Constellation Brands to Acquire Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits

Another one

 

Wtf. They just said they were coming out with an IPO about a month ago. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but no more IPO now?

 

We really are in a consolidation phase in the craft beer market. Did not see this one coming.

 

Good for them. Crazy money!

 

a billion for Ballast?

 

Support your local craft breweries!

 

Now I'll be waiting for the "Boycott Ballast Point" posts.

 

As smaller brewers continue to cash out and it becomes clearer that brewers - big or small - make high quality beers, it makes we wonder when we'll no longer need the artificial definition of craft beer. Heading into 2015 Lagunitas, Ballast Point, St Archer, etc., etc. were craft brewers but by the end of the year they suddenly won't be due to a change in ownership. Who is fooling who?

 

I should have added - kudos to those entrepreneurs and their hard-working employees!!

 

Brewers "Catch 22"...it will come to them all, its just the tipping point that differs

 

Welp I'd do the same if I was in their position, but I'll be the first to say I won't be seeking them out (aka buying) anymore. Commence shit storm over my head

 

What, are they just mad that they didn't have the cash to buy up the Miller brands from AB/SAB/Molson/Coors and threw cash at the next best thing? I just can't understand how Ballast Point is worth a billion dollars when it seems like smart money is leaving the U.S. craft beer market and looking to take craft overseas...

 

Not suprising at all.

 

I was surprised until I saw BILLION. Good lord! Can't blame them can ya?

 

One BILLION?! Sheesh, how can you say no to that?

 

Like someone already has said, lines will continue to blur to what is "craft" and what isnt. If a brewer is owned by a larger company but operates separately should we still consider them craft? Not surprising to see BP sell with the huge success they have had since packaging refresh and adding grapefruit to an IPA. Dont see this changing much besides a larger footprint and maybe a price drop with more resources now.

 

Their FB page indicates "In lieu of an Initial Public Offering (IPO), we’ve decided to join the Team at Constellation Brands! "

I like how they always say "we decided to join the team at Constellation" or "partnering with" when they are actually being bought out. Trying to word it in a way to possibly get less backlash from certain groups of people.

 

Does it really matter if a brewer is designated as a craft brewer or not? It's just semantics in the end. They all brew beer. If you like it, drink it. If you don't like it, drink a different brand.

 

Hopefully this means a sixer of Scuplin is going to be a bit more reasonably priced (at the same quality that is)