Who we are and what we do

America's beer distributors provide transportation, refrigerated storage and maintenance for beer, a perishable product, from the time it leaves the brewery or importer until it arrives at a retailer such as your neighborhood bar, restaurant, convenience, grocery or package store.

Eagle Rock Distributing works within an effective state-based system of alcohol regulation. We are licensed by the county, state and federal government. We source beer only from licensed brewers or importers, and we sell only to licensed retailers. Alcohol is not like toothpaste or snack foods and it is not regulated the same as other products. Alcohol is also the subject of two constitutional amendments. State-based regulation of alcohol, which was established by the 21st Amendment, allows each state the flexibility to deal with local needs, demands and circumstances. A one-size-fits-all approach to alcohol regulation does not work. People in Georgia feel very differently about alcohol than people in Utah or New York.

Eagle Rock Distributing employs approximately 280 hard-working Georgians who earn good wages and receive employer-provided benefits. We secure beer and other beverages from a wide variety of brewers and manufacturers small and large, domestic and international. We bring to market beers from the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch-InBev and from many of the smallest craft brewers in the USA. Today, we offer more types and styles of beer to the consumers in Georgia than at any other time in history.

Our Company's infrastructure includes two state-of-the-art warehouses, one in Stone Mountain and one in Dalton. We are proud of a fleet that provides the flexibility to refrigerate and match the retailer's service expectations. We keep our perishable product fresh and safe based on our retailer's needs. After delivery, we continue to monitor retailer shelves, taps and draught lines to ensure consumers are receiving the freshest beer possible. We actually create a clear chain of custody in the sale of our products. Since we source only from licensed breweries and sell only to licensed retailers, the system helps ensure that retailers hold the appropriate license, do not sell to those under the legal drinking age, pay state and local taxes and generally comply with other local laws. Consumers in Georgia and throughout America enjoy unequalled product safety thanks to the state-based alcohol distribution system in which Eagle Rock Distributing is a crucial link.

The same regulations that provide accountability in malt beverage sales also ensure that states can efficiently collect taxes on these alcohol products. Eagle Rock Distributing Company collects millions of dollars in state and local taxes through our sales to retailers. We work very closely with the Georgia Department of Revenue and over 75 local taxing jurisdictions to collect those taxes. In Georgia, we collect $1.08 for the State tax and $1.20 for the local tax for each 24/12 ounce case equivalent sold.

We are proud to be active members of the communities we serve. We are a family owned business that leads by example. We are active parents, members of civic groups,church leaders, volunteers, and philanthropists. Eagle Rock sponsors a vast array of programs that promote the responsible consumption of our products including; educational materials for parents to talk to their children, guest speakers for local school programs, and local advertising messages focusing on smart choices concerning alcohol. Our signature charity is Operation One Voice, which provides financial support to the surviving family members of fallen Special Forces military personnel. Other long-standing charitable support groups include; Georgia Special Olympics, the American Red Cross and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Eagle Rock's History

Eagle Rock Distributing Company was originally part of Atlanta Beverage Company, which was founded by Stuart P. Murray in 1930. The company operated from a small warehouse on Ashby Street in downtown Atlanta with a handful of employees. Our history, like that of the beer industry in America, is filled with remarkable people, unforgettable events and great brands of beer. Here are just a few of our memories to share:

1930		Stuart P. Murray creates Atlanta Beverage Company during Prohibition selling NA beer and Canada Dry Ginger Ale- 1st employee is Adele Daher.
1962		Busch Bavarian is introduced into the Atlanta market for the first time as Anheuser-Busch intoduces its first regional beer.
1964		Anheuser-Busch, Inc. becomes the first brewer in the world to brew and sell 10,000,000 barrels of beer in one year!
1966		The Milwaukee Braves move to Atlanta and Budweiser becomes the official beer of the Atlanta Braves.
1977		Anheuser-Busch Natural Light is introduced, ABC opens its first branch operation in Doraville and Charlie Hardy is chosen to be its GM. John Economos and Steve Craine meet for the first time at the Natural Light introduction meeting in downtown Atlanta. Both were working as field marketing managers for Anheuser-Busch at the time.
1981		John Economos joins the Company as Vice-President and General Manager and ABI brands reach the #1 spot in the Atlanta beer industry.
1982		Steve Craine joins the Company as General Manager of the Doraville Branch and ABI introduces their 3rd light beer, Budweiser Light.
1985		ABC celebrates their first 1,000,000 CE sales month in August.
1990		ABC outgrows the Doraville warehouse and relocates to a brand new facility in Stone Mountain.
1993		Anheuser-Busch, Inc. opens their 12th brewery in Cartersville, Georgia.
1996		The Centennial Olympic Games make quite a splash in Atlanta and the Michelob brands expand to include seasonal offerings like Amber Bock, Honey Lager and Pale Ale. ABI signs a distribution agreement with Redhook Brewery from Seattle, WA as our first craft beer offering.
2000		Eagle Rock Distributing Company is formed as John Economos and Steve Craine form a new, separate Company with a vision for the future. The original marketing area includes; Dekalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale and North Fulton counties.
2003		John's son, Steve Economos, joins the Company and represents the 3rd generation of these two families in the beer industry and Michelob Ultra is introduced and becomes the largest volume new brand into the beer industry in history.
2008		Nick Economos, who joined the Company in 2005, is named VP-Sales of newly acquired, Eagle Rock Rome. Magic Hat Brewery joins the ERDC family and D.G. Yuengling Brewery selects ERDC as their partner as Georgia becomes Yuengling's 13th State.
2009		The Company purchases Dalton Beverage Company and merges it with ER-Rome to become Eagle Rock North Distributing Company. Larry Kearns is named VP-GM of Eagle Rock North. New Belgium Brewery selects ERDC as their partner in their expansion into the State of Georgia and a full list of exciting new beers from Peak Organic and Gordon Biersch compliment our craft beer portfolio.
2010		Eagle Rock Distributing Company serves over 5,000 retailers in our 19 county marketing area from warehouses in Stone Mountain and Dalton. Carly Craine and Mike Economos are both promoted into new jobs after 2 years in the business and the next generation is on its way! Our non-alcohol portfolio grows to include; Icelandic Glacial, Taste of Florida, Callaway Blue Water, Realtree Energy and Talking Rain. Exciting new beer brands from Southern Tier and an Irish cider from Magners are added and Nesquick becomes part of our c-store effort. Tiger Beer and Kalik join Czechvar in our small but growing collection of imported brands.
2011		Stay tuned………….we can't wait to see what's next!

ERDC