2 weeks Ago By Eileen Vargas
In a move set to reshape the Bay Area's craft beer scene, two prominent craft breweries, Fort Point Beer Co. and HenHouse Brewing Co., have announced their merger into a new entity, Fort Point HenHouse.
As per social media posts from both companies, this partnership is hailed as a blend of strengths that aims to fortify their presence in the local market while retaining their distinct identities. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fort Point Beer Company (@fortpointbeer)With a combined production capacity reaching 40,000 barrels annually, Fort Point HenHouse will become Northern California's fifth-largest craft brewery. The merger will see Fort Point relocating its brewing operations from San Francisco's Presidio to Santa Rosa.
The collaboration between the two breweries emphasizes a continued commitment to high-quality, locally produced beer, community engagement, and preserving their independent brand images. "That's how we make this a sustainable long-term Bay Area business," said Fort Point co-founder Justin Catalana, "and not be one of the many breweries that's gone out of business in the last few years," according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.Despite the merger, the companies have assured customers that little will change externally.
Each brand will maintain its unique beer and cider offerings and continue to serve its customers at their respective taprooms. "HenHouse will still be HenHouse-y, and Fort Point will still be Fort Point-y," HenHouse co-founder Collin McDonnell emphasized, as per the San Francisco Chronicle. Ensuring minimal employee displacement, the new partnership has led to losing just one position across the combined staff.
At a time when the craft beer market faces stagnation and increasing competition, this merger stands as a strategic move to secure longevity and adaptability. Both Fort Point's Justin Catalana and HenHouse's Collin McDonnell spoke candidly about the necessity of this alliance for enduring success. "It led us to say that we can achieve all the things we want better if we create a really strong financial underpinning to the business, and the best way to do that is to merge," Catalana told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The vision for Fort Point HenHouse is a highly localized focus, prioritizing the California market over broader distribution goals..
