Raleigh, NC – Mims Distributing Company and Wicked Weed Brewing are teaming up to turn the Triangle sour. The North Carolina wholesale beverage distributor and the renowned Asheville-based brewery have formed a partnership that will get Wicked Weed’s traditional craft beer styles and their niche sour beers in the hands of patrons of area bars, restaurants, and bottle shops.

For three years, the craft brewery has self-distributed its beer to select Triangle retailers. With the 2015 opening of the new $7 million brewery in Candler, North Carolina, Wicked Weed has the ability to reach broader levels of distribution with the assistance of Mims Distributing. The new facility has the capacity to produce 100,000 barrels of beer a year. According to brothers Walt and Luke Dickinson, co-founders of Wicked Weed, tapping into the thriving Triangle beer scene will introduce even more people to their brand, furthering the growth of their craft.

With the ramped up production of Wicked Weed’s in-demand brews, the company took a hard look at how to effectively reach more beer lovers throughout North Carolina while maintaining the quality of their product. In the end, Mims Distributing was selected as the distributor who could help them meet these goals. With the partnership underway, Wicked Weed can maintain its focus on brewing great beer, while Mims Distributing focuses on helping the brewery reach Triangle retailers more efficiently and on a broader distribution scale.

Meanwhile, back in Asheville, Wicked Weed’s original Brewpub, which opened in 2012 on Biltmore Avenue, and the Funkatorium barrel-aged sour brewery on Coxe Avenue, continue to win awards for their wildly imaginative beers. Wicked Weed Brewing took home a gold medal for both 100 percent Brettanomyces Serenity and Mompara Honey Ale at the Great American Beer Festival in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Most recently, the brewery garnered a silver medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival for its popular Pernicious IPA, chosen from 336 entries in the American-Style India Pale Ale category – the most entered category in the festival’s history.

Mims Distributing’s growth as a craft beer distributor was recently recognized in Beverage World magazine, which named Mims Distributing the 2015 Beer Wholesaler Of The Year.

“Wicked Weed is all about making beer ‘for the people,’ and we’re all about bringing great beers to consumers throughout North Carolina,” said Jeff Mims, chief marketing officer at Mims Distributing. “While many people in the area are already huge fans of Wicked Weed, we know our partnership with the brewery will help many people experience these great brews for the first time. We are proud to help expand Wicked Weed’s presence in one of craft beers most booming and promising markets.”

“Partnering with Mims just makes sense when you think about all the hopheads out there who want to try our brews who may not have access to them otherwise,” said Walt Dickinson. “We’re excited about the opportunity to expand our reach in a great craft beer market, and are confident that beer fans throughout the state will love what we have to offer.”

About Mims Distributing:

Mims Distributing Company, established in 1964 in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a family-owned beer and wine distributor servicing the entire state of North Carolina. The company offers MillerCoors brands; a wide selection of popular craft beers, including Ballast Point, Lagunitas, Coronado, DuClaw, Foothills and Sierra Nevada; and an expanding world-class wine portfolio, including Palazzo, Keever Vineyards, Hourglass, and Arkenstone. These beverage experts also produce “Tales from the Cask,” an award-winning craft beer podcast. In addition to industry excellence, Mims Distributing is committed to supporting the local community, donating more than $60,000 in financial and in-kind donations to area nonprofits annually. For its dedication to beer, sustainability and its local community, Beverage World magazine recognized Mims Distributing as the 2015 Beer Wholesaler Of The Year. “Tales From The Cask” was also named one of the top beer podcasts in the U.S. by the North American Guild of Beer Writers in both 2014 and 2015. A family-friendly company, Mims Distributing was the recipient of the 2013 and 2014 Carolina Parent Family-Friendly 50 award

About Wicked Weed Brewing:

Wicked Weed Brewing is based in Asheville, North Carolina. Opened in December 2012, the original brewpub (91 Biltmore) consistently hosts 25+ beers on tap including hop-forward, West Coast-style ales, open fermented Belgians, and barrel-aged beers. With the opening of the second location, The Funkatorium, in October 2013, Wicked Weed is striving to become one of the leading producers of barrel-aged sour and wild beers in the Southeastern United States. Wicked Weed Brewing was awarded a gold medal for both 100% Brettanomyces Serenity in 2013 and Mompara Honey Ale in 2014 at the Great American Beer Festival. Wicked Weed most recently opened 50-barrel production brewery that will allow for wider distribution in the Southeast.