Macro beer brands continue to buy up microbreweries.
Tenth and Blake, the craft and import division of MillerCoors, announced yesterday an agreement to acquire a majority interest in the California-based Saint Archer Brewing Company.
Founded in San Diego in 2013, Saint Archer brews a range of ales including Blonde Ale, IPA, White Ale and Pale Ale. Saint Archer expects to sell 35,000 barrels of beer in 2015, up more than 100 percent over 2014, the company said, ranking it among the faster-growing breweries in California.
Tenth and Blake plans to support this growth under the ongoing leadership of Josh Landan, Saint Archer co-founder and president.
“We have always wanted to get great beer into more people’s hands,” said Landan in a press release. “We were fortunate that brewers big and small were interested in partnering with us, but Tenth and Blake was the clear choice. Tenth and Blake shares our passion for putting great beer first.”
“Joining Tenth and Blake allows us to keep doing what we love right here in San Diego, but now with more resources to innovate and grow,” he added. “With Tenth and Blake’s help, we hope to one day be a national brand.”
Saint Archer’s management and their team will continue to brew, package, ship, and sell Saint Archer’s outstanding portfolio. Saint Archer will be run as a separate business unit of Tenth and Blake.
“Saint Archer is consistent with our strategy of building our high-end portfolio while driving top line growth,” said Scott Whitley, president and CEO of Tenth and Blake.
Saint Archer picked up two gold medals at the 2014 San Diego International Beer Festival and a gold medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival.
Saint Archer joins other leading crafts in the Tenth and Blake portfolio, including Blue Moon Brewing Company, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Crispin Cider Company and a minority equity stake in Terrapin Beer Company.
The transaction is expected to complete in October 2015. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
