.

“We’ve focused on a careful and controlled rollout of Rochester Mills brands beyond the brewpub with a consistent supply to our wholesalers,” said Earl Smith, CEO of Rochester Mills Production Brewery. “We have also continually made significant investments to increase the capacity of our brewing operations to meet the demand for our beer as its popularity grows.”

The Rochester Mills Production Brewery, brewers of Rochester Mills Beer Co. brands for distribution, began as a startup brewery in Auburn Hills, Mich. in 2012, quickly becoming one of the top craft beer producers in the state. Their Lagers and Ales packaged in 16oz. aluminum cans are currently featured in grocery stores as well as independent and franchise convenient stores, and specialty beverage merchants statewide. Additionally, their four core brands, which include Milkshake Stout, Lazy Daze Amber Lager, Cornerstone IPA, and Rochester Red Ale, along with rotating seasonal offerings, can be found flowing from more than 500 taps at bars and restaurants across Michigan and North West Ohio.

ABOUT ROCHESTER MILLS BEER CO. & PRODUCTION BREWERY:
Rochester Mills Beer Co. has been one of the top producing brewpubs in Michigan since it opened in 1998. The pub offers a diverse beer menu with eleven different styles of beer consistently available as well as a number of reoccurring seasonal offerings. In 2012 the Rochester Mills Production Brewery was opened and began producing select year-round and seasonal offerings that are distributed across Michigan on draft and in 16oz. aluminum cans and remains one of the fastest growing craft breweries in the State.

More information can be found on their website at: www.beercos.com.

For media inquiries, please contact David Youngman at (248) 797-6012.

For retailers looking to carry Rochester Mills brands contact Eric Briggeman at (248) 377-3130.

Rochester Mills Beer Co. is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild.

About Meijer:
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 204 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com.

Northern United Brewing Company Hires Matthew Prater as Director of Sales for Jolly Pumpkin, North Peak & Grizzly Peak Beer Brands

Matthew Prater has been named Director of Sales for Northern United Brewing Company (NUBC) – representing the Jolly Pumpkin, North Peak and Grizzly Peak beer brands.

“We couldn’t be more excited to add Matt to the NUBC team,” says Greg Lobdell, who along with Jon Carlson, Ron Jeffries and Tony Grant, are the managing partners of the company. “Having known him for the past six years, we are extremely fortunate to have him on board. Not only are we confident in his knowledge, professionalism and ability to execute, but we have always been even more impressed with him as a genuinely great person. We are happy that Matt will be working with our distribution partners to provide even better service to everyone who carries or wants to carry our beers.”

Matt began his beer career in 1998 as a summer merchandiser at Central Distributors of Beer in Romulus, Michigan. His love for the industry and understanding of the distributor network has spanned 16 years, including more than a dozen years working with two different Michigan distributors. He has worked the past three years at MillerCoors, serving as Distributor Sales Manager in central Illinois and most recently as a Chain Account Executive responsible for Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me to join and lead the sales efforts of an emerging brewing company,” Matt says. “Northern United Brewing has all of the intangibles that you need to succeed. Great brewers, a great brewery, a great distributor network, and lots of customers around the country that love to enjoy Michigan beers. When our sales efforts and strategies match our brewing knowledge, our distributor partners will have a lot to be excited about, and that’s what’s most exciting for me in joining this team.”

Matt will be heading up all sales initiatives for the NUBCo, with a primary focus starting on retail beer distribution. With his presence on the team, the company will be much more strategic in its approach to working with wholesale and on / off-premise partners.

“This is a huge step for Northern United as Matt is bringing us a wealth of experience and rigor in the sales area,” according to Tony Grant, CFO/COO. “Matt’s main goal will be to bring a stable sales approach to our distributor network while providing sales tools to maximize revenue.”

Matt has a wife, Carrie, will relocate from Indianapolis to Dexter with their two sons, Camron and Ethan.

