In order to expand their business, St. Louis’ largest American-owned brewery — Schlafly Brewery and Taproom — is for sale. Well, perhaps not in the traditional sense. They’re looking for enough capital to grow the business while remaining involved in running the company. Neither co-founders, Tom Schlafly or Dan Kopman, have children interested in taking over the brewery so they figure it makes sense to sell now while they also need money for expansion. They also want very much for the business to remain local and are trying to figure out a way for employees of the brewery to either be the buyer or at least buy in to partial ownership so that the business stays local.
While no price has been disclosed, estimates range from $5 to 18 million, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. KDSK Channel 5 also has a version of the story.
We’ll most likely be seeing more of this kind of thing as the craft beer industry matures and some of the earlier players reach retirement age. We may indeed be entering the age of mergers and acquisitions for small breweries, as well as large.
Schlafly co-founder Dan Kopman at this year’s SAVOR last month in Washington, DC.