Anheuser-Busch InBev today announced it would purchase Arizona’s largest craft brewery, Four Peaks Brewing.
Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed and the deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2016. First Beverage Group acted as the financial advisor to Four Peaks and Spencer Fane provided legal counsel.
Launched in 1996, the brewery produced about 60,000 barrels of beer last year and expects that figure to grow to 70,000 in 2015.
Four Peaks founder Andy Ingram was a driving force behind Arizona’s Senate Bill 1030 (dubbed the Arizona Beer Bill), which was signed into law in March. The bill allows Arizona breweries to maintain their additional brewing, restaurant and retail locations once production volumes exceed 40,000 barrels and bumps the production cap for “microbreweries” to 200,000 barrels.
Four Peaks operates four locations, including the 8th Street Brewery & Pub in Tempe; the Wilson Street Brewery & Tasting Room in Tempe; and the Grill & Tap in Scottsdale. It also has an outpost at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport.
A-B has now acquired six craft breweries since 2011, including Goose Island, Blue Point Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing and Elysian Brewing and Golden Road. All six breweries are part of what A-B calls “The High End Division,” which also includes brands like Stella Artois, Shock Top and Virtue Cider.
A full press release is below. Brewbound will continue to follow this story as it develops.
NEW YORK and TEMPE, Ariz. (December 18, 2015) – Today, Anheuser-Busch announced an agreement to acquire Four Peaks Brewing Company, the leading craft brewer in the state of Arizona. Four Peaks will represent the sixth operation to join the growing list of innovative and progressive craft breweries within The High End, the company’s business unit providing unique craft and import brands.
“For 20 years we’ve had more amazing experiences than I can count doing what we love to do most – brewing great beer and sharing it with a growing craft community in Arizona that has supported us from day one,” said Andy Ingram, Four Peaks co-founder. “We’re excited to join the enthusiastic team and tap into their resources to expand our footprint and share our beer with even more people moving forward.”
Four Peaks, which opened its doors in 1996, expects to sell approximately 70,000 barrels of beer in 2015. The brewery will continue to brew their award-winning beers, including their flagship beer, Kilt Lifter, a Scottish-Style Ale that accounts for more than 60 percent of the brewery’s sales. Four Peaks also produces popular limited releases like cask versions of its mainstay beers and its four-time World Beer Cup-medaling Hopsquatch Barleywine. In addition to strong mainstay beers and limited releases, Four Peaks has seen great success with newer brews like its Pumpkin Porter, which grew more than 150 percent last year.
“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.
Four Peaks will join Goose Island Beer Company, Blue Point Brewing Company, 10 Barrel Brewing, Elysian Brewing Company and Golden Road Brewing as part of the growing portfolio of exceptional craft beers within The High End.
“It’s exciting to partner with another group of passionate craft beer founders, this time in the great state of Arizona,” said Andy Goeler, CEO, Craft, The High End. “What Andy, Jim, Randy and the team have been able to accomplish is remarkable and a testament to their culture and portfolio of great beers. We look forward to learning from each other and bringing more Four Peaks beers to craft lovers in the Southwest.”
The partnership includes the company’s three primary locations: the 8th Street Brewery & Pub in Tempe; the Wilson Street Brewery & Tasting Room in Tempe; and the Grill & Tap in Scottsdale, in addition to continuing their partnership at the Sky Harbor Airport facility. Anheuser-Busch’s acquisition of Four Peaks is expected to close during the first quarter of 2016. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
First Beverage Group acted as financial advisor to Four Peaks, and Spencer Fane Britt & Browne provided legal counsel.
About Four Peaks
Four Peaks Brewing Company, based in Tempe, Ariz., was founded in 1996 and is commonly regarded as a local brewery and restaurant that provides consistent high-quality beer, food and service in a community atmosphere. Since the day they opened their doors at the 8th Street Brewery & Pub in Tempe – their first location – Four Peaks Brewing Company has been committed to crafting exceptional beers that they can share with others. The brewery currently distributes its brands in the state of Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.fourpeaks.com or be social at fb.com/fourpeaksbrew and @fourpeaksbrew on Instagram and Twitter.
About Anheuser-Busch
For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch and its world-class brewmasters have carried on a legacy of brewing America’s most-popular beers. Starting with the finest ingredients sourced from Anheuser-Busch’s family of growers, every batch is crafted using the same exacting standards and time-honored traditions passed down through generations of proud Anheuser-Busch brewmasters and employees. Best known for its fine American-style lagers, Budweiser and Bud Light, the company’s beers lead numerous beer segments. Budweiser and Bud Light Lime Lime-A-Rita were named Brands of the Year for the Beer and the Spirits, Malt Beverages and Wine categories, respectively, by Ace Metrix® in 2014. Anheuser-Busch is the U.S. arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev and operates 17 local breweries, 21 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities across the United States. Its flagship brewery remains in St. Louis, Mo., and is among the global company’s largest and most technologically capable breweries. Visitor and special beermaster tours are available at its St. Louis and five other Anheuser-Busch breweries. For more information, visitwww.anheuser-busch.com.
About The High End
The High End is a business unit of Anheuser-Busch, created to provide its unique craft and European import brands with autonomy and support for growth, while fostering a collaborative environment for the brightest brewers in the beer community. The High End brings dedicated resources to support the growth of its brands, create successful partnerships and deliver more variety to consumers. Established now, The High End includes brands such as Stella Artois and Shock Top, along with craft breweries Goose Island, Blue Point, 10 Barrel, Elysian and Golden Road.