One of the ways people across the country are dealing with anxiety under COVID-19 social distancing, stay-at-home orders is to crack a cold one at the end of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number of people buying alcohol to take home rose 27% earlier this year,\u00a0according to Nielsen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a successful launch into the Connecticut market last year, Puerto Rico’s favorite beer, Medalla Light is now tapping into the demand of thirsty beer drinkers in Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMedalla Light\u2019s expansion is a testament to the loyalty of our large fan base across the U.S,\u201d said Jorge Bracero, CMO of Cervecera de Puerto Rico. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to continue expanding the distribution of Medalla Light beer for beer lovers abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Massachusetts is the eighth state in the U.S. mainland to welcome the Puerto Rican beer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year, Hartford Distributors focused their sales in Central Connecticut where the company anticipated that there would be a strong market. Very quickly, this expectation was more than fulfilled. As soon as the beer \u201ccame in it went out,\u201d said Juan Rivera, sales supervisor for Hartford Distributors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivera said it took a year of meetings in Puerto Rico to arrange to get Medalla Light. \u201cWe are the first state in the Northeast to have this beer,\u201d Rivera said. Until now, you could only get it in Puerto Rico and Florida, the sales executive said in an interview <\/a>with CTLN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quality Beverage and Horizon Beverage are in charge of distributing the product in the Bay State. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are thrilled to team up with Cervecera\u00a0de Puerto Rico who shares our commitment to providing the highest level of service and quality to our consumers,\u201d said <\/a>Anthony Frasco, General Manager and VP at Quality Beverage in Chicopee to BrewBound.com. \u201cPartnering with them allows us to fulfill the demand of the popular beer in the Massachusetts market that we service. When\u00a0you have a brand that ignites the consumer and can bring nostalgic memories, having consumers feel like they were back on a tropical island like Puerto Rico the way Medalla Light does, you know it\u2019ll only be a matter of time before they become a national player in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Massachusetts\u2019 330,000 Puerto Rican community was a ripe market for Medalla Light. Many people were already familiar with the beer from living in Puerto Rico. Others had heard about the pale lager from their father or grandfather who drank the beer when they lived on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n