Craft brewers react to Breckenridge Brewery sale

A big name is entering the beer world in Colorado.

Anheuser-Busch announced Tuesday that it is buying Littleton-based Breckenridge Brewery. Breckenridge has been crafting beer in Colorado for 25 years.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016. The Breckenridge Brewery CEO told the Denver Business Journal he had to sell, but the new ownership wouldn’t effect beer recipes but it will allow Breckenridge to become part of a national distribution system.

Customers in Colorado Springs don’t expect much change.

“People might see the beer coming from a different place,” said Rob Rogers. “To me it doesn’t affect my choices. It probably makes their product more consistent.”

The sale did come as a disappointment to some.

“You can’t find it anywhere else. There’s a lot of local culture involved. You get a feel for the people involved,” said Jaymeth Maddox.

From a business perspective, Bristol Brewing Founder Mike Bristol said he likes craft beer to stay local, but wasn’t surprised by news of the sale.

“We’ve seen it happening across the country,” he said. “For us it’s a little bittersweet, but it’s a change in the industry.”

The sale announced Tuesday is the latest in a series of acquisitions by the beer giant. Anheuser purchased Four Peaks Brewing last week and Camden Town Brewing in the United Kingdom on Monday.

It comes as the microwbrewing business is skyrocketing in popularity. According to the Brewers Association, there were approximately 1,500 microbrews operating in 2008. Last year, that number soared to 3,200.

“We’re not afraid to compete. We need to have equal footing. We need to have access to the shelves,” Bristol said, admitting the disadvantage of the sale means larger distribution.

But his customers remain loyal.

“The taste is what drives the market,” Rogers said. “The community is what keeps it there.”