Eats

Schilling brings New Belgium Brewery's beers to Acadiana

by Elizabeth Rose

Finally! Now we won't have to drive to Texas. Schilling Distributing announced Friday that it will begin distributing beers from New Belgium Brewery, the country's third largest craft brewery, beginning the first week of April.

New Belgium Brewery, located in Fort Collins, Colo., crafts Fat Tire Amber Ale, probably its most famous beer, as well as a host of other Belgian-inspired beers produced year-round: Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, and Trippel.

The first beers available will be sold in 22 oz. bombers, followed by draught and packaged versions later this year. There are also plans to package beers with a special Louisiana label to mark the brewery's introduction to the state.

"We're hammering out the details - we just got the contract signed last week," says Kody Thompson for Schilling Distributing. "The rollout will just be the 22-ounce bottles, and I heard it just might be the ranger IPA to start, but the Fat Tire will eventually be here."

When asked about expanding selection of year-round beers as well as seasonal ones, Thompson said "eventually, definitely."

"I'm not sure about this year [for seasonals] just because it's completely on their capacity to get new things into the state. In the long term, we're going to be a full-service distributor."

Schilling is ironing out the details with New Belgium, specifically price, before it can be sure what will and won't be on the shelves come April.

"It's a pretty big deal to get them in the state," says Thompson.

We couldn't agree more. Find out more about New Belgium Brewery here.