The Rare Barrel Weighs In On Wicked Weed Sale

(Berkeley, CA) – In the past 24 hours, many comrades of Wicked Weed Brewing have weighed in with heavy hearts, regarding their sale to AB-In Bev yesterday.  One of the breweries that had a very close relationship with Wicked Weed Brewing was fellow sour barrel beer makers The Rare Barrel.  Please read on for the very heart felt message from Northern California’s premiere sour ale producer.

This has been an awkward and emotional last 24 hours for us.

Over the years, we’ve become good friends with the Wicked Weed crew. We’ve grown to really respect the people and their beers. We’ve shared many beers together, made a beer together, are in the process of making another beer together, enjoyed events around the country, and hosted Wicked Weed events at our barrel house. We’ve shared some really good times together over the last couple of years.

It’s about values.

Yesterday, Wicked Weed announced that they are selling their brewery to the megabrewery AB InBev (Budweiser, Shock Top). Here at The Rare Barrel, we’ve made a decision not to serve, collaborate with, or affiliate with AB InBev because our values do not align with theirs.

In order to stay true to our values, we’re pulling out of the second part of our collaboration, will not be attending their festivals, and will not be able to serve their beer in our Tasting Room anymore.

While our values diverge and we part ways, we wish the people at Wicked Weed all the best.