The New Orleans vibe oozes from NOLA’s brewery on Tchoupitoulas

NOLA Brewing plans to start distributing in Houston with Flood Distribution in the next month or so. Apparently the Big Easy attitude even carries over to brewery launches outside New Orleans. I had the opportunity to talk to both NOLA and Flood about the impending release, and all parties including myself are very excited. NOLA originally reached out to Flood because they wanted to make their Texas splash by first releasing their beer in a fellow bayou city with which they have shared Gulf Coast culture and history. They also have great respect for Flood’s portfolio and their independent craft-centric approach to business. The pair are choosing to release some unique year-round beers with their 7th Street Lemon Basil Wheat, tallboys of the Irish Channel Stout, a selection of tasty IPAs, as well as their seasonal releases. In addition to these standard beers, Houston will be seeing the full selection of NOLA’s excellent Funk Series and some other limited release barrel aged beers.

Mardi Gras dragons meet you in the brew house

As a Houstonian of 12 years, craft beer nerd, and a frequent New Orleans visitor and soon to be resident, I am super pumped for NOLA to come to Houston. The geographical and cultural connection to the Big Easy is already very tight, and the beer connection is about to become a lot closer. NOLA will be bringing some great beers to our market, and any visitor to New Orleans should absolutely stop by their brewery to check out what they’re doing. They often have tap room only one-offs along with a great environment for hanging out. And free beer on Fridays! Tell them Brittski sent you and prepare to receive confused looks and perhaps even a drunken shout out from myself across the bar. My only lingering question is who will be the first Houston brewery to collaborate with our I-10 neighbors? Whoever delivers, I promise that I’ll drink a lot of that beer!

The post NOLA Brewing to Launch in Houston first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post NOLA Brewing to Launch in Houston appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Photo Credit: Funkwerks

From Flood: “We’re representing the brewery in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, starting with a small shipment of Saison and Tropic King kegs pouring at select bars and restaurants. In early July, we’ll have a full-scale launch with draft and 4pk bottles of Saison, Tropic King, Nelson Sauvin and Raspberry Provincial, as well as launch events with the Funkwerks crew featuring some really limited items. Keep an eye out here for more details on these upcoming events!”

In case you don’t want to wait, Flood has already delivered kegs of Funkwerks Saison and Tropic King, an “imperial” version of Saison brewed with tropical fruit-forward Rakau hops. The initial batch of kegs have gone to the following accounts: Axelrad, Brews Brothers, Conservatory, Flying Saucer Houston, Flying Saucer Sugar Land, Hay Merchant, Hop Scholar, Mongoose vs Cobra, Moon Tower Inn, Nobi Public House, Petrol Station, Rockwell Tavern, Whole Foods Bellaire, Whole Foods Louetta, and Whole Foods Woodlands. Keep an eye on social media, as a lot of these bars already have their kegs. I know firsthand that Axelrad and Nobi have already tapped their kegs of Tropic King.

Later in July, you should be able to find four-packs in the same places you find Jester King and Jolly Pumpkin. Keep an eye out for specialty beers bottled in 750mL bottles, which are also coming soon. According to Flood, four-packs should be in the $9.99 to $10.99 range, although the final price is set by the retailer and will likely vary.

On a personal note, this is incredibly exciting. I’ve been preaching that Houston needs more saisons since day one of Houston Beer Guide. Funkwerks Saison is a very dry and crisp saison perfect for the heat and humidity of Houston. Bottles of Funkwerks Saison have always been a gem at bottle shares, and I was fortunate enough to try the first (and up until recently, I think, the only) kegs of Funkwerks Saison, Tropic King, and Deceit to be available in Houston at the 2015 Houston Funk Fest. All three ranked among my top beers of the festival, and there was some very tough competition. As you may be aware, Funkwerks has already been available in the DFW area for about a year and a half under Andrews Distributing, so seeing Funkwerks expand statewide says a lot about the thirst in the Houston market and the impression being made by independent distributors like Flood.

