Great Lakes Brewing rolls into Florida, debuts seasonal Christmas Ale statewide push

Great Lakes Brewing Company expanded its distribution footprint into Florida on November 18, 2025 by partnering with Cavalier Distributing, according to a report from the SRQ Daily roundup, local dining and food edition. The launch was arranged to coincide with the brewer's seasonal Christmas Ale release, which will be available in both cans and draft, and a Holiday Pack variety 12 pack that pairs six cans of Christmas Ale with six cans of the rotating Cookie Exchange Milk Stout flavor.

SRQ Daily reported that the launch would initially target multiple Florida regions, including Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, Tallahassee and Tampa, as the brewery tested the market. The approach indicates a measured roll out rather than a statewide immediate saturation, allowing distributors and retailers to evaluate demand for the seasonal offerings during the high holiday period.

For craft beer retailers and on premises accounts, the arrival of Christmas Ale in cans and on draft creates options for both off premises sales and tap rotations. The Holiday Pack 12 pack offers a convenient grab and go option for consumers shopping for seasonal gifts and entertaining needs, and the inclusion of a rotating Cookie Exchange Milk Stout flavor gives collectors and repeat buyers reason to visit stores and taprooms during the season. Draft availability also opens opportunities for bars and restaurants to stage holiday beer events and pairings.

From a distributor perspective, Cavalier Distributing will manage placement across the initial target markets, providing the logistical push needed to assess which regions deliver the strongest response. The market test may inform future allocation strategies for other seasonal and core offerings from the brewery, and it may influence whether the brand seeks broader distribution in Florida in 2026.

For homebrewers and local brewers, the introduction of a new seasonal package in a large market is a reminder of the importance of seasonal programming and collaboration around holiday flavors. Seeing a well known seasonal recipe in both can format and as part of a rotating variety pack may inspire recipe experiments at home, and it may spur local taprooms to craft their own limited seasonals to compete for shelf and tap space.

Enthusiasts planning holiday gatherings should watch for the Holiday Pack and look for draft pours at local bars in the named markets as the brewery gauges consumer response. If demand is strong, the initial test could turn into a more comprehensive presence in Florida in future seasons, giving more fans access to the brewery's seasonal releases.