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BOSTON BEER CO . AND DOGFISH HEAD TO MERGE
Two craft beer heavyweights have come together .
The Boston Beer Company and Dogfish Head Brewing have signed a definitive merger agreement . The combined company will maintain its status as an independent craft brewery , as defined by the Brewers Association . It will be “ better positioned to compete against the global beer conglomerates within the craft beer category that are 50- and 100-times its size ,” the company says in a release .
This combination also brings together two of the leading founder-brewers in the U . S .: Jim Koch of Boston Beer , and Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head . Both will continue leading brewing innovation for the newly combined company .
Sam and Mariah Calagione , Dogfish Head ’ s co-founders , will reportedly take substantially all of their merger consideration in the form of SAM stock and will collectively become the largest non-institutional shareholders after Koch . Sam will join Boston Beer ’ s board of directors , while Dogfish Head ’ s employees will join the Boston Beer team and continue to be heavily involved in beer and “ beyond-beer ” projects , the company says , as both breweries expand opportunities for future innovation .
Jim Koch of Boston Beer with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head .
The combined company will be led by Boston Beer CEO , Dave Burwick .
“ This is a formidable combination of brands , incredible brewing talent , and leaders who remain 100 percent focused and committed to the long-term health of our breweries and growing the beer industry ,” Burwick says . “ United , we will have the highest quality , most distinct , high-end portfolio , from both a price-point and product perspective with the top-ranked sales organization to bring it to market . We expect that we ’ ll see more consolidation in the craft industry over time , and we ’ ll be in the best position to take advantage of those changes .
A TASTE OF THE GLENLIVET ’ S WINCHESTER COLLECTION VINTAGE 1967
It isn ’ t everyday that you get invited to taste a 50-year-old Scotch — one that sells for $ 25,000 .
So I was delighted to accept an invite
BY MELISSA DOWLING to a recent whisky dinner that included a toast with The Glenlivet ’ s Winchester Collection Vintage 1967 . It was also at Ian Schrager ’ s new Times Square EDITION Hotel , which I ’ d been hoping to get a look at .
Master Distiller Alan Winchester was on hand for the dinner to celebrate his 40-plus-year career in the whisky industry , as were Alex Robertson , head of heritage and education at The Glenlivet , and Sona Bajaria , vice president of marketing for The Glenlivet and high-end Irish whiskies at parent company Pernod
Ricard . Vintage 1967 , the third and final installment of the Winchester Collection , was produced in a handcrafted bottle and case designed in partnership with British designer Bethan Gray .
The Glenlivet Winchester Collection 1967 brings together malts from several rare oak casks , the youngest of which was filled in December 1967 . Bottled in June 2018 , the whisky is non-chill filtered at cask strength , and it delivers on the distillery ’ s tasting notes : a rich and fruity nose , notes of apricot jam and sweet ripe peaches , and a hint of toasted almonds ; a smooth taste with fondant orange and milk chocolate flavors , velvety texture and a long , sweet finish .
Just 150 bottles of The Glenlivet Winchester Collection were released globally , with only 33 in the U . S . This was the only tasting of the 50-year-old expression in the U . S .; the group was headed to Japan next . So I was happy to get my shot , if you will . Cheers !
4 Beverage Dynamics • July / August 2019 www . beveragedynamics . com