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When a pioneer name like Anchor Brewing sells to an international major like Japan’s Sapporo Holdings you know that all bets are off.
That what began as a trickle back in 2011 when AB InBev purchased Goose Island, has now become a flood.
That brewers who we assumed were in this for the long run, that would never sell out, have decided the dream is over and are cashing in.
Here’s what we know according to the San Francisco Chronicle who broke the story last night, and a shareholder press release we received form Sapporo.
Established in 1896 Anchor Brewing had fallen on hard times and was victim to mass-market beer when when the legendary Fritz Maytag purchased 51 percent of the struggling brewery in 1965.
In 1969 he assumed full ownership of the struggling brewery where he went on to champion the American-style Pale Ale and pioneer the craft beer revolution.
Anchor Brewing is currently owned by the Griffin Group, run by Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio, an investment group that also owns Preiss Imports, a boutique San Diego fine spirits firm and holds a minority interest in BrewDog LLC.
Anchor whose sales for 2016 were valued at $33 million, will reportedly remain in San Francisco.
Pending approval this is an $85 million dollar deal
Stay tuned….
