Private Equity Firm Invests in Uinta Brewing

Private Equity Firm Invests in Uinta Brewing

Uinta Brewing has received a major investment from The Riverside Company, a private equity firm. While specific details of the transaction are being kept confidential, both Uinta and The Riverside Company are not calling it a “sale.” Uinta founder Will Hamill will remain on as CEO.

“The momentum of our brand has been spectacular and I wanted to ensure that we could continue to share our beer with more people for years to come,” says Hamill. “Since founding Uinta in 1993, it’s always been a part of Uinta’s foundation and philosophy to continue to invest in our brand; accepting an investment from an outside source was the next step.”

The capital provided by Riverside will help Uinta keep up with its steady growth. “Uinta is an incredible brewery with a fantastic team and culture,” says Stephen Rice, vice president of The Riverside Company. “They’ve been growing quickly, but they know they can grow faster.” Rice assures they’re not looking to take over or interfere with day-to-day operation. “We’ll provide assistance from the sidelines [via strategy and capital]. We won’t have any role in brewery operations—all of that is going incredibly well under the existing team.”

What does this mean for consumers? “We hope that they start seeing a lot more of us,” Hamill says. Uinta plans to hire as many as 20 new employees, improve internal operations and boost supply to existing outlets. Additionally, Uinta will continue to invest in community and sustainability. “[Efforts] we all gain from,” he adds. “We’ve got something special and it’s exciting to think about the possibilities ahead.”

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