Constellation announces acquisition of Dallas’ Four Corners Brewing

Constellation continues to make power moves in the booze business. The transnational beverage corporation owns more than 100 brands, selling spirits (like Black Velvet and SVEDKA Vodka), wine (such as Ravens Wood and Wild Irish Rose) and soon pot (it has a 9.9 percent stake in Canopy Growth, one of the largest growers of marijuana in the world, based in Canada, and has plans for pot drinks).

Constellation also makes lots of beer. In fact, the company owns Ballast Point Brewing Co., has commercial rights to Crown Imports brands like Corona, Modelo and Pacífico in the United States (AB InBev owns them everywhere else) and recently purchased Oakland Park, Fla.-based Funky Buddha Brewery last August. In fact, the company is infamous for buying Ballast Point for $1 billion at the height of craft mania in 2015 (consider AB InBev bought Goose Island in 2011 for a paltry $38.8 million), and now the Victor, N.Y.-based beverage mogul has announced it is purchasing Dallas-based Four Corners Brewing Co., which was founded in 2012. According to the press release: Sales have grown five-fold since 2014 for Four Corners, and the brewery expanded capacity from 8,000 bbls in 2016 to 25,000 bbls in 2017.

What might change for Four Corners? Let’s look at some transitions from Funky Buddha’s brand, which we reported on in January:

• New brands get positioned to leverage the impressive beverage resources of Constellation.
• New packaging, new cans, new year-round beers may get added to the brewery’s portfolio, along with a whole year’s worth of new limited and seasonal beers hitting packaging for the first time.
• Other Constellation craft brands are there to help. For instance, the majority of Funky Buddha’s can volume comes from Ballast Point’s Virginia brewery, located in Daleville.
• Added sales employees, financial support and distribution channels.
• Perhaps an expansion of barrel aging programs, with the easy ability to secure unique wine and spirits casks including whiskey, rum, tequila, Cabernet and more.

That’s, of course, only the short list of resources Four Corners can capitalize on from Constellation. We’ve reached out to Four Corners to get their thoughts on the business move. Until then, here’s a quote from the press release and below that the entire press release with more details.

“We like to say that Four Corners Brewing is our collective beer journey, and partnering with Constellation continues that journey by opening amazing possibilities of where our brand and company can go,”said Four Corners co-founder George Esquivel. “We’re proud Texas brewers, and we’ve always had intent of sharing our brews and our story with as many people as possible. We know Constellation Brands is the right partner to help us do that.”

The entire press release:

Constellation Brands, Inc., a leading beverage alcohol company, announced today its purchase of Four Corners Brewing LLC (“Four Corners”), reinforcing its strategy to lead the high-end in the U.S. beer market. Grounded in Texas roots and heritage, this high-performing, dynamic and bicultural (Hispanic and American) brand produces beer that’s refreshing, big on flavor and complements Constellation’s existing portfolio. With flagship brands like Local Buzz Honey-Rye Golden Ale and El Chingón IPA, Four Corners  will join Constellation’s Craft & Specialty Beer Group.

Four Corners was founded in 2012 by longtime friends George Esquivel, Greg Leftwich and Steve Porcari, who set out to create a Dallas brewery that would elevate their hometown and revitalize their city’s neighborhoods. Four Corners brews an entire portfolio of authentic, delicious and sessionable beers accompanied by one-of-a-kind branding inspired by their Oak Cliff roots. Four Corners’ standard of brewing will remain unchanged because the existing management team made up of Esquivel, Leftwich and Porcari, along with their current employees, will continue delivering the same innovative and fresh flavors consumers enjoy today.

“We like to say that Four Corners Brewing is our collective beer journey, and partnering with Constellation continues that journey by opening amazing possibilities of where our brand and company can go,”said Four Corners co-founder George Esquivel. “We’re proud Texas brewers, and we’ve always had intent of sharing our brews and our story with as many people as possible. We know Constellation Brands is the right partner to help us do that.”

Sales have grown five-fold since 2014, and the brewery expanded capacity from 8,000 barrels in 2016 to 25,000 barrels in 2017. Four Corners has won multiple local awards in their short history for both brewing and branding. Most notably, the Four Corners team won D Magazine’s 2015 Editors’ Choice Award for Best Brewery. The brewery was also awarded top honors from The Dallas Society of Visual Communications in 2015 winning gold for packaging design and gold for Judge’s Choice.

“Four Corners brings a culture that mixes adventure and innovation with elements of heritage and tradition,” said President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Newlands, Constellation Brands. “It’s a compelling opportunity for Constellation because Four Corners’ bicultural inspired flavors and branding capitalize on one of the hottest trends in beer – Hispanic influenced products. George, Greg and Steve have created beers that are big on flavor, refreshing and pair well with bold Texas cuisine, while creating a brand that embraces and reflects the diversity of its people. We’re excited to help them take the brand further.”

Constellation Brands and Four Corners’ team of employees will work together, with its co-founders, running the day-to-day operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Four Corners Brewing Co.
Four Corners Brewing Company is a local Dallas business that creates and distributes an entire portfolio of unique, delicious beers accompanied by one-of-a-kind branding inspired by their Dallas roots. Four Corners was founded in 2012 by George Esquivel, Greg Leftwich, and Steve Porcari after the three met during a local homebrewer competition in Dallas, TX. Four Corners has won multiple awards in their short history for both brewing and branding.