With Chuck Silva Out, Is Green Flash Brewing Looking to Sell?

Two days after Green Flash Brewing and Brewmaster Chuck Silva won a GABF Gold Medal for Le Freak, Chuck Silva sent out a press release independent of Green Flash Brewing. To everyone’s shock, he announced his resignation from his job at Green Flash Brewing in order to start his own brewery in Central Coast California.

We are in the midst of a huge paradigm shift in the craft beer industry, as breweries are rapidly expanding, some are merging and some are selling. At this point, things we thought weren’t possible a year ago are certainly possible now.

Just in the past few years, Green Flash Brewing has gone from a small scrappy brewery out of Vista, CA (North County San Diego) to a medium sized craftbrew house taking on the task of filling out the US map.  Shortly after announcing their second brew house in Virgina Beach, VA, they acquired Alpine Beer Company from Alpine, CA.

In the midst of Green Flash working on up-scaling and perfecting Alpine recipes for national distribution and getting their Virginia Beach brew house online, why would the heart and soul of Green Flash’s brew house leave?  Why would Green Flash Brewing not hand Chuck a two year agreement and a briefcase full of money to help see these big projects to completion?  While it’s ludicrous to think Mr. Silva is the only one on earth able to carry this load, it just makes the most sense to have the man with the Green Flash blood flowing through his veins carry the company to the next level.

We’ve been told by a few industry sources that Green Flash Brewing might be looking to sell, but needed to buy out Chuck’s equity in the company.  We reached out to Green Flash CEO Mike Hinkley asking him if Green Flash has plans to sell to a large brewing corporation or anyone else for that matter. Here is his response:

“Green Flash has no plans to sell to a large brewing corporation or anyone else for that matter.  We are 100% independent and intend to stay that way.”

At this point, we have to take Mike’s word for it.  There’s no doubt he owns a very attractive company, but right from the horse’s mouth, they are not looking to sell. We look forward to watching and covering the Alpine and Virginia Beach stories to unfold.