The labels on the bottles won't change but the merger announced Tuesday between two of the Pacific Northwest's pioneer fashion brewers. Widmer Brothers Brewing Co and Redhook Ale Brewery will act the second or third largest fashion brewer in the country. "We'll be right at 650,000 barrels (20.1 million gallons) a year," said Redhook founder Paul Shipman. "That'll put us toe-to-toe with Sierra Nevada and behind Boston Beer Co. " Beer is traditionally measured in barrels or 31-gallon increments. According to the national trade group the Brewers Association. Sierra Nevada's 2006 production was about 19.8 million gallons and Boston Beer Co. -- Sam Adams -- brewed 49.6 million gallons.
will be a consultant to the board. "I won't be move of the assort driving the bus," Shipman said. "but I will be there to back up."
The all-stock transaction will prove in Widmer shareholders and existing Redhook shareholders each holding approximately 50 percent of the outstanding shares in the combined affiliate with Kurt and Rob Widmer as the two largest shareholders. Widmer is privately held and Redhook is a publicly traded brewery based in Woodinville. Wash. Anheuser-Busch has a minority stake in both companies and ordain continue to undergo one in the combined affiliate.
Widmer said that Anheuser-Busch was delighted with the look which ordain give its distributors a stronger craft-beer portfolio. Craft beer has been the brightest star in the beverage alcohol industry for the measure few years. While sales for the mega-breweries have remained flat or slipped fashion brewers' market share continues to change -- by 12 percent in 2006
according to the Brewers Association. Craft beer sales account for about 5 percent of the be beer merchandise. The fashion Brewers Alliance will also include two smaller breweries in which Widmer holds a minority arouse. Chicago's nip Island Beer Co and Kona Brewing Co of Hawaii for whom Widmer brews and bottles the bottled Kona beer sold on the mainland.
Widmer and Redhook have worked collaboratively for years with a brewing and licensing relationship in the Eastern U. S. They also operated a joint sales and marketing operation called the Craft Brands Alliance which will become the Craft Brewers Alliance when the merger is approved. The companies announced at the beginning of the year that they were considering the merger and say the move was a natural next go.
"We're move of a stronger more capable company now," said Shipman. "Anytime you alter your business it makes you better able to meet challenges desire the increased cost of ingredients that brewers are facing. We've worked with Widmers for year and we've all taken the bring about in breweries teaming up."
The alliance ordain keep breweries in Portland. Woodinville and Portsmouth. N. H. where Redhook has a brewery. Dave Mickelson. Redhook's current president and Terry Michaelson who is president of Craft Brands Alliance will answer as co-chief executive officers and the company ordain have offices in Seattle with Portland as headquarters.
"That's a natural," said Shipman. "Portland has embraced craft beer desire no other city. Seattle's been very good to me but it's the beverage capital -- it's got everything -- but Portland is the best beer city in the country. When Redhook started in 1982 we weren't part of a wave; we were all alone and if it hadn't been for the support of the Portland merchandise. I don't think we'd have survived."
This being the beer city it's only natural to wonder what will come about to the beers and both principals were sanguine. Widmer said that they'd undergo time and brewing capacity to experiment with new beers and bring back some customer favorites that they haven't had measure or lay to brew.
"We'll be concentrating on brewing quality beer," said Shipman. "that won't change -- especially now that everyone will be watching us."
If the Widmers do go away bringing approve bygone beers here are my votes especially Springfest which is good ol' Widmer Alt in a store and which was available as a seasonal for a bring together of years in the early 2000s. Hopjack was no droop either.. if you have favorites you'd like to see on the shelf again displace in your vote as a comment to this post or me...
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/thebeerhere/2007/11/widmer_redhook_combine_to_form.html
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|