Lagunitas Acquires 19.9% Equity Stake in Short’s Brewing
It wasn’t too long ago when Short’s Brewing hit the scene with some of the craziest adjunct beers and even crazier beer labels. Beers like Key Lime Pie and PB & J were wowing locals as well as traders as the market wasn’t flooded with these type of experimental beers five/six years ago. Short’s had such a buzz in such a short amount of time that they made quite the scene at their first few visits to The Great American Beer Festival. One thing they would proudly tout would be that they were Michigan only, much in the way New Glarus is Wisconson only. The success and demand bug hit Short’s a few years ago and began shipping out of state to nearby states. In the last year, rumors began swirling of a partnership and acquisition, with signs pointing to Lagunitas. Today we wake up to the news that Lagunitas has acquired 19.9% of Short’s Brewing in the name of a partnership. In this weird craft beer world, it’s unclear at this very moment whether it’s really Heineken who owns 19.9% or if it’s in fact the listed Lagunitas US Holding Company listed in the press release below. Stay tuned for more info and commentary soon.
(Elk Rapids, MI) – Short’s Brewing Company of Bellaire and Elk Rapids, MI announces plans to partner with The Lagunitas Brewing Company based in Petaluma, CA, America’s ninth largest brewery.
The partnership stems from Short’s desire to successfully navigate the ever-evolving craft market while maintaining its creatively fearless identity. Lagunitas’ 19.99% equity stake in Short’s will be managed by Lagunitas U.S. Holdings — or LUSH. The founding principle of LUSH is to build relationships with, and support, regional breweries. In keeping with this, Short’s will maintain their individual brand image while gaining additional resources for continued opportunity to invest in Short’s staff, the Northern Michigan community, and opportunities to push the boundaries of creativity.
Joe Short stated, ”I never imagined Short’s would become such a successful regional brewery. The secret to that success has always been to surround myself with good people. The best people; who in many ways are smarter and more talented than myself. I’m confident all successful businesses would tell you a similar story. This partnership with Lagunitas is just another part of evolution in the cycle of our dynamic and growing business. I’ve grown so much personally and professionally during my time at the helm of Short’s Brewing Company that I understand now, more than ever – the continued success of Short’s and its people rely on me to make smart and strategic decisions. This is just one of them.”
When asked about the partnership between Short’s and Lagunitas, Lagunitas’ founder, Tony Magee, stated, “Having Joe and Scott and all their talented people joining up with the LUSH group is mostly cool but also kinda weird. Have you met those guys? I thought Bellaire was in Canada…”
The craft brewing community has always focused on relationships, and Short’s is excited for the opportunity to be a part of the LUSH community. “Pride, passion, and love of the work will always remain paramount. I’m super excited and proud because for the first time EVER, we’ll be operating without restriction, experiencing what true independence feels like,” stated Short. “I really admire Tony. His vision and level of understanding of the industry is fascinating to me. With his ability to share Lagunitas’ 24 years of experience, this partnership is going to bring some serious awesomeness to the people of Short’s.”
About Short’s Brewing Company
Located in the heart of Downtown Bellaire, MI, Short’s Brewing Co. was established in 2004 by Joe Short. In 2009, Short’s began keg and bottle distribution in Michigan via their Elk Rapids Production Facility. Starcut Ciders is a division of Short’s Brewing Company born out of a desire to celebrate the bounty of Michigan orchards. The brewery is known widely for their flagship and experimental brews including Huma Lupa Licious and Soft Parade. Short’s prides themselves on producing fearlessly creative beers, handmade by people who care in Northern Michigan.
www.shortsbrewing.com – @ShortsBrewing – facebook
July 30, 2017 @ 8:22 pm
It seems like competition among brewers is very tough. Quite a few are trying to promote their independence while others are trying to acquire other breweries. I’ve seen quite a few breweries form partnerships and make some very good beers. The politics of beer are becoming very interesting, but the competition and creativity coming from it seem to result in a lot of good beers to try. I’ll keep an eye out for what’s to come from the partial acquisition of Short’s by Lagunita’s.
July 27, 2017 @ 8:02 pm
How is this such a mystery? LUSH is buying 19.9% of Short’s. Heineken owns 100% of LUSH. Therefore, directly or indirectly, Heineken will own 19.9% of Short’s. This is not complicated and shouldn’t be confusing to the craft beer community. No matter what the press release mentions or doesn’t mention about Heineken, they are the ultimate owners of this new stake in Short’s.