Imperial Beverage brings Big Lake Sparti Parti to Spartan Stadium

September 19, 2023

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Imperial Beverage, Michigan’s leading independent craft beer distributor, today announced a new partnership with Michigan State University to sell Big Lake Brewing’s signature Sparti Parti IPA at Spartan Stadium during the 2023 football season.


Sparti Parti is among Big Lake Brewing’s signature, best-selling hazy IPAs. With crisp pine notes and a deep citrus finish, Sparti Parti is an extremely pleasant, sessionable beer, ideal for tailgating or sipping during a Spartan football game.


“Sparti Parti has been a mainstay product for years for thousands of Spartans across Michigan, and we are thrilled to have it be among the first beers welcomed into Spartan Stadium and enjoyed by their enthusiastic fans,” said Barry Galgoci, general manager of Imperial Beverage.


In late July, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill allowing alcohol sales at Michigan’s 15 public universities' football, hockey, and basketball games. Sales are permitted at select games at each university’s discretion an hour before kickoff, at puck drop and at tipoff, and during games.


This year, Big Lake Brewing is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Their beers are all products of the Great Beer State – inspired by and enjoyed by thousands at and around some of Michigan’s greatest landmarks, including Michigan State University. This dedication to our state’s culture has built Big Lake Brewing’s brand over the past decade.

To learn more about Sparti Parti, follow Big Lake's social media platforms.


Website: Learn more at http://biglakebrewing.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biglakebrewing/?hl=en

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/biglakebrewing


About Imperial Beverage

Imperial Beverage is a long-standing member of the Michigan beverage distribution community. Established in 1933 after the repeal of Prohibition and purchased by Kalamazoo’s Cekola family in 1984, Imperial has grown from a one-county beer distributor to a top 10 statewide beer, wine and spirits wholesaler. With 340 employees and four locations in Kalamazoo, Livonia, Traverse City and Ishpeming, Imperial provides statewide coverage that serves every Michigan county, every week, all year long. Learn more at imperialbeverage.com.


About Big Lake Brewing

Big Lake Brewing is one of Michigan’s leading craft breweries, with distribution across the state. Located on 7th Street in downtown Holland, Michigan, the taproom has 26 taps, always filled with a variety of handcrafted beers created by a passionate team of brewers. Big Lake also offers a full lunch and dinner menu with a Dutch spin. Learn more at biglakebrewing.com.

Mid-Michigan beer distributor celebrates 65 years in business, three generations of family leadership

By Rebecca Stow • May 4, 2026
OWOSSO, Mich. – Main Beverage Company marks 65 years in business this year, celebrating three generations of family leadership and a legacy rooted in mid-Michigan.

Ypsilanti beer distributor partners on limited-edition release for Ann Arbor Summer Festival

By Rebecca Stow • April 14, 2026
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Local, family-owned beer distributor O&W Inc. in Ypsilanti is celebrating its collaboration with Michigan-based Griffin Claw Brewing Company to develop a limited-edition Session IPA for the upcoming Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF).

Detroit News: Rooted in Community, Driven to Lead: Women in Michigan’s Beer and Wine Distribution Industry

By Rebecca Stow • March 17, 2026
Across Michigan’s beer and wine distribution industry, women are helping shape the future of our businesses and the communities we serve. As president and CEO of John P. O’Sullivan Distributing in Grand Blanc Township and the third woman to chair the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association (MB&WWA) Board of Directors, I’m proud to be part of a growing group of women leading with purpose and perspective. This year is especially meaningful for our company as we celebrate 50 years in business. Reaching that milestone is a reminder that strong local businesses are built over time through dedication, adaptability and the people who make long-term success possible—including the growing number of women shaping the future of the industry. Our work as beer and wine distributors is about far more than logistics. It’s about building resilient businesses that support jobs, give back locally and help maintain a fair and competitive marketplace. From sales and operations to finance, marketing and delivery, women are making meaningful contributions at every level of our industry. Distributors are proud to be local businesses with deep roots. We live and work in the communities we serve, and we embrace opportunities to give back—whether supporting neighborhood events, partnering with charitable organizations or helping local retailers succeed. That spirit of service is integral to our businesses and something we strive to carry forward. Beer and wine distributors also play a critical role in Michigan’s three-tier system, moving products safely and efficiently from supplier to shelf. This system supports competition and gives consumers access to an extraordinary variety of high-quality choices, from Michigan-made craft beverages to well-known national brands. As we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, I’m honored to recognize the many women who help drive Michigan’s beer and wine distribution industry forward. The continued success of this industry reflects the collaboration and determination of the people behind it—and women are playing an essential role in shaping what comes next. Joanie O’Sullivan-Butler is president and CEO of John P. O’Sullivan Distributing Inc. in Grand Blanc Township. She is also chair of the MB&WWA Board of Directors and sits on the MB&WWA Women’s Advocacy Committee.