Industry professionals are worried that Colorado craft breweries may have a harder time getting their beers on store shelves, reports the Coloradoan. That's because Anheuser-Busch has bought two major beer distributors.
One of the distributors, Loveland-based American Eagle Distributing, says they want to keep moving some of their 20 local brands after the ownership change. But the breweries aren't so sure.
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Vice President Russell Fruits told the paper he doubts his beer continue to be distributed under Anheuser-Busch ownership.
Fruits said it “will be a first” if A-B InBev keeps the existing distributor’s craft brands — including Epic, Breckenridge, Great Divide and Odell — in its portfolio moving forward.
At least one craft brewery, Odell, expects that the distribution situation "will take at least a few weeks to sort out," says the paper.
