Tilray Brands Purchases Hop Valley, Terrapin Beer, Revolver Brewing and Atwater Brewery

Just about one year after Tilray Brands added 10 Barrel Brewing, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Square Mile Cider and Redhook Brewing among others to its growing arsenal of breweries, it is back at again with the acquisition of four more breweries, including Hop Valley Brewing from Eugene, Oregon. Joining Hop Valley are three other Molson Coors Beverage Company owned craft brands includes Terrapin Beer Co. of Athens, Georgia, Revolver Brewing of Granbury, Texas, and Atwater Brewery of Detroit, Michigan.

With this latest acquisition, Tilray Brands will now become the fourth largest craft brewery based on the Brewers Association’s definition. But as a whole, these four brands have seen a decline of 17% year over year. The only bright spot is with Atwater Brewery that is up by 6.6%. Molson Coors likely looked at this deal as shedding brands that were not providing positive growth to the beverage company.

The acquisition also gives the Canadian based company much more market share throughout the U.S. Here in the Pacific Northwest Tilray will now own five brands, three of which have taprooms 10 Barrel in Portland, Bend, and Boise, Redhook in Seattle and now Hop Valley in Eugene and Springfield. These are all large craft beer markets and with the financial power behind them, these five brands are sure to see growth.

Bringing on Hop Valley also allows for a few other synergies when it comes to distribution here in Oregon. Now all five brands will be part of the Maletis Beverage portfolio. After Hop Valley was sold to Molson Coors, the brewery remained at Maletis even though the rest of the Molson Coors portfolio lies at Columbia Distributing, including the revitalized Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve, that is currently brewed in Eugene at Hop Valley. No details were given if Weinhard’s will be part of Tilray Beverages or remain at Molson Coors.

Also of note, Hop Valley is currently the Official Craft Beer of the Las Vegas Raiders. It’ll be interesting to see if this still holds true with the various contracts associated with the NFL and its teams. Even in not, Hop Valley has a very strong presence at sports stadiums across the western U.S.

Here are additional details on the sale from Tilray Brands’ press release…

Tilray’s beverage business is poised for even greater success with the latest addition of sought-after craft beer brands, known for their unique portfolio of beers. With the pending acquisition of these breweries, Tilray’s portfolio will expand across key beer markets adding 30% new beer buying accounts. The Tilray Beverages portfolio boasts a range of leading craft beer, spirits and non-alcohol beverages including SweetWater Brewing Company, Montauk Brewing Company, Alpine Beer Company, Green Flash Brewing Company, Shock Top, Breckenridge Brewery, Breckenridge Distillery, Blue Point Brewing Company, 10 Barrel Brewing Company, Redhook Brewing Company, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Square Mile Cider Company, HiBall Energy, and Happy Flower CBD sparkling cocktails. This strategic acquisition is expected to position Tilray for continued growth and expansion in the beverage industry.

Irwin D. Simon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tilray Brands, said, “Tilray Brands is proud to be driving the most compelling and unique growth story in the craft beer industry. With the acquisition of these four craft breweries from Molson Coors, we are marking another strategic milestone in Tilray Brands’ growth plan. Our team’s expertise in operational excellence will enable us to unlock the full potential of these brands and businesses. We are confident in our ability to drive revenue, generate cost synergies, and expand national distribution reinforcing our leadership position in craft beer resulting in tremendous growth opportunities for our global beverage business.”

Mr. Simon added, “Tilray Brands plans to continue to invest in the future of these craft breweries, accelerating their growth and capturing a wide range of new market opportunities. Tilray Brands is a beacon for craft brands, and we are committed to driving their growth and success within our portfolio. Our proven track record of integrating acquisitions and driving profitable growth gives us the confidence to deliver incredible value for our shareholders.”

Molson Coors Chief Commercial Officer Michelle St. Jacques added how the transaction supports their long-term strategic ambitions, as well. “Last fall we set a clear portfolio premiumization ambition, and achieving it is going to require tighter focus on the segments we believe have the highest growth potential for our business,” St. Jacques said. “While we love these craft breweries and the people behind them, this move allows us to do exactly that – focus our time, energy and resources behind the initiatives we believe will best help us meaningfully grow our U.S. above premium portfolio in beer and beyond beer.”

Ty Gilmore, President, Tilray Beverages, North America, stated, “We are excited to welcome the employees and distributors behind these craft beer brands which will play a pivotal role in the growth of Tilray Beverages. Through this acquisition, our beer business is expected to grow to 15 million cases annually, cementing Tilray Beverages as the #1 craft brewer in the Pacific Northwest, #1 in Georgia and anchors Tilray’s craft brands in two key beer states, Texas and Michigan. As we move forward, we will leverage our extensive expertise in product innovation and distribution to unlock the full potential of these brands, strengthen their sales and operations, and expand their reach into key markets across the U.S.”

Craft Brands with a Loyal Consumer Base: 

• Hop Valley Brewing Company is a craft brewery based in Eugene, Oregon, that was founded in 2009. They are known for crafting beers that reflect the flavors and spirit of the Pacific Northwest, Hop Valley includes one brewery and two taprooms. The brand is currently sold in 12 states with core markets including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Northern California, Nevada, Wisconsin and Minnesota and it has c. 43,000 points of distribution.
• Terrapin Beer Company is a craft brewery based in Athens, Georgia. Founded in 2002, Terrapin is committed to brewing unique, flavorful beers that push the boundaries of traditional brewing techniques. With a passion for experimentation, Terrapin has become one of the most respected and sought-after breweries in the region. Terrapin includes one brewery and one taproom and is currently sold in 13 states with c. 47,000 points of distribution. Core markets for Terrapin include Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.
• Revolver Brewing is a craft brewery in Granbury, Texas. Established in 2012, Revolver is committed to producing high-quality, handcrafted beers using traditional brewing techniques and innovative brewing methods. From their flagship Blood & Honey American Ale to their seasonal offerings, Revolver’s beers are known for their bold flavors and unique character. Revolver Brewing includes one brewery and one taproom and c. 12,000 points of distribution across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
• Atwater Brewery is a craft brewery based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1997, Atwater is dedicated to brewing high-quality, handcrafted beers using traditional brewing techniques and innovative brewing methods. From their flagship Dirty Blonde Ale to their seasonal offerings, Atwater’s beers are known for their bold flavors and unique character. Atwater includes one brewery and three taprooms. The brand is sold in c. 10,000 points of distribution across six states including Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Advisors
TD Securities acted as financial advisor, and DLA Piper LLP (US) acted as external legal counsel to Tilray Brands.

About Tilray Brands
Tilray Brands, Inc. (“Tilray”) (Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY), is a leading global lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America that is leading as a transformative force at the nexus of cannabis, beverage, wellness, and entertainment, elevating lives through moments of connection. Tilray’s mission is to be a leading premium lifestyle company with a house of brands and innovative products that inspire joy, wellness and create memorable experiences. Tilray’s unprecedented platform supports over 40 brands in over 20 countries, including comprehensive cannabis offerings, hemp-based foods, and craft beverages.

For more information on how we are elevating lives through moments of connection, visit Tilray.com and follow @Tilray on all social platforms.