The Gold Coast-based Balter Brewery, the burgeoning beer giant that counts pro-surfers Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, and Bede Durbidge among its founders, has been acquired by Australian-based froth monsters Carlton & United Breweries, in a massive sale deal that continues the explosion of craft beer in Australia.
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Balter was founded a mere three years ago, but in that time the brand has experienced a massive upswell in popularity thanks to its signature XPA, and its remarkably good Captain Sensible mid-strength.
Rumours of a massive sale have been swirling for a hot little while now, but this morning the brewery confirmed the sale to CUB via a post on social media.
The brewery was at pains to stress the product itself will remain the same under CUB’s ownership, with head brewer Scotty Hargraves to remain with the company for the foreseeable future, asserting “we’ve always believed that good beer is for everybody and this is a great way to continue that mission of sharing ‘good beer, with enjoyment,” and that it “also means we’ll be able to manage the epic growth we’ve experienced since day one, in a way that won’t affect the quality of the beer, or the sanity of the people in the business.”
In an email to industry partners, Balter owners assured that it would be “business as usual” until well into 2020, with minor operational changes planned under CUB ownership to be slowly phased in from February onwards.
There’s no word on just how much the company netted in the sale, and it’s reasonably unlikely the figure will be made public anytime soon. But given the popularity and the widespread reach Balter has been able to achieve in such a short span of time, you’d imagine CUB forked out a reasonably pretty penny.
If all this means there’s now an outside chance of Balter taps landing at the footy in 2020, then hell yeah. And if there’s also an outside chance Fanno lobs back up at the mighty Great Northern Hotel to pull bulk beers again, you’d have to froth that too.
The Great Man himself. You love to see it.
