Alcademics

Several months back, Anchor Brewing, the company that makes Anchor Steam Beer, Junipero Gin, and a few other small batch spirits, was sold. But I didn't realize until last week that this was just one part of a much larger change: Anchor is now the centerpiece of a new spirits company in the likeness of Diageo, Beam Global, and Skyy Spirits.

The new company, called Anchor Brewers & Distillers, LLC, is made up of three formerly separate companies who are now partners in the new one:

• The old Anchor Brewing and Distilling
• Preiss Imports, an import spirits company with small brands like Springbank scotch, Chinaco tequila, and Old Raj gin. See the full list of products here. Preiss was purchased a couple years ago by Tony Foglio and Keith Greggor. These guys, often referred to as Tony and Keith, helped make Skyy spirits a success and sold their stakes in it to Campari. They also invested in Brewdog beers, so this is part of the portfolio too. Keith and Tony are Chairman and CEO of the new Anchor Brewers & Distillers.
• Berry Bros. & Rudd, a 300 year old wine merchant company from London.  Anchor will be importing some of the spirits they own, including a new gin and a ginger liqueur that just hit the market in San Francisco.  

A press release about the new company is here, and here is a good story with some background about the switch from Jay Brooks.

So the portfolio is pretty interesting already. And I'm very, very interested in this:

"With the closing of the acquisition and the partnership with Berry Bros. & Rudd, Anchor Brewers & Distillers is further reinforcing its intention to establish a 'Center of Excellence' in San Francisco for craft brewers and artisan distillers from around the world... The Anchor Brewers & Distillers 'Center of Excellence' will serve as an epicenter of development, education, entertainment and innovation, all designed to further contribute to the culture and heritage of craft beer and artisan spirits."