Deschutes Brewery acquires Boneyard Beer

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by deadwolfbones, Mar 3, 2021.

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  1. deadwolfbones

    deadwolfbones Pundit (795) Jun 21, 2014 Oregon

    New Partnership Positions Two Independent Breweries To Further Lead Craft Beer Growth On Their Own Terms

    Bend, OR – Today, Deschutes Brewery and Boneyard Beer announced a new joint venture, forming a unique, Bend-based, local-to-local, craft-to-craft partnership. Boneyard Beer Founder, Tony Lawrence and Deschutes Brewery Founder, Gary Fish, who originally worked together almost 30 years ago, will reunite to bring together two of the Pacific Northwest’s (PNW) most iconic and award-winning breweries. With over 60 years of combined experience and poised at an incredibly exciting time in this industry, Lawrence and Fish will begin this new venture with the energy and attitude that Deschutes and, later, Boneyard, brought to the industry when they were just starting out. Together, they are determined to be a powerful catalyst of the future of craft beer.

    These two small-town brewers, both born and raised in Bend, OR just a couple miles apart, are embarking on a new joint venture that will provide Boneyard the ability to increase availability of their portfolio of brands like RPM IPA in cans at grocery stores, liquor stores and bars throughout the PNW.

    “This partnership is built on relationships,” said Gary Fish, founder of Deschutes. “Family and employee owned, our two breweries become a collection of inspired people maintaining their individualistic free spirit and undying vision for what beer can be. I am beyond proud of what Tony has accomplished in Boneyard and am thrilled to be working with him again.”

    “I cut my teeth at Deschutes and it’s still a home of sorts,” said Lawrence who founded Boneyard in 2010. “It was an integral part of my personal and professional journey. My experience as a 21-year-old snowboard transplant falling into the Deschutes orbit was amazing. It gave me a direction to follow and an opportunity in both Bend and craft beer. To combine forces with Deschutes in Bend and explore what Boneyard is capable of is simply a dream come true.”

    For Fish and Lawrence, this reunion is nearly 30 years in the making. Both industry icons share an enthusiasm for craft beer, appreciate the significance of both breweries being based in Bend, share roots of being family-owned businesses, and have the cherished memories of carving out and exploring a fledgling industry in the late 1980s.

    “I’m most excited about the opportunity this union provides both companies,” Fish stated. “Boneyard’s rebel spirit and independent attitude will be great for Deschutes.” Together, Deschutes and Boneyard’s partnership provides an opportunity to expand Boneyard’s availability and satisfy the demand of thirsty “Boneheads” throughout the Pacific Northwest. “One of the most significant aspects of this deal is that both brands will retain their separate identities, continuing to do what they do best.”

    Lawrence explained that throughout his 12 years at Deschutes, Fish gave him the autonomy to creatively figure out complex challenges during years of explosive growth that can often stunt the growth of a young company. “He never doubted or challenged our efforts,” said Lawrence who’s looking forward to redirecting some of his attention from the boardroom to the brewhouse. “I whole-heartedly believe we can do great things together; we have respect for our roots and we’re proud of our journey, but that journey is far from over.” Since the late eighties Deschutes has been not only a steadfast source of great beer, but also great brewers, all schooled in that original idea of bringing better beer to the people.

    About Boneyard Beer
    Boneyard Beer was started with one goal in mind – make great beer. In 2010, Boneyard Beer was created in an old auto shop tucked away in the backstreets of Bend, Oregon’s historical district. Without any outside investors or major bank loans, Boneyard’s inception was unconventional to say the least. After decades in the brewing industry, owner Tony Lawrence built up a “boneyard” of old equipment he collected from 13 different breweries around the country. Alongside co-founders, Clay and Melodee Storey, Lawrence pieced this second-hand brewing equipment together to brew the first batch of Boneyard Beer in May 2010. As Boneyard has grown, the initial fermenters have been replaced with shiny new ones, but the original, refurbished 20-barrel system is still the one Boneyard uses for seasonal and special release beers today. With the capacity of 15,000 barrels per year it allows our Brewers to have creative minds and a lot of fun! Where can you get Boneyard Beer? Check out our freshly “minted” beer finder on our website! https://boneyardbeer.com/beer-finder/

    About Deschutes Brewery
    Deschutes Brewery, family and employee owned since 1988, is one of the quintessential beers of the Pacific Northwest. Founded on the guiding principles of true craftsmanship, ultimate quality, and extraordinary consumer experience, Deschutes Brewery is recognized for defining beers such as Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Fresh Squeezed IPA and the non-stop release of pioneering small batch experimental and barrel-aged beers. Deschutes can be found at its brewpubs in Bend and Portland, Oregon, Tasting Rooms in Bend, and Roanoke, Virginia and at accounts in 31 states across the country. Visit Deschutes Brewery’s beer finder at https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/beer-finder/ to find a Deschutes beer near you. www.deschutesbrewery.com

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    Related:
     
  2. Alexmc2

    Alexmc2 Pundit (808) Jul 29, 2006 New Hampshire

    Interesting! Having lived in Portland working in the beer industry (left 4 years ago) - I always viewed Boneyard as a "draft first" beer. I know nothing about their current distribution situation, but I imagine the pandemic was not kind to their revenue.
     
