Fish Brewing Co. buys micro cider company

Modern Brewery Age,  Jan 10, 2005  

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The Fish Brewing Co. of Olympia, WA, reports it has acquired Spire Mountain Cider from the Washington Wine and Beverage Company in Woodinville, WA.

Fish bought all assets of Spire Mountain Cider and will relocate all cider production to the Fish Brewery in Olympia by late January. The deal for Spire Mountain Cider involved a transfer of Fish Brewing stock to the Washington Wine and Beverage Company, making W.W.B.C. a significant shareholder in Fish Brewing Co.

Spire Mountain Cider was founded in the 1980s, and is the longest continuously-operating cider brand in the Pacific Northwest. Spire Mountain is the top cider player in Washington State producing four cider styles: Hard Apple, Hard Pear, Dark and Dry Apple, and Spiced Apple, in 12oz, 22oz, and draft kegs. Fish will broaden distribution for the brands through the Fish wholesaler network in Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia.

"For Fish Brewing, this latest purchase makes the Company a three brand house, including our organic Fish Tale Ales, the Leavenworth Beers the best selling Spire Mountain Ciders," says Crayne Horton of Fish. "With such a rich portfolio of craft beverage brands, Fish Brewing intends to increase share of mind with its distributors."

According to Horton, the purchase will contribute to the goal of increasing capacity. "With the recent addition of a new 40-barrel DME brewhouse, the acquisition of Spire Mountain's fermenting and bottling equipment, and the vast assortment of brewing and packaging equipment bought on auction at the Olympia Brewery," he says, "Fish Brewing is poised for a substantial expansion in production and sales."

Horton says "excitement is running high" at the brewery in Olympia, as new equipment is put into place and new cider packaging is being designed.

Fish head brewer Jenn Gridley said her brewing staff was psyched. "It is certainly a huge challenge," she says, "but at least now we will have some tasty cider to help us relax after work."

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