USA: MolsonCoors purchases Michigan Brewing Co.’s brands and equipment to add small batch flexibility

Chicago-based brewing giant MillerCoors acquired Michigan Brewing Co.’s brands and equipment — “all of it” — at last month’s auction at MBC’s Webberville brewery, MillerCoors spokesman Peter Marino, was quoted as saying by LSJ.com on July, 2.

“We bought some of the assets of the Michigan Brewing Company at auction with the primary intention of acquiring their brewery equipment, which is in excellent condition,” Marino said in a statement.

“Given the rapid expansion of a number of Tenth and Blake brands, we decided an asset purchase would provide us with added small batch flexibility moving forward,” his statement said.

“We haven’t decided what, if anything, we might do with the brands at this point.

“It’s important to note, we do not own the brewing facility, just the equipment and the brand trademarks.”

Tenth and Blake Beer Co., is MillerCoors craft-and-import division and operates out of the parent company’s Chicago headquarters.

Marino said the equipment has not been removed and said he doesn’t know when it might be.

Neal MacLean, the Pleasant Ridge businessman who bought the building out of foreclosure in March and evicted MBC from the property in April, could not be reached for comment.

“I’m going to keep my mouth shut for a little while and see what happens,” MBC founder Bobby Mason told the State Journal when asked to comment.

Mason lost the company over the past several months when he was unable to keep pace with financial obligations that had accumulated in recent years.

During its 15-year history, MBC brands included Mackinac Pale Ale, Superior Stout, Peninsula Porter, Sunset Amber Lager, Michigan Nut Brown Ale and others.

MBC also owned the Celis brands, which sold separately at auction to a partnership that includes Christine Celis, the founder’s daughter.

Tenth and Blake Beer Co.’s breweries include Blue Moon Brewing Co. at the Sandlot in Denver, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. in Chippewa Falls, Wis., 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee, AC Golden in Golden, Colo., and others.

04 July, 2012