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(Courtesy Ballast Point)
It’s been quite a journey for Ballast Point Brewing, the once high-flying brewery, that was sold to Constellation Brands for $1 billion dollars in 2015.
And now San Diego Beer News is reporting that the brewery, which was purchased for pennies on the dollar by Kings & Convicts in 2019, had ceased production at the company’s HQ and 107,000-square-foot brewery and would be shifting to contract brewing, while it looked for a much smaller brewing location.
The Miramar brewery itself was originally home to Saint Archer Brewing. Saint Archer was founded in 2013 and acquired in 2015 by Molson Coors at the height of craft beer’s second emergence. And when the mega-brewer shut down that brand, Kings & Convicts, which is based out of Chicago, took over that expansive brewery as well as its 1,200-square-foot taproom in Leucadia, Calif, to produce Ballast Point beer.
Kings & Convicts said at the time that the was committed to revitalizing the Ballast Pont brand and taking it to new heights…
This from that 2019 announcement…
“We’re excited to welcome the team at Ballast Point into the Kings & Convicts family,” said Brendan Watters, Kings & Convicts’ chief executive officer.
“As craft brewers, we have long admired the quality and spirit of the Ballast Point brand and team. Their best-in-class brewing standards will remain unchanged, delivering the same high-quality, award-winning beer the company has become known for over the years.”
“Our goal is to leverage Ballast Point’s deep know-how, talented and passionate employee base, and outstanding operating team to grow both Ballast Point and Kings & Convicts together.”
Then came Covid-19 which has altered many a brewery’s expectations.
Describing the current situation, Watters explained…
“We’ve signed a contract with another company that will take over the Miramar brewery. In the short-term, we will be working with them on a contract basis to fulfil our taprooms and distribution while we try to acquire or build another San Diego facility, ideally with an 80-to-100-barrel brewhouse. That will allow us to crank things out and make money from them.”
In spite of staff reductions brought on by its brewery closure, Ballast Point will reportedly continue to operate its bar and restaurant adjoining the Miramar facility along with its brewpub in San Diego.
“We want to bring Ballast Point back to what it is,” Watters added, “a premium brand on the West Coast.”