  3. deadwolfbones

    deadwolfbones Pundit (795) Jun 21, 2014 Oregon

    They jumped to canning almost immediately and have been doing quite well, afaik.
     
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  4. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    So did deschutes buy part (or all) of Boneyard? Or are they just contract brewing some of their flagships?
     
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  5. jageraholic

    jageraholic Pooh-Bah (1,632) Sep 16, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    and expanding distribution to Massachusetts? :slight_smile:
     
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  6. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pretty amazing, isn't it? :rolling_eyes: All that corporate-speak (despite coming from "family and employee owned" breweries) and other sorts of BS, and the reader is left with a basic question that?

    (The Brewbound link's name at the end solves the puzzle in simply English: Deschutes Brewery Acquires Neighboring Boneyard Beer in Bend).
     
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  7. deadwolfbones

    deadwolfbones Pundit (795) Jun 21, 2014 Oregon

    I'm not sure the actual contents of that article make the terms of the deal any more clear, though. (Hard to say since I don't have a subscription.)
     
  8. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Boneyard could use some help with batch consistency, particularly with Hop Venom and Notorious.
     
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  9. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm just going by "acquired" in the headline - which seems more concrete than the typical brewery purchase announcement language in which they've "joined with" or "teamed up" or "partnered together", etc.

    Still haven't hit the lottery, huh? Yeah, me, neither...:wink: (They say "You gotta be in it, to win it." but then they say you've also got to pick the same numbers as they do. WTF? I mean, c'mon - what are the chances of that! :grin:)
     
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  10. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    So, is this a good move or a bad one, iyho?
     
  11. JayORear

    JayORear Grand Pooh-Bah (3,058) Feb 22, 2012 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, I’ve had both killer and mediocre batches of both. Had Notorious on draft in Sacramento last year and was it actually pretty bad.
     
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  12. Kraz

    Kraz Pundit (784) Feb 12, 2018 Indiana
    Society Trader

    I'm cautiously optimistic. I had a friend that lived in Bend and I was super impressed with Boneyard. If they can stay consistent and this can get their clean west coast IPAs out in new markets using Deschutes distro, then everyone wins, including us consumers
     
  13. rodbeermunch

    rodbeermunch Grand Pooh-Bah (3,900) Sep 30, 2015 Nevada
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cans of Boneyard (RPM/Bon-a-fide) showed up a few months back at a gas station out here in rural Nevada for the first time.

    I approve.
     
  14. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Boneyard in the past has played really loose with recipes, often just using whatever hops were available based on information from people who worked there.
     
  15. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Would not object to this showing up in Houston.
     
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  16. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    We don’t get Deschutes in MD but I’ve purchased their beers many many times when out of state and have always loved their offerings. I’ve never had any beers from Boneyard yet, but have heard a lot of buzz on Beer Advocate about them. The fact that the owners have a long history together hopefully is a good thing in this acquisition. If Boneyard beer distribution in the PNW can increase without a decrease in quality then that can only be a good thing Id assume, at least for consumers.
     
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  17. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    They got all of Boneyard Beer Co, but the Boneyard Pub and CBD beverage business are separate entities and not included in the transaction. All Boneyard employees are keeping their jobs.

    https://newschoolbeer.com/home/2021...schutes-founder-gary-fish-discuss-acquisition

    From that article:
    Fish: We don’t have a timeline for ramping down Plateau Dr or ramping up Deschutes Brewery, we could be operating at both breweries for a long time. Right now the focus is on making the beer exactly what it is. It took us 4 years to match Black Butte Porter between the JV system and our Huppmann system and they are 100’ ft apart. We learned a lot through that process about how to flavor match and what are the contributors to certain flavor components. But the Boneyard team knows a great deal about what makes their beer taste the way it does, so we are starting to dig into that only know, to figure out how to make Boneyard beer exactly what it is. That will happen when it happens.

    I like that Deschutes takes flavor matching as seriously as Sierra Nevada.
     
    #17 sharpski, Mar 5, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2021
  18. akk14

    akk14 Zealot (615) Feb 13, 2016 Illinois
    Trader

    Both Boneyard and Deschutes are among my favorite breweries. I hope this means that Boneyard will eventually be distributed to Chicago.
     
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  19. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    An example of how the brewing system will change the beer using the same ingredients, including the water, and the same people and process. Flavor matching is a real excecise that good breweries do.
     
  20. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Do you think that's the reason then for the batch inconsistency? As I recall, Boneyard did a brewery expansion 3 or 4 years ago (if memory serves), and it seemed like after that the quality of Hop Venom and Notorious took a nose dive.

    Both beers were part of my regular rotation at one time, when they were available (which was periodic, as originally neither beer was part of their core line-up). However, the last couple of years, quality has been so inconsistent I've stopped buying either beer.
     
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