The e-mail was tongue in cheek with an introduction of “No, we haven’t been purchased by Anheuser Busch.” That the joke would land without explanation shows that the acqusition speed of the craft arm of ABInBev has been dialed up.
Elysian Brewing of Seattle is the latest to join an Anheuser-Busch portfolio that includes 10 Barrel Brewing of Bend, Oregon, Blue Point of New York and Goose Island of Chicago.
But the mergers and acquisitions aren’t relegated to the King of Beers. Over the holiday break, the news was reported that Founder’s Brewing had sold a 30% stake in their company to the Spanish brewery concern San Miguel. Also in the foreign owned club is Boulevard Brewing which became a member of the Duvel Moortgat family in 2014.
Are these ownership changes the inevitable start to craft beer consolidation? If so, who would be a target in our region?
Both are questions that are speculative at the moment, but California breweries haven’t been immune to selling beloved local institutions with Anchor Brewing (and distilling) being sold by craft beer icon and founder Fritz Maytag to the Griffin Group.
Or will California usher in a new model for use going forward in the Green Flash purchase of Alpine Brewing of craft joining with craft. In earlier years, that has been frowned on (see example of Widmer/Kona/Redhook?) but it may be how to achieve the goals of brewing and distributing more beer without losing the craft beer cachet that is lost when selling to a larger company.
Will the business world tactic of growing bigger to make yourself to costly a purchase also come into play? Could the Torrance breweries form a conglomerate to thwart a takeover bid? That is more speculation but I wouldn’t be surprised to see The Bruery and Monkish Brewing join forces.
Because most Los Angeles breweries are still incredibly young in comparison to the rest of the country, these questions of may not be asked this year. Our locals may not (yet) be on the radar of MillerCoors or ABInBev either. But that doesn’t mean ownership will stay the same. Noble Ale Works has been forced to adapt to a changed team of ownership due to extraordinary circumstances. The late Haven Brewing and Nibble Bit Tabby both bowed to management discord of varying degrees that led to their taps being silent.
This leaves us with one more question. Perhaps the most worrying one. How will this affect the beer in your pint glass? Your loyalty to a locally owned brewery might be tested in the coming years.