Anheuser-Busch announced today that the world’s largest brewery will purchase the largest craft brewery in Arizona, Four Peaks Brewing. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
With this purchase, A-B InBev has purchased six craft breweries; a list that includes Goose Island, Blue Point, Elysian Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, and most recently – Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles.
Four Peaks Brewing, combined with the above breweries lineups, make up what A-B dubs “The High End Division” of beers.
“As the leading craft brewery in Arizona, we’re proud of what we’ve built and of our brewing heritage. We’re excited to build on that success with The High End,” said Jim Scussel, Four Peaks co-founder. “Arizona has a rapidly-growing fan base for craft beer and we look forward to more opportunities to share what Four Peaks is about within our local community, and beyond,” added Randy Schultz, Four Peaks co-founder.
As for Four Peaks Brewing, it opened in 1996, and now operates four locations in Tempe, Scottsdale and Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.
The deal is expected to be closed by the end of Q1, 2016.
I just wish one brewery would say it like it is: “Yeah, we built a brewery, made a living, and now we are cashing in. We decided to sell our mediocre brewery to the bumbling faceless thunderfuck known as A-B and now we are going to live on a private island. Sooooo, have fun eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches to afford your ‘high end beer’ suckers. P.S. See you in hell.” That’s all I really want.
Except that Four Peaks wasn’t mediocre. They could put out some junk on occasion, but in general their brews were innovative (back when that was still possible in the industry) and top quality, and a couple have become tap staples at bars and restaurants in the region.
So this isn’t just sad, it’s a betrayal. It’s a huge sell-out. To the worst possible buyer.
Monopolism is alive and well.