There were more than medals and “Fantasy Draft” bragging rights on the line at this past weekend’s Great American Beer Festival. There were also awards doled out for the most proficient craft beer distributors in the country — and two from Illinois were up for the honor.
For the fourth time in seven years Town and County Distributors was nominated for Craft Beer Distributor of the Year. And for the fourth time in seven years the Itasca based wholesaler came away empty-handed. Euclid Beverage in North Aurora was also up for the honor but didn’t place. Both are part of the MillerCoors family of distributors known as OneIllinois.
“We’re not disappointed to have not won first place,” said John Holland CEO of Town and Country Distributors, in an email to Guys Drinking Beer. “When you ask our accounts, the breweries we represent and consumers who attend our beer dinners and festivals, that is an accolade we have already won many times over.”
So who did win?
Last year’s first runner-up, DeCrescente Distributing Company from Mechanicville, NY.
Central States Beverage Company of Kansas City, Missouri, won the Craft Beer Distributor Achievement Award and Mussetter Distributing in Auburn, California, received the Craft Beer Distributor Recognition Award.
In all, 26 distributors were nominated — the most in the seven-year history of the award. Holland says that speaks to the quality of their work and that of the distribution industry as a whole.
“The number of finalists for Craft Distributor of the Year has doubled since last year which continues to demonstrate not only the focus distributors and the public have for craft beers but also our dedicated efforts to be true ambassadors for the great brands we represent, ” said Holland.