Washington craft beer merger: Odin Brewing buys Hilliard’s

Craft beer acqusitions continue to roll, this one staying within the Northwest. Odin Brewing Co., of Tukwila, Wash., acquired Hilliard’s Beer of Seattle. According to the press release, Odin will take over all of Hilliard’s brands, intellectual properties and operations.

“We are excited about the opportunity of adding the Hilliard’s lineup to our expanding portfolio of products,” said Dan Lee, owner of Odin Brewing. “This deal will allow us to grow our capacity, improve our packaging capabilities and grow share in an ever expanding market.”

Some of the brewing equipment will be moved from the Hilliard’s Beer facility in Ballard to Odin Brewing’s location in Tukwila. The existing Hilliard’s brewery and taproom in Ballard will be put up for sale as a turnkey brewing operation. Odin Brewing will take over the day to day production and distribution of the Hilliard’s brands.

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According to the report, owner and founder Ryan Hilliard has decided to leave the brewing industry after six years and pursue other interests.

“I think the deal reached with Odin Brewing was a good one,” Hilliard noted in a statement. “It’s not often that deals like this come along, and when they do you have to be ready to move on them. I have enjoyed my time in the craft beer sector and am thrilled my namesake beer will live on in good hands. The arrangement with Odin also opens the door for a current craft brewery or a new start up brewery to step in to our existing Ballard facility with a separate turnkey arrangement.”