ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — Sweetbay Brewing Company in Abingdon marked an important milestone on Tuesday, becoming the first in Virginia to begin distributing its beer under a newly launched Virginia Beer Distribution Company (VBDC).

The VBDC empowers small craft brewers to grow by acting as their wholesaler, enabling them to sell their beer off-site up to a certain limit.

According to the VBDC’s website, it “was established by the Virginia General Assembly in 2024. VBDC is a non-profit, non-stock corporation housed within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to provide wholesale beer distribution services for licensed Virginia breweries.”

The organization’s main goal is to help breweries take their products to market as efficiently as possible. It works with brewers to transport their craft beer to buyers; and with retailers to procure and obtain beer brewed in the Commonwealth.

Sweetbay Brewing’s owner Patrick Atkins told News Channel 11 that he’s grateful for the opportunity that the newly formed organization provided.

“[I] really look forward to going to some of my favorite restaurants in Abingdon and in Bristol and places outside of here in Virginia and seeing my beer on tap, I mean, it’s a huge milestone for us just because, like I said, everything we make, we sell in-house here,” Atkins said.

The VBDC’s website said it funds state excise tax and submits breweries’ monthly forms summarizing beer purchases and taxes paid for transfers to and from. The brewery must still pay taxes and submit forms for beer sold on-site.

Sweetbay Brewing Co. is located at 149 Deadmore Street SE in Abingdon.