North Carolina's Green Man Brewery Coming to South Florida

North Carolina brewers can't get enough of Florida, it seems. Just this past August, Duck-Rabbit Brewery, which also hails from the Tar Heel State, opened up its distribution onto our fair shores. Now prominent Asheville brewery Green Man Brewery will be joining their companions at Duck-Rabbit, and other craft brewers like Highland Brewing Company, in distributing to our neck of the woods.

Established in 1997, Green Man one of North Carolina’s oldest breweries, putting out a steady stream of well-received beers in the past 18 years. In 2010, Dennis Thies purchased the Asheville brewery, carrying on the tradition of English-style beer, but soon began building up its sour program; a welcome sight to beer enthusiasts. Thies was previously linked to Thies Distributing, which served St Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, and Indian River counties.

Now, the brewery is set to take on the entire state of Florida, a feat which requires a large footprint and incredible logistical foresight to carry out, considering the Brewer’s Association ranks Florida as eighth in the country for economic impact of craft beer, meaning we have quite a lot of mouths to feed. The company has been steadily ramping up distribution since their second expansion in 2012, which gave them greater coverage of North Carolina and allowed them to spread out to Tennessee and South Carolina. With the assistance of the Brew Hub in Lakeland, Green Man opened its fourth distribution state, Florida, in August starting with Daytona Beach, and is rolling out the rest of the state by signing on with six additional distributors at the beginning of December.

The company states that they have developed an eager fan base in the state due to the high crossover of tourism between Florida in Asheville, including the fact that the brewery’s owner has strong roots in the state.

“We have received a great deal of pull from wholesalers and consumers in Florida, and our distribution strategy is to follow where the love is,” said Elise Carlson, Director of Marketing and PR. “We are excited to finally deliver what our fans have been asking for, and just in time for the holidays.”

Green Man year round flagships IPA, ESB, and Porter will be available initially throughout the entire state of Florida, in 12 oz. bottle six packs and on draft.

Here is how the brewery describes their brews:

Green Man IPA: Green Man India Pale Ale is delectably hoppy with a properly balanced body. Generous hop additions give it a wonderful bitterness and pleasant floral nose, while a combination of traditional British malts creates a rich, satisfying flavor and alluring copper color.

Green Man ESB: A malty amber ale boasting rich toasted and caramel flavors, Green Man ESB is an award-winning signature brew. A blend of authentic British malts and hops creates a nutty aroma, full body, and a sweet finish. Prepare yourself for a truly exceptional interpretation of a traditional English style.

Green Man Porter: Dark, full-bodied, and rich in flavor, Green Man Porter is wonderfully easy to drink. It offers a creamy, smooth mouthfeel and finishes with distinctive chocolate notes. This traditionally crafted, award-winning British-style Porter enjoys a legendary following.

Keep a look out for special launch events next month at some of your favorite craft beer bars and watering holes, and if there are any exciting ones, I'll be sure to share.

Doug Fairall is a craft beer blogger who focuses on Florida beers and has been a homebrewer since 2010. For beer things in your Twitter feed, follow him @DougFairall and find the latest beer pics on Clean Plate's Instagram.