The post Funkwerks Signs With Flood for Houston Distribution first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Funkwerks Signs With Flood for Houston Distribution appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

If you ask any Houston beer nerd for the most exciting developments in recent months, you’ll likely hear an answer that includes mention of Brash Brewing and Flood Distribution. Brash, after its start as a contract brewery in Massachusetts, under the leadership of Petrol Station’s Ben Fullelove, relocated and opened its Houston facility, Brashland, only four months ago, and immediately began churning out incredible beers. Meanwhile, in just barely two years of operations, Flood Distribution has brought, to Houston and Austin, an incredible portfolio of beverages that include Oasis Texas, Jester King, Virtue Cidery, To Øl, and, recently announced, The Bruery.

And, as the same beer nerds above will tell you, it makes perfect sense for two local Houston beer-loving establishments such as these to be in a partnership, as was the case for the past four months. Thus, it comes as a shock that Brash has chosen to relocate their distribution to Ben E. Keith, the Fort Worth-based fourth-largest distributor in America, whose business is most associated with Anheuser-Busch InBev products.

Ben E. Keith has always had a craft focus, however, and recently has expanded their craft portfolio to include new distribution contracts for Whole Foods Brewing, Conroe’s B-52 Brewing, and Smuttynose. Through recent actions, it’s clear that Ben E. Keith sees craft as an important part of their business, and the Brash contract will certainly bolster that in Houston.

How this impacts Flood remains to be seen, though one could speculate that the hit from Brash will be somewhat mitigated by the upcoming Bruery launch, as well as the Cantillon approvals that are gradually occurring. Flood Distribution’s Kyle White, when asked about Brash’s decision, stated simply, “Brash made a decision to leave based on what they believed to be best for their business. As a fundamental principle, we don’t use state franchise laws to imprison brands who are not interested in working with us. We wish them well in the future.”

The statement’s mention of “state franchise laws” alludes to the curious niche in Texas alcoholic code that allows a distributor to essentially lock up a contract with a brewery forever, or until such time as both parties agree to part ways. Flood, acting as an independent and craft-focused distributor, chose not to exercise this right in business with Brash.

As to what may have triggered this change, Houston Beer Guide has only heard rumors and speculation and cannot reasonably comment. At this time, representatives from Ben E. Keith and Brash Brewing were unavailable for questioning. Should this develop further, we will of course update. In the meantime, we wish nothing but success for both Houston businesses, regardless of the circumstances.

Update (2/16/16):  This morning, we received the following statement from Ben Fullelove from Brash Brewing: “The only thing we really have to say is, we love making beer and we will continue to make Houston proud by making the most kickass liquid we can possibly make.”

The post Brash Brewing to Leave Flood Distribution for Ben E. Keith first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Brash Brewing to Leave Flood Distribution for Ben E. Keith appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

When I think about what inspires me, regarding the future of craft beer in Houston and throughout Texas, I look toward the innovators. The forward thinkers. The entrepreneurs. I am intrigued by those who choose to blend passion, good taste, and a unique vision to change the way we think about the beverages we love along with (in this case) the process by which we acquire them. When it comes to the growth of any local craft beer scene, distribution is a key component often overlooked by consumers. It’s easy to pay attention to the producers (ISO: Whalezbro) and the retailers (cans + growlers = crowlers!). With hype exploding at either end, who has time to think about the middleman? When distribution is noticed, it’s never for a good reason. Follow any Texas beer-related legislation and you will quickly learn that our distributors are not the good guys. But what if they could be? What if a distributor came along to push the envelope in Texas as much as you pushed your palate at last week’s bottle share?

Amid Houston Beer Week, I had a chance to sit down with Kyle White of Flood Independent Distribution, Texas’ only non-BMC affiliated beer distribution company that distributes statewide. White started Flood in February of 2014 along with Brian Rod, his long-time friend, and Kevin Smith, a previous employee of Duff Beer Distributors. During my chat with Kyle, we talked about how Flood came to be, why he is so passionate about craft beer in Texas and what lies ahead in the next five years.

Happiest people are those that follow their passions.

