Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/343292
SPRING/SUMMER 2014 • 57 BEER California Beer Director GaryWood@southernwine.com Cheers! gary wood SWS' decision to get back into the beer business across the state of California could not have come at a more perfect time—having worked in beer for 29 years and in four different states, I can tell you that the excite- ment level has never been higher for craft beer. There will be over 3,000 working breweries in the United States by the end of 2014, and ten percent of those will be in Califor- nia, a state that has never lacked creativity. Looking forward, it's our top priority to focus the strength of SWS sales teams on our current suppliers, who include Mer- chant Du Vin and US Beverage throughout California, as well as some well-known brands sold in Northern and Southern, CA regionally. Beyond these efforts, we will seek out new lo- cal breweries that will allow our consumers to "drink California local." Taking on a slow and steady approach to growing our portfolio, once we decide to go into business with one of these new part- ners, we will put our full efforts behind making them successful. I'm thrilled to be back in California and working with SWS! Watch for good things to happen all across California as SWS ramps up their beer efforts going forward. Dear friends,