Acquisitions and Mergers

Keeping you up-to-date on mergers and acquisitions within the craft beer community.
​Please support your local, independent craft brewery!

Brewery-to-Brewery Acquisitions and Mergers

  • Boston Beer Company (MA) and Dogfishhead Brewery (MD) merge - May 2019
  • Stone Brewing (CA) sells Berlin brewery to Brewdog (Scotland) - April 2019
  • Sufferfest Brewing (CA) acquired by Sierra Nevada (CA) - January 2019
  • Fuller Smith & Turner (UK) acquired by Asahi (Japan) - January 2019
  • Lexington Avenue Brewing (NC) acquired by CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective (CO) - November 2018
  • Sixpoint Brewery (NY) acquired by Artisanal Brewing Ventures - November 2018
  • Three Weavers Brewing (CA) acquired by CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective (CO) - July 2018
  • ​Deep Ellum (TX) acquired by CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective (CO) - June 2018
  • Duval Moortgat (Belgium) increases stake to 70% after Dec 16 minority purchase of Berrificio del Ducato (Italy) - March 2018
  • Telegraph Brewing (CA) acquired by Epic Brewing (UT) - December 2017
  • Pirate Life (Australia) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) November 2017
  • Avery Brewing (CO) sells 30% share to Mahou San Miguel (Spain) - November 2017
  • Clown Shoes Beer (MA) acquired by Harpoon Brewery (MA) - October 2017
  • 4 Pines (Australia) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) September 2017
  • Magnolia Brewing (CA) acquired by New Belgium (CA) - August 2017
  • Funky Buddha (FL) acquired by Constellation Brands (NY) - August 2017
  • Third Street Brewhouse (MN) acquired by Brynwood Partners (CT), private equity - August 2017
  • Anchor Brewing (CA) acquired by Sapporo Holdings (Japan) - August 2017
  • ​Funkwerks (CO) sells minority share to Brooklyn Brewery - July 2017
  • 21st Amendment (CA) sell minority share to Brooklyn Brewery - July 2017
  • Short's Brewing (MI) sells minority stake (20%) to Lagunitas Brewing (CA) - July 2017
  • Monkey Paw Brewing (CA) sells majority stake to Coronado Brewing (CA) - July 2017
  • The Bruery (CA) sells majority stake to private equity firm Castanea Partners - May 2017
  • Lagunitas Brewing (CA) sells remaining share to Heineken (Netherlands) and is now wholly owned by Heineken - May 2017
  • Wicked Weed (NC) acquired by AB InBev (Belguim) - May 2017
  • BrewDog (Scotland) sells 22% stake to TSG Consumer Partners (US Private Equity Fund) April 2017
  • Boxing Cat Brewery and Liquid Laundry (China) acquired by AB InBev (Belguim) - March 2017
  • Wynnwood Brewing (FL) sells minority stake to Craft Brew Alliance - December 2016
  • Kaiba Tap Room (China) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - December 2016
  • Pilsner Urquell (Czech), Tyskie (Poland), and Kozel (Czech) acquired by Asahi (Japan) from ABInBev - December 2016
  • Karbach Brewing (TX) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - November 2016
  • ABInBev merges with SABMiller - October 2016
  • RateBeer sells minority stake to AB InBev (Belgium) - October 2016
  • Brooklyn Brewery (NY) sells minority stake (25%) to Kirin Brewery (Japan) - October 2016
  • Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply (MN) acquired by ABInBev (Belgium) - October 2016
  • Miller Brands UK (Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime) acquired by Asahi (Japan) - October 2016
  • Brouwerij Bosteels (Belgium) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - September 2016
  • Revolver Brewing (TX) acquired by MillerCoors - August 2016
  • Hop Valley (OR) sells majority stake to MillerCoors - July 2016
  • Terrapin Beer Co (GA) sells majority stake to MillerCoors - July 2016
  • Lagunitas acquires 50% stake in Southend Brewery (SC), Moonlight Brewing (CA) and Independence Brewing (TX) - July 2016
  • Bavaria Brewery (Netherlands) acquires 60% stake in Palm Breweries (Rodenbach - Belgium) - May 2016
  • Devil's Backbone Brewing Co (VA) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - April 2016
  • Birra Del Borgo (Italy) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - April 2016
