Anheuser-Busch buys Four Peaks Brewing, Arizona Craft Brewers Guild Responds

December 21, 2015Keith Gribbins

Apparently, we’re mostly an AB InBev news aggregate these days. Since we’ve only had one post today (this morning on Bud Light’s new cans), here is more Anheuser-Busch news to blow your suds off. Last week, Anheuser-Busch announced the acquisition of Four Peaks Brewing Co. in Tempe, Ariz. (check’em out in the video above) SO, yet another great craft brewing company has sold to the macro beer conglomerate that we lovingly call Beer Voltron.

Well, the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild wanted to say something and that something was basically — “We hope Four Peaks stays as cool as they used to be” — and I guess we echo that statement.

Today, Anheuser-Busch announced an agreement to acquire Four Peaks Brewing Company. The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, which supports all local craft brewers in the state, is assessing the impact of this announcement.

Many of our members are personally happy for the owners and employees of Four Peaks Brewing Company. Consolidation, however, represents a threat to local breweries because it affects our ability to gain access to markets, raw ingredients and resources. The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild is assessing how this acquisition will affect the industry and our local breweries.

Four Peaks Brewing Company has been a part of the Arizona craft brewing scene for 20 years. Their history in our state is a very big part of our future. We appreciate everything they have done for Arizona’s craft beer industry, and we know that Brewmaster Andy Ingram, other owners and their more than 300 employees will continue to be a part of moving the industry forward.

Because the brewing community has always been a collegial network that supports the overall industry, we anticipate that Four Peaks will continue to work with local breweries and maintain a collaborative relationship with the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild.

As the Guild has done since 1998, it will continue to support Arizona craft beer in a variety of ways including legislative and educational efforts.