In yet another shakeup of Sonoma County’s craft beer industry, Cloverdale-based Bear Republic Brewing Co. is being acquired by San Leandro-based Drake’s Brewing Co., according to reports.
Bay Area News Group reported Wednesday that Drake’s Brewing is “acquiring all of Bear Republic’s recipes, formulas and intellectual property.” And while Bear Republic will continue to brew its beer locally in the short-term, it will ultimately move operations to San Leandro in the next few months.
Rich Norgrove, president and CEO of Bear Republic, won’t completely be handing off the brand and will continue working with Bear Republic and Drake’s Brewing in sales, manufacturing and production, according to an exclusive interview with the Bay Area News Group.
“Racer 5 is shifting gears once again, beginning a new collaborative partnership with The Drake’s Brewing Co. The iconic West Coast IPA, once at the forefront of the California craft beer boom, is merging lanes to accommodate industry-wide challenges, while keeping a firm ‘pedal to the metal,’ moving forward,” the two companies said in a joint statement to the Bay Area News Group.
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