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(Courtesy Smuttynose Brewing)
The beer biz never sleeps at American Craft Beer. And here’s just some of what’s been happening in the beer world while you were drinking your way through the weekend.
Smuttynose Owner Acquires Wachusett Brewing
Founded in 1994 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Smuttynose was the “Granite State’s” first craft brewery. Enjoying the benefits of craft beer’s boom years, the company moved into a brand-new facility on a historic 17-acre site in Towle Farm in Hampton, NH, a state-of-the-art operation that offered tours, tastings and even a nine-hole disc golf course.
But then came harder times…
After a brief four years at the new facility the company announced a bank auction of the brewery. The company which was producing 75,000 barrels of beer a year had been running at 50% at the time. Provident Bank purchased the company at auction for $8.25 million and it was quickly sold to Runnymede Investments which formed Finestkind.
Under Finestkind’s management, Smuttynose experienced a revival. It is currently distributed in 25 states and 11 countries.
In October, 2023, Finestkind expanded its reach to NYC , with the purchase of Brooklyn, New York-based Five Boroughs Brewing Co.
And last week Finestkind continued to grow its craft beer empire acquiring, Westminster, Massachusetts based heritage brewer, Wachusett Brewing. Renowned for its award-winning Blueberry Ale, Wachusett Brewing was founded in 1994 by three Massachusetts college students obsessed with the great outdoors and. brewing culture.
”Their commitment to quality and community closely aligns with our own values at Smuttynose,” says Steve Kierstead, Smuttynose CEO told the Boston Globe. “Wachusett, a brand with 30 years of history, is not only a local leader in the fruit beer category, but their addition significantly diversifies our portfolio.”
Kierstead said there are no current plans to change Wachusett’s beer lineup, though the company will review what is working and what is not and won’t rule out future changes. According to Brewbound, Smuttynose will eventually produce Wachusett beers at its Hampton, NY brewery.
Words to Drink By
“‘It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin, English naturalist, geologist and biologist
Oregon Brewers Face Hard Times
“For nearly the first time this century, Oregon lost more breweries than new ones opened,” KVAL 13 reports. “US beer shipments for 2023 are expected to be at the lowest level this century after falling more than 5%.”
Maybe it’s the ongoing legalization of cannabis, the emergence of alternatives like hard seltzers and canned cocktails, or simply the growing sobriety movement. Maybe it’s all of these things to differing degrees, but whatever the reason beer drinking in America has fallen to the lowest level in a generation.
And Oregon, home to nearly 400 breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms which generate billions in output and income and tens of thousands of jobs, is facing its most difficult year in decades as a result.
For nearly the first time this century, Oregon lost more breweries than new ones opened.
“It’s a tough moment for Oregon’s craft brewers,” Ben Edmunds, brewmaster at Breakside Brewery and President of the Oregon Brewers Guild said….
“Increased costs, changes in consumer preferences, and diminished on-premise consumption all made 2023 an especially challenging year. Oregon consumers have a long history of supporting independent, local breweries, and breweries across the state need that support now more than ever — especially as we head into the start of the year.”
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