PRODUCTION
THE CRAFT BREWING industry in the United States is in the midst of runaway success . In September the Brewers Association , a trade group representing the country ’ s brewing industry , announced that the U . S . is now home to more than 4,000 breweries — rapidly approaching the country ’ s historic high of 4,131 , a number not seen since pre-prohibition days in 1873 .
But craft beer has always been a global interest to some degree — just ask the steadfast brewers at Scotland ’ s pioneering Brewdog — and as the industry grows in the United States , it is spreading its wings and preparing to expand outward onto the global stage . Through acquisition and organic growth , the craft beer market is reaching all new audiences .
Growth by Acquisition and Partnership In many businesses , the most direct path to growth is through consolidation — by joining forces , two businesses can pool their techniques and resources to reach an even wider audience . For several craft brands over the past year , acquisition and partnerships have been presented as a key to growth .
Firestone Walker was perhaps the first big name in craft brewing to announce its role in a global acquisition this year . In June 2015 Firestone Walker announced that Duvel Moortgat , a century-old familyowned Belgian brewing company known for its eponymous pale ale flagship , had acquired the awardwinning Central California craft brewery for an undisclosed sum .
According to a press release issued by Firestone Walker , the decision had everything to do with getting its beers to a wider audience and Duvel ’ s ability to help Firestone Walker meet its global goals while maintaining its purpose . “ Duvel Moortgat ’ s investment in us is an elegant solution that will enable us to grow within a framework that meets our standards — all without losing focus on the traits that got us here ,” states the message . Later in the year , California craft brewing innovator Lagunitas followed suit with the announcement of a 50-50 partnership with Dutch giant Heineken , one of the four biggest brewing companies in the world . By selling a 50 percent stake in Lagunitas , owner Tony Magee has asserted
8 November 2015