(Press Release)

SANTA FE, NM—Santa Fe Brewing Company is proud to announce the Imperial Smoked Rye Porter as its exclusive collaboration beer with Central States Beverage Company.  The beer will be available to select Kansas City draft accounts in mid November.

After months of deliberating and input from a number of Certified Cicerone’s, staff members of both Central States and Santa Fe Brewing, a local KC chef, and an award-winning home brewer from Kansas City, The Imperial Smoked Rye Porter was agreed upon to be the first ever brewer/distributor collaboration beer.

Paying homage to the infamous Kansas City BBQ scene, the Imperial Smoked Rye Porter will have a subtle smoky yet spicy flavor profile. “We decided to go bold and do an Imperial style porter so its character would stand up to the big flavors of smoked meats. Not only will this beer scream Kansas City, it will also give a wink to Santa Fe with subtle notes of chipotle chile peppers, ” said head brewer AJ Condit.

The Imperial Smoked Rye Porter will be released in limited quantity with 1/3 of the batch being reserved for barrel aging. The barrel aged version of the beer is scheduled to be released in Spring of 2014.

“Santa Fe Brewing is excited to be teaming up with Central States on this project because they are a knowledgeable resource for us. Our joint efforts will ideally produce a beer that Kansas City beer enthusiasts will enjoy,” said Brian Lock, president of Santa Fe Brewing. “The Imperial Smoked Rye Porter is a very unique style of beer and will be exclusive to the Kansas City market.  I suspect that many of our local clientele will be wishing they could purchase it here in New Mexico!”

Santa Fe Brewing Company is New Mexico’s oldest and most award-winning microbrewery. We currently have distribution throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Nevada, Kansas & Missouri. All of our beers are brewed, canned and bottled on premise in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Year round favorites include Happy Camper IPA, Imperial Java Stout, Santa Fe Pale Ale, Santa Fe Nut Brown, State Pen Porter, and Chicken Killer Barley Wine.  Seasonal styles include Freestyle Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Black IPA, and Irish Red Ale.

Central States is a High Life Sale Company, DBA Central States Beverage Company was founded as a distributor of alcoholic beverages on May 28th, 1932 by signing an agreement with Miller Brewing Company to be the distributor for the Miller Brewing Company brands in Kansas City, Mo.   Since 1932, the company has grown and today we are proud to represent over 30 brewers in Kansas & Missouri. Central States Beverage Company is locally owned and operated by the Mos family in Kansas City since 1932.