I got a press release this morning announcing that Great Divide Brewing has been acquired by Wilding Brands, which is a local business group consisting of several Colorado business, including Denver Beer Co., Funkwerks, and others.

Though few details were released, here’s the gist of the press release:

Wilding Brands, (https://wildingbrands.com), an innovative, local, founder-owned family of craft beverage brands, and Great Divide Brewing Company (https://greatdivide.com), the renowned Colorado craft brewery founded in 1994 and known for its bold character beers, today announce that Great Divide is joining the Wilding family. The acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Wilding Brands as it continues brewing world-class craft beverages while expanding opportunities for growth.

Great Divide has played a pivotal role in shaping Colorado’s craft beer industry, earning national recognition for its award-winning lineup including the legendary Yeti Imperial Stout, Titan IPA, and Colette Farmhouse Ale. Under Wilding Brands’ ownership, Great Divide will maintain its commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring that fans continue to enjoy the craft beverages they love.

Formed in 2024 in a true merger between Stem Ciders, Denver Beer Co. and Funkwerks, 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. 

“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.”

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.

I’m certainly glad for Great Divide founder Brian Dunn, who’s been a friend for several decades. It’s been great to watch Great Divide grow over the years and I spent many a happy afternoon drinking at the brewery, especially his annual media brunches that were legendary for beer journalists of a certain age. Cheers to a 30+ years run.