Wicked Weed Brewing opened its doors in late 2012, in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Founded by three friends—Ryan and Rick Guthy, and Walt Dickinson—the Brewing Company began as a restaurant dedicated to making unique beer styles and traditional, Belgian-style farmhouse ales.
Since then, they’ve grown to include a tasting room and production brewery, The Funkatorium, a bottle shop, a rooftop tasting room, and The Arches, a full-service restaurant and event space, as well as a barrel room in Candler, NC and The Hop Yard production facility in Enka, NC.
As of 2021, Wicked Weed produces 12 core beers, 16 seasonal offerings and 28 limited releases, all distributed across 35 states. They also have a line of canned beverages, a wine program, and an extensive barrel-aging program.
When did Funkatorium open?
Funkatorium opened in January of 2013. The Funkatorium is an award-winning Asheville, North Carolina craft brewery, specializing in sour and wild ales. It is the vision of longtime friends and owners, Julie Atallah and Joel McClosky, to craft unique and creative beers that celebrate fermentation and its role in North Carolina’s beer culture.
The brewery launched with four signature sour beers, and has since expanded to production of over 20 unique sours each year with a portfolio of wild and barrel-aged beers. The Funkatorium motto is “Cultivate the Funk,” an ethos focused on our connection to the wild and vibrant culture of sour beer and its active fermentation culture.
Who owns New Belgium?
New Belgium Brewing Company is an American craft brewery founded in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1991 by Jeff Lebesch and Kim Jordan. The company is now 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
In 2019 the ESOP became part of a larger holding firm, Lion Little World Beverages, owned by international brewing giant, Lion Little World Beverages and its parent company, Asahi Group. New Belgium Brewing remains independently managed from its headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Who owns Sierra Nevada?
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is owned by Ken Grossman and his family. Founded in 1980 by Ken in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada is one of the most prominent craft beer companies in the world. In 2012, Ken and his family created the nonprofit Sierra Nevada Hop Quarters Foundation, which works to expand and protect the hop growing industry.
Ken’s sons Brian and Steve are currently co-CEOs and stewards of the family owned business.
Who owns Anheuser Busch?
Anheuser Busch is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer, which is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of AB InBev.
It was originally founded in St. Louis in 1860 by Adolphus Busch, who was a German immigrant. He married the daughter of Eberhard Anheuser, who was an established St. Louis brewer, in 1861. This eventually led to Anheuser-Busch, which was officially registered on March 2, 1879.
AB InBev was created through a merger between Anheuser-Busch and Interbrew, a Belgian brewer, in 2004. The merger brought together two of the world’s leading beer businesses and the two founders, August Busch III and Carlos Brito, became co-chairpersons of the new company.
AB InBev is the owner of more than 500 beer brands, including some of the world’s best-known ones like Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, and Stella Artois. The company’s products are sold in more than 170 countries worldwide and it currently employs around 200,000 people.
Does Budweiser own wicked weed?
No, Budweiser does not own Wicked Weed. In fact, Wicked Weed was independently owned and operated until May 2017, when they announced they had been acquired by the Anheuser-Busch InBev family of companies, which includes Budweiser.
However, although Wicked Weed is now technically owned by Anheuser-Busch, Wicked Weed is still operated as a separate entity, producing full-flavored, innovative ales and lagers that have earned them a loyal fan base as well as a number of awards.
In addition to keeping their brand and preferences, Wicked Weed continues to collaborate with other craft brewers to create uniquely craft beers.
Does Wicked Weed Brewing use hemp?
No, Wicked Weed Brewing does not use hemp. The brewery is based in Asheville, North Carolina and specializes in producing ales, lagers, sours, and barrel-aged beers. They do not work with any hemp-based ingredients, though they do use a wide variety of hops and other natural ingredients when crafting their beverages.
What does AB InBev own?
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) owns a wide array of beverage brands from beer and hard kombucha to energy drinks and non-alcoholic beverages. Some of the most recognizable global brands the company owns include Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, Beck’s, and Leffe.
AB InBev also owns many craft beer brands, including Goose Island, Blue Point, Shock Top, 10 Barrel, Elysian, Karbach, and Devils Backbone. Beyond beer, the company also owns several energy drink brands like Bud Light Energy, Stella Artois Energy, and Shock Top Energy.
In the non-alcoholic beverage sector, AB InBev owns All Sport, which is an electrolyte-enhanced drink, and Hiball Energy, which is made of sparkling water and organic botanicals. Finally, AB InBev has recently expanded its portfolio to include hard kombucha and other specialty beverages.
How much did Kirin pay for New Belgium?
In late November 2019, Kirin Holdings announced that it was paying $39 million for a 100 percent stake in New Belgium Brewing. This was largely seen as the final phase of the acquisition that began in October 2018 when Kirin Holdings announced it was taking a majority stake in the Fort Collins, Colorado-based brewery.
In January 2019, New Belgium’s employee owners agreed to the sale, paving the way for the completion of the deal.
At the conclusion of the sale, Kirin had gained 100% ownership of New Belgium; As a result, the brewery’s previous co-founder and former CEO, Kim Jordan, has retired from her role as Executive Chair, but will continue to serve as an advisor to New Belgium.
Overall, Kirin Holdings paid a total of $39 million for its 100 percent stake in New Belgium Brewing.
Did New Belgium get bought out?
No, New Belgium Brewing has not been bought out. The company was founded in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1991 by by husband and wife home brewers, Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch. They achieved success on a regional level and grew to the nation’s fourth-largest craft brewery by 2015.
