AB InBev acquires US brewer | Progresiv
AB InBev looks to expand in the US craft beer sector with the acquisition of Cleveland-based Platform Beer Co. The deal will see Platform join Brewers Collective, a business unit of Anheuser-Busch (AB InBev’s US division). Financial terms have not been disclosed. 
Founded in 2014 by entrepreneurs Paul Benner and Justin Carson, Platform Beer Co started as a homebrew-inspired brewery. It now has four facilities in Ohio and creates more than 200 unique beers per year.
AB InBev said the brewery’s “unparalleled creativity and experimentation” has resulted in more than 600 recipes that include a variety of unique seasonals, sours, ciders and fruit ales, barrel-aged beers and a line of hard seltzer.
Paul Benner said: “In speaking with the other craft brewery founders in Brewers Collective, we know partnering with Anheuser-Busch means we will have the resources and the autonomy to bring our vision for Platform Beer Co to life.”
“Being able to continue leading the day-to-day operations was an important factor in our decision and we have no doubt that this partnership will benefit our loyal staff and passionate customer base.”
Marcelo ‘Mika’ Michaelis, president, Brewers Collective, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Paul, Justin and the entire Platform team to Brewers Collective. We are inspired by their experiential mindset, and we look forward to supporting their growth plans as they continue to push boundaries through their intrinsic craft values of education, connection and collaboration.
“It’s this growth that will give beer drinkers access to even more choices in today’s competitive and dynamic beer market.”
Last month, AB InBev secured a deal to offload its Carlton & United Breweries subsidiary in Australia to Asahi Group Holdings for 11.3 billion dollars. (www.foodbev.com)
