DallasAggie2012 said:

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I can echo the love for Creature Comforts after visiting while in Athens for the game. Awesome atmosphere and outstanding beer. Pretty sure the place was about 75% Aggies the Friday night before the game.

We met up with MattJaxson and his wife at Creature Comforts too and shared a couple of nice bottles. Great to get to meet them and put another face to a name here.

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Ranger #007 said:

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Chipotlemonger said:

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Constellation selling Ballast Point. Their $1B investment in hindsight was poorly timed. The market has changed a lot since then.

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Really hoping they don't end up as part of one of the various evil empires. That would suck.

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Quote:

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Kings and Convicts co-founder and CEO Brendan Watters said the price was less than $1 billion, but declined to elaborate, citing details of the agreement. Industry newsletter Beer Marketer's Insights reported that the deal was consummated for a "surprisingly low price."

The sale was as unlikely as it is unprecedented. Kings and Convicts, which opened a small brewery and 400 square foot taproom in Highwood in 2017, is a tiny brand unknown to most Chicago beer drinkers. It will make a mere 660 barrels of beer this year.

Ballast Point is one of the nation's most recognizable brands, on pace to make about 200,000 barrels of beer this year. Watters, who is in San Diego Tuesday to announce the deal to Ballast Point staff, said he told workers there not to worry about the fact they haven't heard of Kings and Convicts.
"I said most people in Chicago don't know us, either," he said.

...

Ballast Point is distributed in 49 states. Watters said the brand will honor existing distribution contracts, but will focus efforts on core markets, including California, Illinois, Washington state and its international business. All existing Ballast Point facilities will remain open, he said, and sales, marketing and human resources staff all gutted under Constellation will be rebuilt, he said.

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Quote:

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According to the release, Kings & Convicts will retain Ballast Point employees. He told Brewbound that the company plans to hire 70 sales and marketing team members to support Ballast Point in major markets in California and on the West Coast, as well as major cities such as Boston and New York.

"We're going to put boots on the ground in states that really matter," he said.

The buyer isn't well known. In fact, many within the industry trying to find out about Kings & Convicts and were left wondering as the Chicagoland outfit's website crashed following the announcement. The company is self-described as a craft brewery that "offers great craft beer and golf simulators." The Kings & Convicts brand is sold in Chicagoland and southern Wisconsin.

In addition to acquiring Ballast Point, the 2-year-old Kings & Convicts will open a 48,000 sq. ft. production facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, next year.

Watters said the plan is to continue Kings & Convicts as a regional Midwest brand, while maintaining national distribution for Ballast Point.

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MW13 said:

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I've got to go to Round Rock next week but will be done around lunch time, is Pinthouse my best bet?

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MW13 said:

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I've got to go to Round Rock next week but will be done around lunch time, is Pinthouse my best bet?

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BowSowy said:

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MW13 said:

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I've got to go to Round Rock next week but will be done around lunch time, is Pinthouse my best bet?

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As a former Round Rock resident, chipotlemonger will be able to give you recommendations

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MW13 said:

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I've got to go to Round Rock next week but will be done around lunch time, is Pinthouse my best bet?

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MW13 said:

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I've got to go to Round Rock next week but will be done around lunch time, is Pinthouse my best bet?

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wessimo said:

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Houston Haze on sale at Kroger right now for 6.99/6pk. Found some at 11th St.

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