Memphis-based Wiseacre Brewing coming to Arkansas in March

Another Southern brewery will expand its distribution reach to Arkansas next month.

Memphis-based Wiseacre Brewing Co. will cross the river in early March, company officials confirmed earlier this month.

Kellan Bartosch, one of Wiseacre’s two founders, said the initial plan is to distribute the brewery’s four year-round beers: Ananda, an India Pale Ale packed with Centennial and Cascade hops; Gotta Get Up To Get Down, a coffee milk stout brewed with a rare variety of Ethiopian coffee; Tiny Bomb: An American version of a Czech Pilsener brewed with Memphis’ famed Artesian well water; and Neon Brown, a light American brown ale brewed with brown sugar, oatmeal, and chocolate malt.

Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer

Bartsch said a rotating variety of canned seasonal beers are also planned, with some rare specialty beers arriving from time to time on draft and in 22oz bottles.

Wiseacre has expanded its capacity twice in the past two years. An increase of 20 employees and a bump in production facility space in 2014 was followed by four new 80-barrel fermentation tanks last summer in preparation for the company’s plans to enter the Chicago craft beer market.

Wiseacre has enjoyed some good press over the last two months as well. Tiny Bomb made Playboy‘s recent list of “The 10 Best Beers from the Deep South” and was named one of the “100 Best Beers in the World” by Men’s Journal.

Distribution comes from Arkansas Craft Distributors, the same crew responsible for several recent major additions to the state’s craft beer lineup, including Lagunitas, Oskar Blues, and Bell’s Brewery (coming in April).