Little Rock Brewer Signs Deal With Premium Brands

Little Rock-based brewery Lost Forty Brewing has signed a deal with Fayetteville-based wholesale distributor Premium Brands of Northwest Arkansas Inc., a move intended to get the company’s products into more bars, restaurants and stores in Northwest Arkansas.

Distribution will start March 1, primarily in Benton and Washington counties but also to Eureka Springs in Carroll County. Lost Forty will begin with sales of its four, year-round craft beer offerings: Love Honey Bock, Bare Bones Pilsner, Lost Forty Pale Ale and Day Drinker Belgian Blonde Ale.

Amber Brewer, a spokeswoman for Lost Forty, says those products will be available at both on-site and off-site retail locations.

Lost Forty was launched in December 2014 by partners John Beachboard, Russ McDonough, Scott McGehee and Albert Braunfisch. The company operates its brew house and taproom in downtown Little Rock with 11 fermenting tanks, seven of which have a 90-barrell capacity.

Brewer said the company produced 4,600 barrels of beer in 2015. This year, with expansion into new markets throughout Arkansas, Brewer estimates her company will make between 8,000 to 10,000 barrels of beer.

Lost Forty employs about 45 in its brew house and taproom. Twelve employees work full time on the packaging, brewing and sales side.