CALGARY, AB – Following the news late last month that Calgary’s Banded Peak Brewing had been purchased by multinational brewing company AB InBev, several other local breweries are leaving a branding partnership that includes Banded Peak as a member.
As reported by prairie beer news website On Beer, Annex Ale Project and Cabin Brewing have both confirmed their departure from the Barley Belt, a group formed in 2017 to promote the independent breweries – and more recently, distilleries and a cider maker – located in southeast Calgary.
Outcast Brewing has also indicated via Twitter that it is leaving the organization, and several other members are reportedly planning to leave as well, although official announcements are still forthcoming.
A primary factor in the departures is the fact that the Barley Belt brand is fully owned by Banded Peak, and as per On Beer, “AB-Inbev was unwilling to relinquish its trademark unless guaranteed a permanent spot in the Belt partnership.”
The report also notes that “the breweries exiting the partnership are talking about establishing a new brand that emphasizes local and independence.”
For more details, see the full On Beer article.
Source: On Beer
Photo: Barley Belt