January 29th, 2010
PR: GRITTY MCDUFF’S 2009 GROWTH IN DRAFT SALES, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, AND NATIONAL INTEREST BODE WELL FOR 2010 PROSPECTS
GRITTY MCDUFF’S 2009 GROWTH IN DRAFT SALES, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, AND NATIONAL INTEREST BODE WELL FOR 2010 PROSPECTS
Portland, Maine – Gritty McDuff’s (www.grittys.com) has kicked off the new year with attention from Imbibe magazine, a leading, national trade publication for drink professionals, and noteworthy growth reports for 2009.
The company’s strategic alliances and local regional and national coverage earned in 2009 are just one indicator of continued business success in 2010. Thomas Wilson, Gritty’s director of marketing, reports that sales of Gritty’s draft beers, sold in the company’s three Maine pubs and in restaurants and bars throughout New England, were up 15 percent in 2009, and the company plans to focus on increasing exposure and sales in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire this year. In addition, Gritty’s Red Claws Ale, introduced in 2009 in honor of the Maine Red Claws NBA Development League team, is the number one seller during Red Claws games at the Portland Expo.
The January issue of Imbibe calls Portland one of America’s “emerging beer meccas,” and names local bars, pubs, breweries and stores that have put the city on the beverage map. Gritty’s was named one of six breweries and brewpubs to earn a spot on the magazine’s guide to Portland, called “an up-and-coming beer city,” alongside other Portland favorites including Novare Res Bier Cafe and Shipyard Brewing Company.
“We already know that Portland is an important beer city and produces some fantastic beer selections,” said Thomas Wilson, Gritty McDuff’s director of marketing. “It’s really satisfying for the national beverage publications to be increasingly giving the city the spotlight it deserves. We’re proud to be a part of bringing attention to our ‘corner of the beer world.’”
The Imbibe coverage caps off a year of local, regional and national attention for Gritty’s. In April, Forbes.com writer Zack O’Malley Greenburg singled out the small-batch ales and ambiance offered at Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company as just one of the many good reasons Portland was selected as America’s Most Livable City. In addition, Gritty’s was among seven beers selected by Santé magazine for inclusion in the New England Beer section of its Spirits Review.
Gritty’s also made headlines in business outlets when it entered into a groundbreaking sponsorship agreement with The Maine Red Claws (www.maineredclaws.com), the NBA Development League’s team for the Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Bobcats. Gritty’s is producing the team’s official beer, “Red Claws Ale,” for sale throughout Maine – and proving to be a sell-out item at Maine Red Claws games.
Most recently, New England Cable News covered the Maine Red Claws-Gritty McDuff’s teaming (“Red Claws Brand Proves to Be a Slam Dunk”; http://tinyurl.com/ydjh5n8). Additionally, CNBC recently aired a story about the growing popularity of D-League NBA teams (“NBA D-League on the Rise”; http://tinyurl.com/yb4xg9j), and Darren Rovell, CNBC sports business reporter, praised the team for connecting with its target audience by strategically finding the right home city and generating one of its most creative team sponsorship deals with Gritty McDuff’s. The brewing company’s sponsorship success also was picked up by Yahoo! Sports, DRAFT magazine, and Beverage
Industry News.
It was also a year of cycling and community involvement for Gritty’s. Gritty’s was named the official beer of The Dempsey Challenge (www.dempseychallenge.org), an event that benefited The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. According to Wilson, Gritty’s plans to continue its support of the Dempsey Challenge and is planning increased involvement with the event in 2010. The Gritty’s Cycling Team also pedaled in the 25th anniversary “Trek Across Maine” in 2009, and raised and donated more than $18,000 to the American Lung Association of Maine. In addition, Gritty’s three Maine pubs hosted numerous fundraising and social events for important charitable and professional organizations, including the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine, Young Professionals Organization, the Good Shepherd Food Bank and many more organizations.
About Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company
Since its founding in 1988, Gritty McDuff’s, Maine’s first brew pub since Prohibition, has brewed creative, quality beers that have earned awards ranging from repeat First Place wins at the annual Real Ale Festival in Chicago, to its most recent award: a silver medal at the prestigious 2007 Great British Beer Festival for Gritty’s cask-conditioned version of the 21 IPA. Gritty’s Brew Pubs also have frequently won in statewide polls the titles of “Maine’s Best Brew Pub,” “Best Maine Microbrew,” and “Best Bar.”
In addition to brewing, Gritty McDuff’s operates three popular brew pubs in Maine. Located in Portland, Freeport and Lewiston/Auburn, the locations draw crowds of all ages. Known for their four seasonal ales and five year-round ales, tempting pub fare and welcoming atmosphere, Gritty’s pubs have been named an Editor’s Pick by Condé Nast Traveler, highlighted as “a legend among New England brewpubs” by The Boston Globe, and cited by Playboy.com as one of the best bars in America. Gritty’s has earned numerous accolades from a wide variety of beer blogs and industry press outlets, as well, including Every Day with Rachael Ray, Forbes.com, DRAFT magazine, Cosmopolitan, Imbibe and Santé.