American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
On May 13 Moonlight Brewing, the cultish craft brewery in Santa Rosa, California announced that Patrick Rue, founder and former owner of The Bruery, will buy the 50% stake in the company that was owned by Heineken.
How Moonlight Brewing ended up being partially owned by Heineken is a story that dates back to 2015 when Lagunitas founder Tony Magee sold 50% of his brewery to Heineken.
Flush with cash Lagunitas purchased stakes in Southend Brewery and Smokehouse in Charleston, SC, Independence Brewing Co. in Austin, and Moonlight Brewing which was founded by Brian Hunt in 1992.
The idea according to ProBrewer “was that Lagunitas could help bolster the three much smaller breweries through shared resources, probably not something that Heineken cared much about, but had little influence in the decision with a 50% ownership stake.”
At that time Hunt said that its partnership with Lagunitas was an opportunity “to secure Moonlight’s future into the next generation” which was furthered by his friendship of Magee, who he has known since 1993.
In May, 2017 Heineken took full ownership of Lagunitas, buying the remaining 50% of the company. And Tony McGee left the company, leaving Moonlight owner and founder Brian Hunt with a partner he never anticipated.
But now with the announcement that Patrick Rue, founder and former owner of The Bruery, would buy the 50% stake in the company which is owned by Heineken, Moonlight Brewing is returning to the craft beer fold.
Patrick Rue
Hunt will retain his half ownership and will remain actively involved. Longtime Moonlight brewer Zac Greenwood will continue in his current capacity as Head Brewer, leading the production team while overseeing innovation and expansion.
Brian’s daughter, Erin Latham-Ponneck, continues her role as Operations Manager, overseeing the day-to-day running of Moonlight Brewing.
Rue, who is currently the maker and owner of Erosion, a winery and brewery in Napa Valley, will serve in an advisory capacity and will direct an oak barrel-aging beer program.
And Moonlight Brewing, which operated independently from Lagunitas during their partnership and will continue to focus production on lager beers like Death & Taxes Black Beer and Reality Czeck-style Pilsner.
