Dogfish Head Brewery has cancelled a brewing partnership with Anheuser-Busch InBev's new Italian craft brewer Birra del Borgo.

Birra del Borgo founder Leonardo Di Vincenzo told just-drinks this week the two companies had parted ways because of AB InBev's acquisition, announced last weekend. "We spoke with [Dogfish founder Sam Calagione] and he respects our decision but at the same time we decided to quit the relationship," Di Vincenzo said in an interview.

Dogfish Head collaborated with Birra del Borgo on beers including Etrusca, which is fermented in giant terracotta vases similar to ones used to store wine in ancient Rome. Dogfish Head also brewed del Borgo's Pilsner brand, My Antonia, in Delaware for US distribution.

Meanwhile, the two brewers worked together on La Birreria, a microbrewery business in the Eataly chain of Italian marketplaces in the US.

Di Vincenzo suggested he will continue working with Dogfish Head on other projects. Birra del Borgo owns a small craft brewery in Sydney, Australia, which was not part of the AB InBev deal, and Di Vincenzo said: "Maybe we are going to make something together with Sam in that brewery."

Birra del Borgo, which produces about 13,000 hectolitres a year, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of AB InBev. Di Vincenzo will remain as CEO, reporting to AB InBev's speciality & craft European team.

