Eddyline Brewery Founders pass the Reigns to Long Time Employees
- November 19, 2018 -
November 19th 2018 Buena Vista, Colorado- Eddyline Brewery founded by Mic and Molley Heynekamp in 2009 recently completed the sale of the company to long time employees Brian England and Melissa McFee this October.
The brewery, which fielded offers from venture capital and investment firms, decided that selling to England and McFee was simply the right thing to do, and would leave the brewery in hands that not only cared for the brewery and its employees but also would carry on the legacy that the Heynekamps had built over the last 9 years.
“Brian and Melissa were the natural fit to take the lead and ownership at Eddyline, said former owner Mic Heynekamp. ‘Brian purchased the original Eddyline location from us in 2014 and stepped up as CEO in 2015 when Molley and I moved to New Zealand. Melissa is a Buena Vista native, and has been our CFO for the past five years. They are the perfect team to takeover the brewery.”
The sale took some creative financing and approvals from the local lenders. “We couldn’t have made this deal happen without our local community bank, they saw the strength in the deal and were able to be flexible in their lending,” says England.
Although, the Heynekamps are selling the US operations, they will maintain a strong connection with the Eddyline brand. Mic and Molley opened Eddyline in Nelson, New Zealand in 2016 and in 2019 they will expand their operation and begin packaging into cans and distributing across New Zealand.
“Selling our US operations will allow us to build up our operations in New Zealand, and we are excited to still work alongside Brian and Melissa on the global Eddyline brand,” says Heynekamp.
“We are so excited to continue to build upon Mic and Molly’s legacy here in Colorado,’ says McFee. “Brian and I are looking forward to continue growing the brand, and bringing back 100% of the ownership back to Buena Vista. We were excited that Mic and Molley decided to sell locally as opposed to selling to a large conglomerate or venture capital. This way we can continue to stay 100% Independent and a true craft brewer.”
Eddyline is continuing to focus its effort on the Colorado market as maximizing quality and value have been critical to their success; however, Eddyline is also looking and considering other markets that fit in with Eddyline’s vision. “Colorado is but one small adventurous state in a world of adventure! Wherever adventures are happening we want our Eddyline beer!” says Heynekamp.
The brewery, known for its hop-forward portfolio will see little changes outside of a brand update and a few new releases for the time being.
“We will continue to focus on Colorado and the hoppy beers like Crank Yanker IPA and Epic Day Double IPA that we have become known for,” says England. “We have a great team here at Eddyline and we can’t wait for what the future holds for us.”
press release from Eddyline Brewing
Find Eddyline Brewery's website here
10th Edition Guidebook Just Around The Corner
- September 20, 2018 -
Your patience will be rewarded in the first week of October, when we anticipate delivery from our printer of our latest, newest, most complete guidebook ever: our Tenth Edition Beer, Wine, & Spirit Drinker's Guide to Colorado.
Stay tuned for more info and sales updates as we get closer. 675+ listings, 224 pages, maps, coupons - it's all the guidebook you'll ever need.
GABF Tickets On Sale August 1st - Good Luck
- August 01, 2018 -
They always go fast. Even after massive expansion of the three-day megafest, Great American Beer Festival Tickets sell out rapidly. Good Luck:
Info is here.
Buy Tickets here.
Boggy Draw Brewery Anniversary Party!
- June 19, 2018 -
Boggy Draw Brewing is celebrating 4 years and wants all #beerhunters to join them Saturday June 29th 2-10pm. This party includes a pig roast, live band, new beers and lawn games.
They will be releasing a new beer getting ready to celebrate this great countries independence and they're calling it “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Boggy”, a light pale ale utilizing Liberty Hops. Plus some other surprise beers as well.
Specializing in British style ales and with up to 16 beers on tap, Boggy Draw knows how to draw a crowd. With a warm, relaxing space, and a passionate, down-to-earth team of brew masters, they know any beer lover will find a good time with them. And yes they’re dog-friendly? That’s right -- no need to ever leave your favorite four-legged companion out of the fun.
For more info click here
Odell Opens New Brewhouse In Denver's RiNo
- June 12, 2018 -
As if there weren't enough beer options in Denver's center city area, there's now another choice: Odell Brewing's newest facility.
Located on the corner of 30th & Larimer in the River North Art District, the new taproom features 16 taps and a 10-barrel pilot brewhouse. Of the 16 handles, eight will be Odell classics while the remaining eight will be dedicated to experimental releases brewed on the pilot system, available only at the RiNo location. At the helm of RiNo Brewhouse operations will be veteran Odell brewer, Brent Cordle. Cordle has spent the last decade managing both the barrel aging and pilot-brewing programs in Fort Collins.
“We’re just not good at keeping secrets,” explains Cordle. “If you want to know what might be our next big release, take a look at what’s on tap here in RiNo. Denver knows their beer, and if they’re into it, we’re on the right track.”
The two-story, 4,000 square foot facility was originally built in 1917. With original brick and countertops made from reclaimed floorboards, the space preserves its historical beauty with modern accents. You can order from two bars, enjoy an outdoor patio with two fire pits, a partially-covered rooftop, and a live music and performance space.
Declarations of Independence at Craft Brewers Conference
- May 09, 2018 -
The annual Craft Brewers Conference and bi-annual World Beer Cup awards concluded last week in Nashville, where thousands of brewers and industry pros from around the planet hobnobbed about the current state of beer arts and sciences.
Brewbound's Justin Kendall did an excellent job wrapping up events in his Day One report, noting how the event theme of independence infused much of the conference. Eric Wallace, head of Left Hand Brewing Company and never shy, spoke at one session to a packed house:
“The many faux craft, crafty, captive, capitulated and acquired brands are weapons in the arsenal of the big breweries and used to control as much of the market as possible,” he said. “Cleaver and deceptive packaging design, omission of ownership statements on labels, intellectual property violations, denigrating and expensive marketing campaigns, monopolistic practices choking off raw materials and distribution channels, rampant violations of trade practices and exclusionary tactics in venues and accounts in many markets, these guys are out to eat our collective lunch and take your kids’ lunch money as well.”
Take that, Big Beer. On many levels, his points were well-considered, and there's huge support from craft brewers and craft consumers to Support Your Local Brewer, and Watch Out For Big Beer.
But Pete Coors of MolsonCoors didn't like the salvo and "cheap shots" aimed at his company, and responded in an open letter to the Beer Business Daily and reported in the Boulder Daily Camera.
Competition in our industry should be honored and cherished. I agree with you that craft brewers are "exemplars of the American Dream, of entrepreneurial spirit.” However, you must realize that big brewers are as well. There should be no room for cheap shots and insults ("faux”, "crafty”, "capitulated” beers) for each other.
That is a slippery slope that does not end well for our industry. We have enough competition inside the beer business and outside it with wine, spirits and, increasingly, marijuana.
You undermine your credibility by pitting us against one another to the ultimate detriment of the entire beer industry.
Keep your independent seal, your pride and your zeal for brewing, but let's be united as an industry. There are other enemies we all must fight together.
Can't we all just get along? It's beer, for crying out loud. But it's business, too, with billions of dollars at stake in a saturated marketplace. No matter where you may fit along the craft beer/big beer spectrum, this battle of beer makers will continue to impact how we all buy and enjoy beer. Stay tuned.
