In a move that could redefine the craft beer landscape north of Houston, three breweries have decided to blend their hops, hopes, and operations into one entity. B52 Brewing Co., 11 Below Brewing, and Fortress Beerworks announced this strategic merger that aims to streamline production and expand distribution capabilities. The Houston Chronicle reported on the details of the merger which was finalized this week, citing a logic founded on camaraderie and economic sensibility among the brewing comrades.
According to an update on their Facebook page, the trio's operational consolidation will see B52 Brewing become the main production hub for all three brands, this decision will eliminate certain redundancies and is expected to foster a greater degree of creativity within their united portfolio, officials said in a Facebook post captured by Community Impact. While the business dynamics of the merger are crystal clear, with B52 set to enhance its distribution footprint, the situation with the interactive side of beer drinking – the taprooms – will also see significant changes.
Adding a social layer to this corporate blend, the 11 Below taproom, which has been a fixture on Bourgeois Road for nine years, has ceased operations at its original location, but will not be abandoning its loyal patrons; it takes over the taproom operations at the former Fortress BeerWorks spot on Spring Cypress Road. John Ohara, co-owner of B52 and Fortress, emphasized the goal of maintaining a premium taproom experience alongside scaling up distribution efforts – "I think as the industry changed kind of over the last five years, we wanted to focus on kind of a premium tap room experience while also supporting that big distribution piece," Ohara told The Houston Chronicle.
Despite the excitement surrounding the merger and the expansion it heralds, not all responses were brewed with the same flavor of enthusiasm, with some customers expressing their disappointment at 11 Below's relocation from its longstanding site, but Ohara was quick to point out that the new location on Spring Cypress is not significantly removed from the original and promised that 11 Below staples like Oso Bueno will still flow from the taps. A grand reopening party for the merged entities at the Spring location is anticipated for late September, a mark of new beginnings and a toast to the symbiotic relationships within the local craft beer scene, Ohara affirmed in a statement to The Houston Chronicle.