In November of 2019, New Belgium Brewing announced it was transitioning to employee ownership, with the majority of shares placed in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The handful of remaining shareholders will continue to have board oversight, though Jordan and her husband Jeff Lebesch are no longer owners.
With the transition, New Belgium Brewing will become the largest craft brewer in the United States to be 100 percent employee-owned.
Is New Belgium brewery still employee-owned?
Yes, New Belgium Brewery is still employee-owned. Founded in 1991, the Colorado company remains the largest craft brewery in the United States that is employee-owned. The company is over 67-percent owned by its 1,600 workers, and the rest is owned by an employee stock ownership plan.
Employees even have the ability to elect board members, giving them a say in how the business is run. New Belgium Brewery was the first brewery in the world to receive B-Corp certification in 2012, further proving its commitment to its employees.
Over the years, New Belgium has gained widespread recognition for its philosophically unique and progressive business model, which puts employees first.
Who did Budweiser sell out to?
In 2020, beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) announced that it had officially purchased iconic beer brand Budweiser. The acquisition was the latest in a series of U. S. -based beer company mergers and acquisitions.
AB InBev is a Belgian-based company, and started in 2008 after InBev purchased Anheuser-Busch. InBev was itself a result of a merger between two of the world’s largest beer companies, AmBev and Interbrew.
The acquisition of Budweiser made AB InBev the largest brewer in the world, with its brands accounting for 25 percent of global beer sales. AB InBev agreed to pay $70 billion for the purchase, with an additional $7 billion for brand licensing, making it the biggest beer take over in history.
The Budweiser brand was truly global prior to the acquisition, and AB InBev is already the dominant player in China, Europe, and the U. S. With the addition of the Budweiser label, AB InBev now has iconic names in every major market they serve.
AB InBev is currently the top-ranked beer maker on the planet, and their portfolio of brands covers the entire beer spectrum. While Budweiser is the company’s flagship brand, they also own labels such as Beck’s, Stella Artois, Corona, and many more.
Who bought out Bells brewing company?
The Bells Brewing Company, formerly known as Bells Brewery Inc. , was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) in October 2020. The move makes it the eighth craft brewery AB InBev has purchased over the past decade, including Goose Island, Wicked Weed, and Elysian Brewing.
The sale of the brewery, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was first announced in May 2019. CEO and founder Larry Bell had made it known for some time that he wanted to retire, and that the business would need to be sold to ensure its future.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed that it included a significant cash sum.
For many years, Bells has been known for its popular line of craft beer, including Amber Ale, Two Hearted Ale, Oberon Ale and Scotch Ale. The sale is likely to allow AB InBev greater access to the craft beer sector, and the opportunity to expand distribution of Bells products.
Is New Belgium independent?
Yes, New Belgium is currently an independent business, although it was recently acquired by Lion Little World Beverage. Founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, it was originally a 100% employee-owned business, but in 2019 the brewery was purchased by one of the world’s largest brewers, Lion Little World Beverage.
Though part of the larger corporation, New Belgium continues to operate as an independent craft brewery. They maintain their commitment to sustainability and employee ownership, while still using the Lion Little World Beverage distribution network to ensure that their beers are available across the U. S.
In fact, since the acquisition, New Belgium has opened a new brewery in Asheville, NC and launched several new beers, further demonstrating their commitment to furthering their independent beer business.
Who bought Oskar Blues?
In October 2019, The Amplify Snack Brands Inc. acquired Oskar Blues Fooderies, LLC, the creators of the original craft beer-in-a-can. Prior to the acquisition, Oskar Blues was owned by founder Dale Katechis and a private investment group.
The Amplify Snack Brands Inc is a snack food company that primarily focuses on better-for-you products, including their iconic SkinnyPop popcorn. The company operates across North American and Europe, and is focused on offering great tasting snacks to consumers.
The Amplify Snack Brands Inc. was eager to add beer to their portfolio and saw this opportunity in the popular craft beer-in-a-can brewers Oskar Blues. Through the acquisition, both companies saw great potential in expanding their distribution, product offerings, and exposure.
This new deal further opened up some of Oskar Blues’s signature craft beer, such as Dale’s Pale Ale as well as new and tasty creations in the craft beer-in-a-can industry.
How much did Stone sell for?
Stone sold for $40 million dollars in December 2017. The sale was a joint venture between New York-based private equity firm, Silver Lake Partners and Japanese tech giant, SoftBank Group. Stone was sold to Silver Lake at a valuation of $2 billion, including the $40 million cash component.
This marked the largest acquisition of a financial technology company. Prior to the acquisition, Stone had raised around $66 million in venture capital and was developing a range of financial services for consumers and small businesses.
Stone’s products included online banking, debit cards, loans, and investments. The company partnered with some of the largest banks, such as Santander and Bank of America, allowing customers to access digital banking services from the comfort of their own homes.
How many breweries are there in Asheville NC?
As of August 2020, there are around 29 breweries in Asheville NC. Asheville is often referred to as “Beer City USA” due to its high concentration of craft breweries, many of which have garnered national attention.
Popular spots include Wicked Weed Brewing, Burial Beer Co. , Hi-Wire Brewing, and New Belgium Brewing. In addition to these breweries, there are also numerous tap rooms and brewpubs such as Thirsty Monk, Asheville Brewing Co, and UpCountry Brewing.
With so many breweries, it’s no wonder Asheville is known for its amazing beer scene. Whether you’re looking for a light lager, a hazy IPA, or something a bit more unusual, you’re sure to find a brew to your taste.
