The iconic Left Hand Brewing and Great Divide Brewing both part of strategic new acquisitions
April is already suffering no fools in Colorado as two of the biggest craft beer veterans in the game have formed or been acquired in strategic new partnerships on April 1st and 2nd. Great Divide Brewing is now part of the Wilding Brands portfolio, and Left Hand Brewing has joined a new independent craft platform led by fellow Coloradan brewery Dry Dock.
Great Divide Brewing sold to brewery and restaurant group
Wilding Brands announced on April 1st that it was acquiring Colorado craft beer pioneer Great Divide Brewing. The renowned Denver brewery was founded in 1994 and known for such beers as the Yeti Imperial Stout series Titan IPA, Hibernation winter olde ale, and Colette Farmhouse Ale which were all fixtures of the craft beer scene of the 2000’s.
Wilding Brands was formed in 2024 as a merger between Denver brands Stem Ciders, Denver Beer Co., and Fort Collins’ Funkwerks Brewing. Wilding Brands is led by Colorado craft beverage innovators and founders Eric Foster, Brad Lincoln, and Charlie Berger, who started his career on the bottling line at Great Divide before founding Denver Beer Co. Wilding Brands also has a portfolio that includes Formation Brewing, Howdy Beer Co., Easy Living Hop Water, and restaurants Acreage, Cerveceria Colorado, and Ghost Box Pizza.
The acquisition includes Great Divide’s wholesale business and any future brick-and-mortar locations. There will be no changes to the Great Divide Colorado outpost locations in Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Belmar, DEN Concourse C, or the Tap Room and Barrel Bar locations in Denver. Production brewing will move to Wilding’s Canworks facility in Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood, and the acquisition retains and creates many employment opportunities in the Wilding Brands organization. Customers can continue to expect to see their favorite Great Divide beers on shelves and on tap, with exciting new offerings in the future.
“We’re honored to welcome Great Divide into the family,” said Charlie Berger, Chief Development Officer, Wilding Brands. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the craft and quality of the product, and Great Divide has a rich history and a well-earned reputation for brewing some of the best beers in Colorado and arguably the country. Our goal is to honor that legacy while bringing new energy and resources to help the brand grow and continue to be a foundation of the Colorado craft beer story.”
“The dedication to evolving the business and a passion for Colorado make Wilding and Great Divide a perfect match. I couldn’t be happier knowing that Eric, Charlie, and Brad will be carrying the torch forward,” said Brian Dunn, Founder of Great Divide. “I’ve seen a lot of change in the craft beer industry over the years, and Wilding is building with a clear vision. This is exciting news for Colorado and the industry.”
Left Hand Brewing Company acquired by Dry Dock Brewing to unite under Independent Craft Platform
On April 2nd it was announced that iconic Longmont, Colorado brewery Left Hand Brewing Company was partnering with fellow Colorado brand Dry Dock Brewing Company of Denver suburb Aurora. This is a pretty big deal for Left Hand, which is famous for its Nitro series, Left Hand launched America’s original Nitro bottle with its flagship Milk Stout Nitro and the first production run of U.S.- made Nitro widget cans. Their lineup includes nitro beers like Peanut Butter Stout, Chai Milk Stout, and Belgian White, as well as non-nitro beers like Sawtooth Amber Ale. Left Hand was founded in 1993, making them one of the oldest breweries in Colorado.
As part of the transaction, Dry Dock's two owners will acquire equity in Indian Peaks Brewing Company, the parent company of Left Hand Brewing Company and now Dry Dock Brewing Company. Dry Dock will immediately move all brewing production and packaging to Left Hand’s Longmont facility and will continue to operate its Aurora taproom.
“This partnership is the realization of the vision we shared during our recent Wefunder raise,” said Eric Wallace, Founder and CEO of Left Hand Brewing. “We’re building an independent craft beer platform rooted in community, collaboration, and ownership. This partnership with Dry Dock is the first real step in bringing that to life.”
Kevin DeLange, Founder of Dry Dock Brewing Company, will play an active role within the combined organization, joining Left Hand’s sales team to help expand Dry Dock’s reach within Left Hand’s national distribution network, with a focus on the popular Apricot series.
“After building the Dry Dock brand for 20 years, it was important to find a partner who shares our commitment to quality, independence, and community,” said DeLange. “We’ve known Eric Wallace and Chris Lennert for years through our work with the Colorado Brewers Guild, and they’ve always supported the industry both locally and nationally. There are significant opportunities to grow Dry Dock with Left Hand’s extensive distributor network. Together we have the opportunity to bring Dry Dock’s beers to more fans than ever before.”
Through its recent Wefunder campaign, Left Hand also expanded ownership to its wider community - building on its foundation as an employee- and veteran-owned brewery - and making meaningful progress toward its goal of becoming partially community-owned.
“We’re in active discussions with other beverage companies to join us,” said Wallace. “With the capacity, systems, and expertise we’ve developed, we’re in a strong position to support like-minded producers and work together to strengthen the future of independent craft, both here in Colorado and beyond.”
About Left Hand Brewing Company
Left Hand Brewing Company, founded in Longmont, Colorado, is one of the original pioneers in craft brewing. From a humble homebrew kit beginning to becoming one of the top 50 craft breweries in the U.S., Left Hand has continued to grow and innovate throughout its 30+ year history. Famous for its Nitro series, Left Hand launched America’s original Nitro bottle with its flagship Milk Stout Nitro and the first production run of U.S.- made Nitro widget cans. Left Hand is one of the most honored and recognized breweries in Colorado with 31 Great American Beer Festival medals,11 World Beer Cup awards and nine European Beer Star awards. In 2022, Left Hand was proud to be awarded Brewery of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival in the 15,001-100,000 barrels category. Its collection of year-round and seasonal beers is available in 46 states, DC and internationally. To learn more, please visit www.lefthandbrewing.com.
About Great Divide Brewing Company: Founded in 1994, Great Divide Brewing Company is Denver’s oldest and largest packaging brewery and one of the most decorated breweries in America, recognized for brewing some of the globe’s most balanced yet assertive and flavorful beers. These beers have landed an impressive amount of acclaim, earning 19 Great American Beer Festival Medals, five World Beer Cup Awards and 14 spots on Beer Advocate’s “Top Rated Beers: Colorado” (2015). Here at Great Divide, Bold Character isn’t just a catchphrase. It’s the philosophy behind what we brew, how we think and what we believe. For more information visit https://www.greatdivide.com.