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What is a Beer Distributor?

Definition and Role of a Beer Distributor in US Beer Industry and supply chain.

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Beer Distributors act as the middle man between brewery and the retailers/restaurants that sell the final product to the end consumer. Beer distributors must have all the permits at both the federal and state level required by TTB and state ABC.

Many states do not allow brewers to distribute their own beer or brewers may not have the infrastructure or personnel to ship their product to other states where you must distribute your beer through a beer distributor.

Role of a Beer Distributor is also to provide transportation, storage and delivery of the beer to the retailer. Beer Distributors handle that the beer is handled safely and sold only to licensed retailers. Once the beer is sold to a Beer Distributor by the Brewery, all the custody and accountability of the product is transferred to the Beer Distributor until it’s sold to the retailer.

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