Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing coming to Arkansas in March

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SweetWater Brewing Co. today announced a partnership with two Arkansas wholesalers that will expand the company’s distribution into The Natural State next month.

The Atlanta-based brewery expects its beers to hit shelves and draft lines in Arkansas on Monday, March 6.

SweetWater says it plans to send its signature 420 Extra Pale Ale, along with Hash Session IPA, Goin’ Coastal pineapple IPA, plus seasonals and limited releases like Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout and Pit & Pendulum wild ale.

The brewery just yesterday lost a friendly bet with the Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams) after the New England Patriots mounted an epic comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl. The two companies sparred in a flurry of smack-talking tweets over who would win the game. For the bet, the loser would temporarily rename their flagship beer after the winning team. For much of the game, it appeared that Sam Adams would be dubbed “Dirty Bird Lager,” but a 19-point fourth quarter and overtime score from the Patriots means that SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale will for some time be known as “New England Patriots Extra Pale Ale.” Ouch.

SweetWater distribution comes by way of the Arkansas Craft Alliance, a partnership between Arkansas Craft Distributors and O’Connor Distributing. It’s the same distro duo that helped Shreveport-based Great Raft Brewing break out of Louisiana for the first time when it began shipping beer to Arkansas in September.