We reported earlier this summer that brewery founder Kim Jordan publicly promised D.C. would be the next market New Belgium Brewing Company would expand to. Yesterday the official announcement came in the form of a press release from the Ft. Collins, Colorado based brewery.

District beer fans have had a few tastes from bootleggers, but starting in September (that means many months from now so keep your pants on) Fat Tire, Sunshine Wheat, La Folie, and a number of other popular New Belgium beers will be distributed across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

From the press release:

The added territory will bring the nation’s third-largest craft brewer to 29 states. “We had significant expansion in 2009 when we added five states,” said New Belgium Sales Director, Joe Menetre. “We wanted to make sure we had the capacity to keep up with that demand, so we expanded our fermentation cellar to address future growth as well. We’re looking forward to selling our beers in and around the nation’s capitol.” No decisions have been made regarding distributor partners, brands or package for the new markets.

New Belgium began making beer in 1991 when I was too young to partake…legally. I like to believe that growing up in Colorado gave me the chance to learn what good beer was earlier than most. So I am looking forward to seeing those red cruiser-clad labels on taps and bottles alongside their Colorado brethren Avery, Great Divide, Oskar Blues, and more recently Boulder and Left Hand. Now if only I could find some Odell out here (but founder Doug Odell said there was little to no chance of that happening when asked during a salon at last year’s SAVOR).

Let’s just hope the market will support all the local brew due to be produced in 2011 as well as beer from out-of-towners.