Today, Anderson Valley Brewing Co. announced their sale to Kevin McGee, a Healdsburg attorney and for many years the owner/proprietor of Healdsburg Beer Co., a side business nano-brewery he ran out of his garage. He’d been running that brewery since 2007, and only sold his beer locally around Healdsburg and it was included in my book, California Breweries North, a few years ago. Honestly, it seems like a good move for both Trey White, who bought Anderson Valley from founded Ken Allen several years ago, and McGee, who knows the market well and can sink his teeth into running a much larger brewery.

Below is the press release with information about the sale.

Northern California’s Storied Anderson Valley Brewing Company Sold to the McGee Family 

Craft Brewery Sells to Family of NorCal Brewer & Businessman 

Dec. 4, Boonville Calif. — Northern California’s iconic Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC) announced today that it is being acquired by the McGee family. The transaction is scheduled to close on December 13th, with all employees expected to be retained. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Northern California-based business executive and family member Kevin McGee will be named as the new President and CEO.  

A pioneer of the craft beer movement 

Since its founding in 1987, AVBC’s innovative beers helped to define craft brewing. Credited as one of the original catalysts of the modern craft beer movement, AVBC’s commitment to community, philanthropy and environmental stewardship influenced the values of a generation of brewers.  

“We are proud of what the brewery employees built, and the McGee family shares our passion for the brand, the beer, and the ethos,” said current owner Trey White. “We believe we’ve found an outstanding steward to lead the company forward.”

Classified by the Brewers Association as a regional craft brewer, AVBC is one of the 75 largest craft breweries in the U.S. and is distributed in over 30 states. When founded in 1987 AVBC was one of only 20 craft breweries in the country and is now widely recognized as one of the craft beer industry’s true pioneers. Outside of its flagship Boont Amber Ale and renowned barrel aged beers, AVBC is perhaps most well-known for its goses, gaining national recognition for reviving the classic German style and introducing it to a new generation of beer enthusiasts. 

“Anderson Valley Brewing Company is a very special place. For over three decades the brewery and the people there have consistently produced world-class beer and my family and I are very excited to be a part of its future,” said Kevin McGee. “The pioneering and innovative spirit is a critical part of what makes Anderson so special, and we’ll focus on amplifying that spirit rather than changing anything. There’s a nearly limitless appreciation for delicious beer, and despite huge growth in the craft category it still only represents 14% of the overall beer market. With its tremendous product and culture, Anderson Valley and small independent breweries like it are very well positioned now and moving forward.”

Kevin McGee brings passion for craft brewing to AVBC 

A 17-year veteran of the Northern California wine and beer industries, Kevin McGee is a graduate of the Executive Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and has been an attorney for over 20 years. In 2007 McGee took an innovative path to entering the craft beer industry by turning his garage into a licensed and bonded commercial brewery. McGee has been running a one-barrel brewhouse out of it for the past 12 years as the Healdsburg Beer Company (HBC). From this garage, HBC has produced a number of award-winning beers and his golden ale, English-style IPA and porter have each placed in the top three at the U.S. Open Beer Championships.

Tom McCormick, executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association, said: “I’ve known Kevin McGee for a number of years going back to the early days of HBC. At the time he was strapping his highly sought after kegs into the front seat of his Subaru and delivering them to local pubs. He’s always been about quality and his beer reflected that. And he has always cared about the integrity of the industry as a whole. AVBC and the larger craft brewing community will benefit from his vision and leadership.” 

“I have very dear feelings for AVBC, dating back to the days I helped get it up and running 32 years ago” said Brian Hunt, founder of Moonlight Brewing Company. “I’ve known Kevin McGee for many years and I’ve seen in him a dedication to understanding the heart of a business, to figuring out what is right for each individual situation and a passion for quality beer. Kevin and his family will bring continuity and welcome new visions to one of my favorite breweries in a time of great changes in the brewing world.” 

Anderson Valley Brewing Company is located at 17700 HWY 253, Boonville, CA. The Tap Room and Beer Garden are open to the public daily from 11:00am – 6:00pm and feature 20 tap handles of the brewery’s classic and seasonal beers as well as hard-to-find specialty and barrel-aged releases. Brewery facility tours are offered through the Tap Room Monday – Friday at 2:30pm.