Partnerships are an inevitable part of the business process and a Miami, Florida craft brewery just entered into a partnership of its own- one that is all but certain to benefit both parties involved as well as consumers.
Craft Brew Alliance, Inc. and Wynwood Brewing Co. announced they will enter into a strategic business partnership that will help Wynwood continue its growth by providing access to Craft Brew Alliance’s vast and valuable infrastructure. As part of the deal, Craft Brew Alliance will assume a 24.5 percent stake in Wynwood Brewing, enabling the Miami brewer to expand its present brewing operation and its tap room.
Wynwood Brewing was founded by father/son duo Luis Brignoni Sr. and Luis Brignoni. The brewery’s Puerto Rican roots run deep and the Wynwood neighborhood from which Wynwood Brewing takes its names is noted for its vibrancy and artistic personality. Craft Brew Alliance CEO Andy Thomas says Wynwood is a great fit for his business and he can’t wait to help the Miami- based brewery as it spreads its Puerto Rican love across the Sunshine State.
“We’ve been vocal about finding the right strategic partners in the right geographies to expand CBA’s distinctive portfolio that combines fast-growing national brands like Kona Brewing Co. with strong regional craft breweries,” said Thomas. “With Wynwood, we’re able to round out our portfolio of exceptional craft brands in the east, which includes our partners Appalachian Mountain Brewery in North Carolina and Nantucket Island-based Cisco Brewers in New England. We’re looking forward to helping the great team at Wynwood bring more of their special brand, steeped in Puerto Rican culture and a love of great beer, to more beer lovers throughout Florida.”
Wynwood co- founder Luis Brignoni is confident that this partnership will prove to be a win- win for both sides.
“Our success over the past several years hasn’t come without its challenges, and we’re now at a turning point if we want to fully satisfy our growing customer base,” said Brignoni. “While exploring our options, we wanted to find a way to meet demand without sacrificing creative control over our day to day. Meeting the team at CBA made our next step forward so much clearer. Not only are they serious experts at craft brewing and marketing, they have an amazing track record nurturing family-founded brewers such as Kona Brewing Co. as well as newer partnerships like Appalachian Mountain Brewery. My father and I are really excited about the opportunities this partnership will create for our loyal staff, customers and accounts, who can look forward to many more years of great Wynwood beers.”
Wynwood Brewing is one of many worthy craft beer producers in the state of Florida and elsewhere, so how did Craft Brew Alliance discover this specific business? Well, it is largely thanks to a meeting that took place as part of the Startup Brewery Challenge. This is a business pitch competition created by the good folks at Brewbound with assistance from Craft Brew Alliance and one of its brands, Widmer Brothers Brewing. Wynwood won the challenge and as a result, its founders and brewers were flown to Portland, Oregon where they brewed a collaboration beer with Craft Brew Alliance’s brewing team. Together, they brewed an excellent IPA that ended up winning awards at the Copa Cervezas de America, one of the most prestigious competitions in Latin America. Most importantly, the Wynwood team connected quickly with the folks at Craft Brew Alliance and both sides realized that their shared vision made them a great fit for a business partnership on a permanent basis.
Wynwood Brewing Company is Craft Brew Alliance’s third partnership with small, regional craft breweries, following in the footsteps of North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Massachusetts based Cisco Brewers, a craft brewery located on Nantucket Island. Each of these two breweries has benefited significantly from the partnership, expanding production and distributing craft beer to larger segments of the population. Florida craft beer fans can expect the same thing to happen with Wynwood Brewing Company as Craft Brew Alliance invests in the Miami brewery and helps spread its award- winning beer far and wide.
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