Jackson, MS (March, 2010)- Durango Brewing Company from Durango, Colorado, Tommyknocker Brewing Company from Idaho Springs, Colorado, and Tallgrass Brewing Company from Manhattan, Kansas have all announced this week that they will begin distributing their products across the state of Mississippi and help continue the trend of craft beer’s growth across the country.

The craft brewing industry grew an impressive 9.2% by dollar share as a whole in 2009, with the Mississippi craft beer market growing even quicker than the national average, at 10.2% by dollar share according to Information Resources.

“These are all small microbreweries with less than 12 brewery employee’s each,” says Drink Craft! Rep Alexander ‘Xandy’ Bustamante, “It is great to see that despite the economy that small independent businesses can still grow.”

All three breweries have achieved numerous awards for excellence in brewing, with Durango winning 4 Great American Beer Festival Gold medals in the past 4 years, Tallgrass being named the 8th best brewery in the US at the US Open Beer Championship in 2009, and Tommyknocker winning a total of 12 Great American Beer Festival medals in 15 years.

“These breweries will have a large positive effect on the beer selection in Mississippi,” says Xandy, “the beer drinkers in MS deserve the right to drink the best craft beers from across the country.”

Southern Beverage Company, Mitchell Distributing, and Rex Distributing companies reaching across the western, central and southern parts of the state will distribute all three breweries and their beers should be available soon at bars and stores across the state.