Shocker (Or Maybe Not) – Lagunitas Partners With Heineken

 

Lagunitas Brewing has announced that they are forming a partnership with Heineken International, the world’s third-largest beer company – and we’re, unfortunately, not surprised.

We’re becoming increasingly immune to these kinds of announcements – and predict that were only going to see more going forward.

 So here’s the deal according to the Press Democrat…

Heineken will acquire a 50 percent stake in Lagunitas in exchange for an undisclosed amount of cash and a structure that allows the fast-growing Petaluma brewer to utilize the Amsterdam-based company’s global production and distribution network, founder and owner Tony Magee said.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Lagunitas was likely valued at about $1 billion in the deal, according to people familiar with recent acquisitions in the craft beer industry.

Bottom line – another prominent craft brewery has been at least partially acquired by another Big Beer entity.  As far as we’re concerned, today’s announcement is another a gut blow to craft beer’s body politic – and we’d be lying if we told you that we were happy to see these kinds of acquisitions continue.

Something important is changing…

We all love it when we discover that insanely talented rock band, playing the small clubs anonymously, fighting to build some kind of following. And we love it when rock critics finally discover them too – when they help to spread the word and also endorse our own passion.

But hard work and success sometimes comes with unforeseen consequences… and things like “what a band stands for” can be lost on that road from the empty clubs to those sold-out arenas.

And that’s why we worry about Lagunitas’ announcement today.