Sun King increases distribution in Indiana

After an eight-month hiatus, Indiana's second-largest microbrewery, Sun King, will distribute to areas outside the Indianapolis metro area and Bloomington.

It was posted on the company's blog that it has "re-engaged Monarch Beverage to cover 18 counties in North-Central Indiana, and they will once again be distributing Sun King to Blackford, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Delaware, Fountain, Henry, Howard, Jay, Madison, Miami, Montgomery, Randolph, Tipton, Tippecanoe, Warren, Wayne and White counties."

In December, the brewery announced it would have to cut back due to the state's production limit. It was creeping close the 30,000 barrels-per-year cap that maintains its status of a small brewery. The permit allows microbreweries to self-distribute and sell product directly to consumers through brewpubs and taprooms.

Therefore, Sun King decided to terminate distribution to nearly 400 bars, restaurants and liquor stores.

But due to the latest legislative action, that didn't last long.

At the beginning of the year, Sun King joined forces with Indiana's largest microbrewery, Three Floyds, to push to have the state's limit raised. They succeeded.

In May, Gov. Mike Pence signed Senate Bill 297 that allows Indiana microbreweries to triple the amount of beer they sell in-state each year to 90,000 barrels.

However, the law keeps a cap of 30,000 barrels annually on self-distribution. This means that microbreweries are required to go through the three-tier system — supplier to wholesaler to retailer — after 30,000 barrels.

The bill’s author Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, called this a “historic” compromise.

The change went into effect July 1, and it looks like it will mean more craft beer for Hoosiers. Sun King's post also states that the brewery hopes to be distributing statewide by spring.

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