New Belgium Brewing merges with Bell’s Brewery to create one of the largest craft beer conglomerates in U.S.

The genitor institution of New Belgium Brewing Co. has acquired Michigan-based Bell’s Brewery, merging 2 of the country’s pioneering trade breweries nether 1 umbrella.

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Two Hearted IPA is 1 of the astir fashionable beers from Bell’s Brewery. The Michigan-based concern precocious joined forces with New Belgium Brewing Co., which was founded successful Fort Collins, to make 1 of the biggest trade brew conglomerates.

Bell’s Brewery laminitis Larry Bell announced the woody with Australia’s Lion Little World Beverages, which acquired Fort Collins-founded New Belgium successful 2019, and his plans to discontinue during the company’s each worker meeting, according to an announcement Wednesday. Lion is simply a subsidiary of Kirin Holdings Company.

Once the woody is complete, it volition make the fifth-largest trade brewery power group, Brewbound reported, down Anheuser-Busch’s Brewers Collective, D.G. Yuengling & Son, Molson Coors’ Tenth & Blake, and Boston Beer Company.

Both New Belgium and Bell’s Brewery are accumulation powerhouses. In 2020, New Belgium brewed 975,000 barrels of brew betwixt its facilities successful Fort Collins, Asheville, N.C., Denver and San Francisco, according to the Brewers Association. With 2 breweries successful Michigan, Bell’s produced 466,539 barrels successful 2020, making it the sixth largest independently owned shaper successful 2020, the BA reported.

“In Bell’s, we spot a like-minded radical of radical dedicated to making the world’s champion brew —  doing concern successful a mode that improves the wellbeing of the radical who powerfulness our success,” said Steve Fechheimer, New Belgium’s CEO and a Michigan native, successful a statement. “Joining unneurotic volition instantly fortify our quality to service and grow the trade community, present much worth for our partners, and proceed to redefine however concern is done successful a satellite facing historical economic, societal and biology challenges.”

As portion of the merger, Bell’s plans to grow connected biology sustainability and workplace inclusivity initiatives. According to the announcement, the brewery committed to achieving 100% c neutrality by 2030, attaining Certified B Corporation status, dedicating $1 per tube to philanthropy, and scoring 100% connected the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.

There are nary plans to alteration Bell’s lineup of beer, meaning drinkers won’t spot changes to the ever-popular Two Hearted IPA, Oberon wheat ale and different staples. Bell’s presently distributes to 43 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Though Bell is stepping down, Carrie Yunker, the brewery’s vice president who has been with the institution for 18 years, volition proceed to pb regular operations. John Mallett, Bell’s VP of operations, volition articulation the enactment squad and absorption connected integrating the 2 breweries.

Bell’s presently employs 550 people.

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