RIP Saint Archer Brewing; Kings & Convicts puts another arrow in the quiver
Saint Archer Brewing has been discontinued, their hard assets sold to the company that also acquired Ballast Point Brewing.
Saint Archer Brewing was once a solid gold San Diego craft beer brand on the rise, the company was so hot that they sold out to Molson Coors in 2015 just 2 years after they opened. It is now a cautionary tale for how corporate beer can churn and burn through small to them brewery acquisitions. This week Molson Coors Beverage Company announced they were ceasing all production of Saint Archer, and pulling their brands from the market, although they retain rights to the brand and could bring it back at any moment.
Adding an intriguing twist to the proceedings, 4 year-old Kings & Convicts Brewing has snapped up Saint Archer’s facility and will relocate into their taproom and production brewery in San Diego as a new home base. Kings & Convicts is the small, but extremely well funded outfit that made a splash in December 2019 when they acquired what was previously San Diego’s most darling brewery Ballast Point. In both the Saint Archer deal and the Ballast Point Brewing instance, Kings & Convicts have swooped in to purchase prestigious brand assets that were overvalued, fell on difficult times, and are now available at bottom barrel prices.
It will be interesting to see if Kings & Convicts can quite literally buy themselves into being a major craft beer player, or maybe increase the value of the overall family of brands to eventually sell out to a larger company themselves.
More info from the press announcement below:
“The Saint Archer team has built a distinct brand that has a very loyal following in Southern California. Unfortunately, the overall business has struggled to grow despite investing significant resources behind its production and commercialization,” said Paul Verdu, Vice President of Tenth and Blake, Molson Coors craft division. “We’ll maintain ownership of the Saint Archer brand as we determine the best long-term plan and remain focused on growing our regional breweries that continue outpacing home-market competitors.”
The sale to Kings & Convicts includes a brewery located in the Miramar neighborhood of San Diego and all its physical assets as well as the 1,200 square foot taproom in the coastal city of Leucadia in North County San Diego. The Miramar brewery will effectively become the new operating headquarters for Kings & Convicts Brewing Company, where the company will begin brewing its own year-round core portfolio and specialty releases, small batch beers for Ballast Point Brewing Co., and brand-new craft beverage products.
Kings & Convicts intends to retain all the current operations and tasting room team members at both locations.
“We are excited for the acquisition of the brewing facility and taprooms, as well as the talented production and taproom staff,” said Kings & Convicts co-owner and CEO, Brendan Watters. “We wish Molson Coors the best with the Saint Archer brand.”
Regional craft brands remain an important priority for Molson Coors as the company aims to grow its share of the Above Premium beer segment.
About Molson Coors
For over two centuries Molson Coors has been brewing beverages that unite people to celebrate all life’s moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Carling, and Staropramen to Coors Banquet, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon LightSky, Vizzy, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Creemore Springs, Hop Valley and more, Molson Coors produces many beloved and iconic beer brands.
While the company’s history is rooted in beer, Molson Coors offers a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle as well. Our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy is focused on People and Planet with a strong commitment to raising industry standards and leaving a positive imprint on our employees, consumers, communities, and the environment. To learn more about Molson Coors Beverage Company, visit molsoncoors.com, MolsonCoorsOurImprint.com or on Twitter through @MolsonCoors.
About Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.
Kings & Convicts is a privately held company headquartered in San Diego, CA, and Highwood, IL, in the North Shore of Chicago. Conceived by an Englishman and an Aussie, Kings & Convicts started brewing for the public in 2017 and was built on the freedom of anti-authority and the spirit of fellowship. They brew ales and lagers inspired by the tales of convicts, royalty, and the undercurrent of American gangsters. Every beer tells a story. Officially moving headquarters and brewing operations to San Diego in 2020 after its purchase of Ballast Point, Kings & Convicts immediately began placing an emphasis on engaging the local community and reestablishing a connection to the birthplace of Ballast Point through the support of local programs and activations, charitable endeavors, and live sports team sponsorships — both through Ballast Point and now through its own individual brand. In 2021, Kings & Convicts became the official 2021-22 craft beer sponsor of the NLL San Diego Seals. For more information, follow along on Instagram and Facebook and visit www.kingsandconvicts.com.