Heineken bought 50% of Lagunitas, the 5th largest "craft" brewery in the US. Have to pay off the notes for its massive Chicago location (and upcoming Azusa location), I guess. Lagunitas chief Tony Magee has always been big about his 'rebel' strategy and quick to throw shade at Big Beer (and fellow Big Craft breweries.) It's been a pretty horrible PR run for Magee since the ballyhoo over the Chicago opening. He made a big deal about refusing tax breaks to open there (while trashing New Belgium for accepting breaks), only to have it revealed that he made a $10,000 contribution to Rahm Emmanuel's campaign war chest, which preceded a very, very rare on-time opening for a Chicago food or bev biz. He sued Sierra Nevada for trademark infringement, for using bold, black font for its new IPA (probably justifiably, but it was a bad look). And he trashed Sam Adams for its ad campaign that seemed to mimic his company's "attitude." Guess he can STFU now.
In related news, the outstanding Virtue Ciders sold out to InBev. John and Greg Hall, the founders of Goose Island, started Virtue with some of their $30 million from when they sold GI to InBev. So, there you go.
Magee and the Halls will no doubt dry their tears of guilt with stacks of Franklins.
In related news, the outstanding Virtue Ciders sold out to InBev. John and Greg Hall, the founders of Goose Island, started Virtue with some of their $30 million from when they sold GI to InBev. So, there you go.
Magee and the Halls will no doubt dry their tears of guilt with stacks of Franklins.
