(Lewiston, ME) – Baxter Brewing Company, the unique craft beer production brewery housed in the historic Bates Mill, Lewiston, Maine, has reached wholesale distribution agreements that will enable the brewery to achieve state-wide coverage of Maine within months.
Baxter’s president, Luke Livingston, said “We are thrilled to have entered partnerships with two of Maine’s most prominent wholesale beer distributors: Nappi Distributors, who dominate the York and Cumberland County markets, from Brunswick to the New Hampshire border, including Portland, widely considered one of the best food and beer cities in the country; and Pine State Trading Company, the largest beer and wine wholesaler in Maine with sales covering everywhere from ‘ski to sea.’ Competition between the half-dozen or so distributors was intense,” Livingston added, “but we believe this three-way partnership is best for our brands. We expect to have instant visibility in restaurants, bars, convenience and grocery stores nearly state-wide by January of next year.”
Al McPherson, Director of Beer Sales and Marketing for Pine State, said “Pine State Beverage is extremely excited to be a partner with Baxter Brewing. First and foremost, the twin cities are quickly becoming an exciting place for development and economic change. Baxter fits right into the exciting new redevelopments going on downtown. What is especially exciting is that not only is Lewiston getting a beautiful new brewery but that they will have six pack can packaging which is the new rage in craft beer. We are hearing all over the state the chatter from the public around this new product. They won’t be disappointed.”
Frank Nappi, Jr., President of Nappi, said “Nappi Distributors is very excited about our partnership with Baxter Brewing Company in Southern Maine. Luke and his team have developed a product and a plan which will bring a unique addition to our portfolio with Maine craft beer in cans.
The large scale of the restoration project of the Bates Mill in Lewiston that will house Baxter Brewing Company shows a high level of commitment to the brand and the local economy. We are looking forward to launching and growing their brand in our market and distributing a great new product to our retailers.”
“Both Nappi and Pine State will be completely involved in all aspects of bringing the Baxter brand to market,” Livingston explained. “The two firms complement one another really well,” he added. “And not just geographically – they both have extraordinary marketing muscle, and we did our homework: they both have powerful relationships with some of the finest retailers, eating and drinking establishments and special events in Maine.”
Nappi is a third-generation, Maine family-owned and operated distributorship founded by Giovanni Nappi just after the end of prohibition. They are headquartered in a state-of-the-art, $14-million facility in Gorham.
Pine State Beverages is a division of Pine State Trading Co, the 15th largest supplier to convenience stores in the country. Pine State services an area of 53,000 square miles from their facilities in Bangor and Gardiner.
Baxter will initially offer two varieties of distinctive craft beer: Pamola Xtra Pale Ale, a smooth and easily drinkable “session” beer, and Stowaway IPA, an aggressively-hopped west coast style unlike anything currently distributed in northern New England. Baxter will be the first micro-brewery in northern New England to package all its retail beers in aluminum cans, more environmentally-friendly, more portable, and better for preserving freshness and flavor than glass. With construction currently underway to remodel the 150-year old mill building into a state-of-the-art 21st Century brewery, Baxter expects to be shipping beer by the first of the year.