In 2011, White was looking to enter the craft beer world through production. He had been drinking craft beer for about six years, was homebrewing 2-3 times a week, and was eager to pursue a career he felt passionate about. “Happiest people are those that follow their passions,” said White about the decision to leave behind his previous and varied pursuits, ranging from teaching in Korea to legal archiving. He applied to several breweries in Houston but found it difficult to get hired. Finally, he landed a gig to be a driver for Duff Beer Distributors. “Ash Rowell was the best boss I ever had,” said White of the former Duff owner who passed away in early 2013. “Probably the best boss I’ll ever have,” he continued. White worked as a driver for Duff until the company was acquired by Dallas-based distributor Favorite Brands. It was then that White felt he was presented with the opportunity to make a big impact on the community he cared so much. He contemplated the idea of creating a beer distribution company in Texas that was unlike any other in the state. With encouragement from several local craft beer scene influencers, including Kevin Floyd, White took the plunge and partnered with Brian Rod and Kevin Smith. In February 2014, Flood Independent Distribution was born. With Flood, Kyle and his partners set out to do three things: try to do right by Ash Rowell and his influence in the beer community, provide an alternative option for distributorship within the three-tier system by offering breweries open-door contracts, and, of course, bring amazing new beers to Texas.

There is is no exit plan. This is our statement to the craft beer community.

If you are unfamiliar with the three-tier system in Texas, it’s a process that was put in place to keep the market even-handed across producers, wholesalers, and retailers. At their core, beer distributors are not evil. They take on the operating costs and business responsibilities that small breweries would have a difficult time handling on their own. So why do they get such a bad rap? “What happens is a lot of distributors get tied down to whatever their largest brewery wants them to do,” said White. This means if a craft brewery partners with an Anheuser-Busch InBev or MillerCoors-aligned wholesaler, they could easily be overshadowed and neglected. However, with the growth of craft beer and the slow but inevitable decline of big beer, boutique and craft-focused distributors are gaining traction across markets in the U.S. “Independent distributors have more flexibility and are able to be more reactionary,” said White.

Working to keep their operations customer-centric, to do what’s best for their accounts, and to influence the sophistication of craft beer in Texas, Flood has grown into a small but fierce distributor in the 14 months it has been in operation. The partners each contribute their knowledge and expertise in a way that creates a balanced three-pronged approach to their agile business. In addition to running a sales route to build up new launches across Houston, White manages brewery acquisition and relations, ordering, social media, and sales management. Smith manages operations, logistics, warehouse management, and overseas accounting. Rod oversees bigger picture business such as budget forecasting, capital expenditure planning, permitting, and infrastructural growth. “Flood isn’t owned by a bunch of investors,” said White. “There is no exit plan. This is our statement to the craft beer community.”

And what a statement it has been. In the past year, Flood has built a remarkable portfolio that has brought to Texas impressive (not to mention some of my personal favorite) brands, such as Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, To Øl, and Mikkeller. When I asked Kyle what else was in store from Flood, I was excited to hear that they have only just started digging into the Shelton Brothers stash. Apart from engaging imports, Flood has also partnered with several Austin-based breweries, such as Jester King Farmhouse Brewery, Oasis Texas Brewing Company, and Strange Land Brewery. In Houston, White is excited about partnering with the highly-anticipated Brash Brewing Company, headed by Petrol Station owner Ben Fullelove and former Saint Arnold brewer Vince Mandeville. “It’s the first time we will be distributing Houston beer in Houston, and that’s something that really means a lot to me,” White said. “Ben is a really intuitive and thoughtful visionary. I’m very excited to work with him.” Beyond their current brands, White’s primary goals with the Flood portfolio are keeping it diverse, unique, and high quality. “The last thing I want is to get into a war with other distributors about who has the best IPA in Texas,” Kyle said. Flood will continue to be selective about which local brands they choose to partner with as they continue to diversify their portfolio.

As we got ready to wrap up, I asked Kyle to describe the craft beer scene in Houston in the next five years. “Texas is a craft thirsty state,” he said. “I see an influx of quality brands and talent as we add layers of sophistication to our beer scene.” White believes the out-of-state demand for breweries like Jester King and Lone Pint will help create a beer renaissance in our state. “With more breweries willing to take risks, more Texas beer will start leaving the state, and esteem will grow nationally.” Really, there is no crystal ball, and even though I asked Kyle to close his eyes as he described the future of craft beer in Texas to me, he can’t see into the future any more than I can. And, you know, that’s okay, because as long as there are people who believe in craft beer and all that it stands for, as long as there are people who wake up each morning and work to make that dream a reality, my heart is flooded with hope.

The post Are You Prepared for the Flood? first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Are You Prepared for the Flood? appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.