As evidenced by much of our local beer industry coverage over the past couple of months, brewing companies are finding more and more innovative ways to expand their businesses. Contract brewing, leasing of ready-made brewery space, satellite tasting rooms, acquisition of existing brands—there are numerous growth strategies. The latest to be explored on a local level is a merger.
As announced last week on FM 94/9’s weekly, craft beer-centric Rock and Roll Happy Hour radio show, Twisted Manzanita Ales and Fat Cat Beer Company are merging. The companies will form a holding company that owns both brands. According to the heads of the new operation, this may expand to include other brands in the future.
Earlier this year, Fat Cat, an out-of-town novelty brand which originally gained a foothold in the San Diego County scene having its beers contract-brewed at Vista’s Latitude 33 Brewing Company, sought assistance brewing its Bro-ceanography Pils. Upon meeting Twisted Manzanita owner Jeff Trevaskis and having his brewing team take a few swipes at the recipe at the company’s Santee brewery, the Fat Cat folks were impressed. It got them to thinking that, were Twisted Manzanita to focus on their “higher-end” beers while adding Fat Cat’s mostly sessionable products, they could form a partnership that would be mutually beneficial and allow the brands to grow together.
Ownership has yet to come up with a name for the merged entity, but playfully suggested Twisted Cat and Fat Manzanita on-air. Man Cat has a certain ring to it. Whatever this two-headed beast becomes, it will be the first of its species in San Diego.