  • Flying Fish Brewing (NJ) sells undisclosed stake to Times-Shamrock Communications - April 2016
  • Cigar City Brewing (FL) acquired by Oskar Blues Brewing (CO) - March 2016
  • Southern Tier Brewing and Victory Brewing unite under holding company but maintain independence - February 2016
  • Camden Town Brewery (London) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - December 2015
  • Breckenridge Brewery (CO) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - December 2015
  • Four Peaks Brewing (AZ) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - December 2015
  • Ballast Point Brewing (CA) & Spirits acquired by ​​Constellation Brands (NY) - November 2015
  • Mill Street Brewing (Canada) acquired by Labatt Brewing  (ABInBev, Canada) - October 2015
  • Mountain Goat Beer (Australia) acquired by Asahi Breweries (Japan) - September 2015
  • ​Brouwerij t Ij (Netherlands) sells unannounced percentage to Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - September 2015
  • Golden Road Brewing (CA) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - September 2015
  • Saint Archer Brewing (CA) acquired by MillerCoors (IL) - September 2015
  • Heineken (Netherlands) acquires 50% of Lagunitas (CA) - September 2015
  • Concrete Beach Brewery (FL) created by A & S (VT) - September 2015
  • Cervejaria Colorado (São Paulo Brazil) acquired by ABInBev (Belgium) - July 2015
  • Firestone Walker (CA) acquired by Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - July 2015
  • Logsdon Farmhouse Ales (OR) acquired by Uptown Market Brewery (OR) and Investment Team - July 2015
  • American Sky Brewing (WI) acquired by Lucid Brewing (MN) - June 2015
  • Bogatá Beer Co (Columbia) acquired by AB InBev - May 2015
  • Meantime Brewery Company (UK) acquired by SABMiller (UK) - May 2015
  • Perrin Brewing (MI) acquired by Oskar Blues Brewing (CO) - March 2015
  • ​Full Sail Brewing Co acquired by Encore Consumer Capital - March 2015
  • WÄLS (Brazil) acquired by ABInBev - February 2015
  • ​Elysian Brewing (WA) acquired by ABInBev (Belgium) - January 2015
  • Bayhawk Ales (CA) in a Leveraged Takeover by Evans Brewing Co (CA - January 2015
  • ​Founders Brewing Co (MI) sold 30% minority stake to Mahou San Miguel (Spain) - December 2014
  • Pivovar Samson (Czechoslovakia) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - December 2014
  • Apline Beer Co (CA) acquired by Green Flash Brewing (CA) but maintains independence – November 2014
  • 10 Barrel Brewing Co (OR) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - November 2014​
  • SweetWater Brewing (GA) sells minority stake to TSG Consumer Partners (CA) - September 2014
  • Southern Tier Brewing sells undisclosed equity stake to Ulysses Management LLC (NY) - September 2014
  • Uinta Brewing (UT) sells undisclosed equity stake to The Riverside Company - August 2014
  • Blue Point Brewing (NY) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - January 2014
  • Oriental Brewery (S Korea) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - January 2014
  • Shaftebury Brewing (Canada) acquired by Tree Brewing (Canada) from Sleeman Breweries (Canada) - 2014
  • Boulevard Brewing (MO) acquired by Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - September 2013
  • Third Shift beer brand created by Molson Coors (CO) - 2013
  • Coney Island Brewing (NY) acquired by A & S (VT) - 2013
  • Little Creatures (Australia) acquired by Lion (Japan) - June 2012
  • Angel City Brewing (CA) acquired by A & S (VT) - 2012
  • Treveler Beer Co (VT) is folded into A & A (VT) - 2012
  • Utah Brewers Cooperative (Wasatch and Squatters) acquired by Fireman Capital Partners - 2012
  • Terrapin Beer Co (GA) sells minority stake to MillerCoors - 2012
  • North America Breweries Holdings (NY) acquired by Florida Ice and Farm Company (Costa Rica) - December 2012
  • Schlafly Beer (MO) acquired by Sage Capital (MO) - January 2012
  • Goose Island (IL) acquired by AB InBev (Belgium) - March 2011
  • Alchemy & Science Beer Co (A & S) formed as subsidieary of Boston Beer Co (MA) - 2011
  • Rock Bottom Brewery (CO) and Gordon Biersch Brewery (CA) were acquired by private investment firm and merged - 2010