NUBC encompasses the Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peak and Grizzly Peak beer brands, Civilized and Old Mission Spirits and Bonafide Wines, all dedicated to conservation, inspiration and locally sustainable practices. Find NUBC products at stores, restaurants, and bars all throughout Michigan, including: North Peak Brewing Company, Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin Brewery, all in Traverse City; Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak, in Ann Arbor.

www.NUBCo.net

www.JollyPumpkin.com
www.NorthPeakBeer.com
www.GrizzlyPeak.net

Inaugural Lansing Microbrew & Music Festival Coming Up April 18-19 at Adado Riverfront Park

Craft brew, music and culinary lovers will gather at Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing for the inaugural Lansing Microbrew & Music Festival scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19.

The festival will feature 50+ carefully selected Michigan, national and international craft breweries, 250+ craft beers, ciders, meads and wines as well as more than 100 musicians, marching bands, Homebrewer’s Challenge, food and brew pairings, rare and sour beer tours, and local food vendors.

Rockville, Maryland, band O.A.R. and reggae and hip hop musicians Dirty Heads will headline the Lansing Microbrew & Music Festival, festival producers announced today. Dirty Heads will play on Friday, April 18, and O.A.R. will perform on Saturday, April 19.

To celebrate the eleventh Microbrew and Music Festival, the popular regional event will tour to Lansing to host the event on the banks of the scenic Grand River. VIP and GA tickets include five 8oz. pours and custom tasting glass and feature 50+ carefully selected Michigan, national, and international craft breweries, rare beers including a unique festival edition, representatives and brewers from each brewery, 250+ flavors of beers, wines, ciders and meads, live musical acts, including headliners O.A.R. and Dirty Heads, marching bands, a silent disco DJ dance tent, and local food vendors. Festivities are scheduled to take place from 5-11 p.m. daily. In addition, VIP ticket buyers will gain early admittance and have access to entertaining lawn games, a heated VIP area, private restrooms, a dining area, hydration station, and custom food and beer pairings.

Microbrew & Music Festival will be working in conjunction with the Greater Lansing Food Bank and Xero Waste Events to bring you a wonderful event. 100% of proceeds from alcohol sales will benefit both of these non-profits. GLFB provides emergency food to individuals and families in need in Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Shiawassee, Clare, Isabella and Gratiot counties. Food is distributed through an extensive network of food pantries and community kitchens located throughout the region. The Food Bank annually serves tens of thousands of people, many of them seniors and children. Our recipients also include the “working poor,” those individuals who are employed but don’t earn enough to meet housing, health, transportation and food needs. Xero Waste Events, is a Michigan non-profit organization providing comprehensive recycling services and educating communities on sustainable event practices. With the help of XWE, the 2013 Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival helped raise over $20,000 for Traverse City non-profit CherryT Ball which directly supports local food banks and Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center. We are proud to partner with Xero Waste, as they also contribute an annual portion of its revenues to local charities.

Sam Porter, founder of the Microbrew & Music Festival, anticipates the festival will provide a burst of energy to the central Michigan region. “We’re excited to launch our eleventh festival as the first annual Lansing Microbrew and Music Festival. We have welcomed over 50,000 ticket buyers to ten [Traverse City] Microbrew and Music festivals over the past five years to experience the craft brew culture and great music of Michigan. Our goal is to have another sold-out festival and help drive thousands of residents and visitors into area businesses, bars and restaurants during an otherwise slower week in April,” he says. Porter adds that after-parties at downtown establishments will further connect festival attendees with the retailers.

The Microbrew & Music Festival at Adado Riverfront Park will take place under a 4,000 capacity mobile tent – the first of its kind in the US. It will house the main stage and provide cover and protection from the elements, if needed. Previous patrons have compared this spectacular structure’s appearance to the Sydney Opera House. Visit Tent Venue’s Facebook page for more information.

The Microbrew & Music Festival educates, celebrates, and inspires community collaboration through the joy of craft brew and great music while raising funds for non-profits.

Tickets and festival details are available at www.microbrewandmusic.com/lansing-tickets. Festival announcements, giveaways, and other information can be found at www.facebook.com/microbrewandmusic. Attendees are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as the festival has sold out in past years.

Ticket buyers must be 21 years old.