Nor-Cal Beverage has announced plans to divest its Loomis, California beer distribution division to Markstein Beverage of Sacramento in the US.

Markstein Beverage is a locally owned and independently operated beer distributor.

Currently, it markets over 200 brands of beer from light American lagers and Mexican imports to barrel-aged stouts and Belgian sours servicing Sacramento, Napa, Solano, Yuba, Sutter and portions of Yolo County.

The transaction, which is subject to supplier approval, will be completed by the end of the year.

The transaction will help Markstein Beverage expand its operations in Northern California with the addition of Nor-Cal’s distribution operations in Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, and portions of Alpine and Sierra Counties.

As part of the deal, Markstein will acquire the distribution rights for Anheuser-Busch InBev brands, Constellation Brands Beer Division, Sierra Nevada, Firestone Walker and several other micro-brew brands.

Nor-Cal Beverage CEO Shannon Deary-Bell said: "It was a difficult decision to sell this segment of our business after fifty years of operation."

Nor-Cal, with production plants in West Sacramento and Anaheim, manufactures chilled juices, cold fill carbonated and hot fill beverages with production facilities in West Sacramento and Anaheim.