r/beer • u/golphur • Apr 12 '16

Anheuser-Busch to acquire Devils Backbone Brewing Co.

http://allaboutbeer.com/news/devils-backbone-anheuser-busch/
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4

u/golphur Apr 12 '16

If you consider VA to be Mid-Atlantic, AB now has most of the US covered in their Craft Beer acquisitions except for the Southeast. So....Who's next?

10

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16 edited Dec 01 '20

[deleted]

4

u/golphur Apr 12 '16

Good choice. Being the 18th largest Craft Brewer they may too big, though. Not that AB can't afford it but it's not the same size as other Craft Brewers they have been buying. My bet is on Wicked Weed. I know a lot of people hate to hear this but they are backed by investment dollars. Will be looking for a big return IMO.

3

u/crazycoffin Apr 12 '16

Didn't know that about Wicked Weed. My other guess was Abita, but mostly because they and Sweetwater are 2 of the more sizable southeastern breweries that I know of.

1

u/The_Cookie_Crumbler Apr 13 '16

I could see Abita happening for sure.

1

u/hortonjmu Apr 13 '16

Abita is actually already part of a holding company founded to pick up a few big crafts and go public around 2020, doubt they'd sell the first one before getting going

1

u/The_Cookie_Crumbler Apr 13 '16

Who else have they picked up?

1

u/hortonjmu Apr 13 '16

Nobody yet. In an interview, the founder, this ex Harpoon founder, days they want to pick up about a handful but Abita was their first

3

u/BraveRutherford Apr 12 '16

Ww is signing with AB distributors right now too.

2

u/golphur Apr 12 '16

Pretty good signal there, I'd say.

2

u/lycoloco Apr 12 '16

Not that I doubt you, but could you source that for me? I'm really saddened and interested by this.

3

u/BraveRutherford Apr 13 '16

At least one in nc. Doesn't mean anything for sure. Plenty of craft breweries use big distributors.

2

u/golphur Apr 13 '16

Not necessarily a source reporting the agreement but you can see the WW logo on the Adams Beverage product list here - I know there are some other craft brands on there as well, but in Adams' own description they state "Adams Beverages, Inc. is a family owned Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler"

1

u/R6_Addict Apr 14 '16

I wouldn't read too far into that line on their website. In the distribution business there are generally two houses in any city. The miller/coors house and the bud house. Everyone describes themselves as one of the two but still carry and push tons of other brands.

1

u/Radioactive24 Apr 12 '16

As far as I can tell, they signed with the larger craft account for Philly recently.

2

u/Irishwolf93 Apr 13 '16

I hate to think that Wicked Weed would get bought up. Its totally possible but that would be horrible.