Anheuser-Busch looks to Texas for latest craft beer acquisition

This Karbach expansion project was part of its appeal in this sale to Anheuser-Busch.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, after snapping its fingers and becoming the largest supplier of homebrew supplies, is back in the craft beer acquisition business. This time, the large, robotic arm of Beer Voltron reached into Texas to grab Karbach Brewing Co. to attach it to The High End, its “craft beer wing” (located somewhere on its upper torso, we believe).

Karbach is one of the nation’s fastest-growing craft brands. It took root in Texas before local regulations loosened and the state’s craft beer scene started to boom. With a strong base in Houston and a recent expansion into the Dallas/Ft. Worth region of the state, Karbach’s production reached a little over 40,000 barrels last year. A-B says Karbach’s brewing capacity should hit 150,000 bbls per year by 2019.

Karbach speaks about the sale

“Chuck and I started the brewery five years ago on Karbach Street in Houston, where the warehouse was located for the beer distribution company we started decades before. After watching so much great beer move through our warehouse over the years we decided it was time to add our own to that list,” said co-founder Ken Goodman. “Karbach is the heart and soul of our beer industry careers, and we are thrilled about this new partnership with The High End and what it will mean for our dream to give more Texans the most unique, unexpected and exciting beers they’ll have fun drinking.”

“We are so grateful for the growth we’ve experienced in this first phase of Karbach, but we have maxed out our growth potential on our own, and a partnership with The High End will open doors to keep innovating and experimenting with our unique styles and continue to expand,” said Co-Founder Chuck Robertson. “While we are joining a talented and innovative group of craft breweries in The High End, Karbach will retain a high level of independence, and the existing management and brewing teams will continue to drive culture and strategy, all while having fun building our brands.”

Reminder from last week that even if you have no plans to ever sell to Big Beer, you need to make sure your brewery is always set up to sell (it’s just good planning).