After more than two years of ‘red hot’ rumours, Brisbane’s Green Beacon has announced it has been purchased by Asahi.

The long-rumoured sale comes hot-on-the-heels of Asahi’s purchase of CUB last month, which brought with it other leading craft brands 4 Pines and Pirate Life.

The brewery, which launched in January 2013 in the inner-city suburb of Teneriffe, was the first of the new generation of craft breweries to launch in the city.

Founders, Marc Chrismas and Adrian Slaughter were school friends who had overseas careers before returning to their home city to launch the brewery in a saw-tooth-roofed warehouse that was then a ceiling fan showroom. Slaughter was introduced to the brewing business through his mother-in-law who owns breweries in Wales, UK. Both Slaughter and Chrismas studied brewing at UCLA Davis under Professor Charlie Bamforth.

While a Brisbane pioneer, the business really hit its stride when brewer Johann van der Walt joined, and lifted the beer quality to the point that the brewery has won three consecutive Champion Brewery Trophies at the Australian International in the Champion Small Brewery and twice in the Champion Medium Brewery class.

In 2017 the quality-focused brewery opened a $3-million production brewery in the northern industrial suburb of Geebung and in the same year was one of three Australian breweries chosen to partner with Singapore Airlines to supply beer in business class. Earlier this year the business launched its barrel-aged program, Fathom.

Through all of its success, Green Beacon is one of a number breweries that has been subject to constant speculation surrounding an imminent sale, most closely linked to Asahi, which ultimately proved true.

No sale price has been announced.

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Media Release

Asahi Holdings Australia to purchase Green Beacon Brewery

21st August 2019: Asahi Holdings (Australia) is delighted to announce that we have signed a sale purchase agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Green Beacon Brewing Co, a Brisbane-based craft brewer.

Green Beacon has a well-established reputation in the Australian craft beer segment, cemented by winning Champion status three years running at the Australian International Beer Awards. Green Beacon was founded in 2013 by Adrian Slaughter and Marc Chrismas, two school friends who have been at the forefront of the burgeoning and exciting craft beer scene in Queensland.

With two Brisbane breweries located in Teneriffe and Geebung, Green Beacon’s range of beers includes Windjammer IPA, Wayfarer Tropical Pale, 3 Bolt Pale Ale, Half Mast India Session ale, Seasonal releases like ‘The Whaler’ and special release beers such as ‘UpperCut Double IPA’. The Teneriffe site also includes a brewpub and bar, which is open to the public and operates as a much-loved community hub. This is supplemented by additional in-house production and distribution facilities located in Geebung, north Brisbane.

Peter Margin, Executive Chairman, said: “This is a very exciting time for our business, as we add this great brand and great business to the Asahi Beverages family. We are looking forward to working with Marc and Adrian to help grow the Green Beacon business, and bring their great tasting beer to more consumers.”

Adrian Slaughter, co-founder and on-going General Manager at Green Beacon, said: “Green Beacon has grown from just myself and Marc to 40+ team members across the nation in just eight years. We want to continue growing and maintaining the quality and integrity of our beers, whilst ensuring all Australians are kept amply supplied in great beer! Partnering with Asahi to deliver this is truly exciting and provides security and opportunity for our customers, consumers and wider Green Beacon family. Our goal has always been to make the best beer and to get it into as many people’s hands as possible. In Asahi, we have a partner who shares this commitment and can support us in achieving this goal.”

If you would like to find out more about the story behind the business, the brands, and its founders, go to www.greenbeacon.com.au

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Note to editors

Asahi Beverages

Asahi Beverages is the Australia New Zealand business of Asahi Group Holdings, one of Japan’s leading beverage companies. Asahi Beverages manufactures, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of alcohol and non-alcohol beverage brands including soft drinks, juices, waters, sports drinks, beers, spirits, ciders and ready-to-drink beverages. Asahi Beverages employs more than 2,100 people across Australia and New Zealand. www.asahi.com.au