  • Pyramid Breweries (WA) acquired by North America Breweries Holdings (NY) - 2010
  • Brouwerij de Koninck (Belgium) acquired by Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - 2010
  • Butte Creek Brewing (CA) acquired by Mendocino Brewing - August 2010
  • Widmer Brothers/Red Hook Alliance (CBA) acquires Kona Brewing (HI), ABInBev maintains 32% stake - October 2010
  • Magic Hat Brewing (VT) acquired by North America Breweries Holdings (NY) - August 2010
  • Granville Island Brewing (Canada( acquired by Molson Coors (CO) - October 2009
  • Brouwerij Liefmans (Belgium) acquired by Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - 2008
  • Pyramid Breweries (WA) acquired by Magic Hat Brewing (VT) - 2008
  • Red Hook (WA) and Widmer Brothers (OR) merged and create alliance called CBA - 2008
  • Widmer Brothers (OR) and Red Hook Ales Brewery (WA) merge - November 2007
  • SABMiller and Molson Coors (Canada) merged to create MillerCoors - 2007
  • Fordham Brewing (MD) and Dominion Brewing (DE) merger financed by Anheuser-Busch for minority stake - March 2007
  • Brasserie d'Achouffe (Belgium) acquired by Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - 2006
  • Sleeman Breweries (Canada) acquired by Sapporo (Japan) - 2006
  • Shock Top brand created by Anheuser-Busch (MO) - 2006
  • Coors (CO) merges with Molson (Canada) to create MolsonCoors - 2005
  • Trumer Brauerei Brewery (CA) created by Gambrinus Company (TX - Beer Importer) - 2004
  • Inibroue (Canada) acquired by Sleeman Breweries (Canada) - 2004
  • Portland Brewing (OR) acquired by Pyramid Brewing (WA) - 2004
  • Brewery Ommegang (NY) acquired by Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - February 2003
  • Miller Brewing (acquired by South African Breweries, renamed SABMiller - 2002
  • Olde Saratoga Brewing (NY) acquired by Mendocino Brewing - 2001 (approximate)
  • ​Bernard (Czechoslovakia) sells 50% to Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - 2001
  • Maritime Brewing (Canada) acquired by Sleeman Breweries (Canada) - 2000
  • Portland Brewing (OR) merges with Saxer Brewing (OR) - 2000
  • Gordon Biersch (CA) acquired by Big River Brewing (TN) - 1999
  • Pete's Brewing (CA) acquired by Gambrinus Company (TX - Beer Importer) - 1998
  • Shaftebury Brewing (Canada) acquired by Sleeman Breweries (Canada) - 1998
  • Upper Canada Brewing (Canada) acquired by Sleeman Breweries (Canada) - 1998
  • Widmer Brothers (OR) sells 27% stake to Anheuser-Busch (MO) - April 1997
  • Okanagan Spring Brewery (Canada) acquired by Sleeman Breweries (Canada) - 1996
  • Bridgeport Brewery (OR) acquired by Gambrinus Company (TX - Beer Importer) - 1995
  • Blue Moon Brewing (CO) created by MillerCoors - 1995
  • Red Hook Ales Brewery (WA) sells minority stake (25%) to Anheuser-Busch (MO) - 1994
  • Spoetzl Brewery (TX) acquired by Gambrinus Company (TX - Beer Importer) - 1989
  • Jacob Leinenkugel (WI) is acquired by MillerCoors - 1988
Some of the breweries listed above have had been either bought out by or had significant investment from private investment companies. While not quite the same as a full sell-out to the 'Big Box Breweries" it is significant because not only does it mean additional access to money from the investment group, but the investment group must show substantial profit to its own investors, and length of investment is typically less than 10 years.  Since this concept is still relatively new in the craft beer industry, the jury is still out as to whether this model will be good or bad for the acquired brewery and its customers.  

Support your independent Local Craft beer brewery!

Other Brewery Transactions

  • Switchback Brewing (VT) sells itself to employees through ESOP - February 2017
  • Stone CEO announces $100M fund to support craft breweries (in lieu of minority equity stake) - March 2016
  • Left Hand Brewing Co (CO) ESOP - July 2015
  • Odell Brewing Company (CO) ESOP  - July 2015
  • Enjoy Beer LLC (Brewery support resources) founded  by Abita Brewing Co (LA) - (April 2015)
  • Harpoon Brewing (ME) ESOP - July 2014
For a complete listing of the AB InBev beer brand portfolio around the world (as of Dec 31, 2016), CLICK HERE.