USA, VA: Champion Brewing and Reason Beers agree to merge

Two Charlottesville brewers announced they’re merging, but Champion Brewing and Reason Beers will continue selling under their own brands, WINA reported on November 16.

Champion CEO Hunter Smith and Reason CFO Jeff Raileanu announced the merger at Reason’s facility in Seminole Place off Seminole Trail. Smith said Champion through the next couple of months will be moving its brewing equipment from the Woolen Mills Missile Factory to Reason, and the brewing will happen with similar equipment and one brewing team. Smith says no jobs are going away. They’re moving their team of seven to Seminole Place, and the taproom remains open at 6th Street SE.

Raileanu said he and Smith starting talking a couple of months ago, and over a dinner together started checking off similar things the companies were paying for on their own. The two found they can each pay much less under a consolidation of facilities, and be able to make each other’s brands stronger.

For instance, Smith said Champion has not been able to make to scale “wild” beers, and Reason’s brewers will be able to help with that. Champion has a distribution to 10 other states and DC, and Reason will be able to take advantage of Champion’s already established network.

According to a release announcing the merger:

“Champion currently produces five times the beer that Reason has thus far produced in a year. The merged company will have over 100 employees, expects to produce over 6,000 barrels annually, and projects $10M in revenue for 2022.

Guests will find Reason Beer alongside Champion brews in Champion tap rooms and Champion Hospitality Group properties, including Champion Grill, Champion Ice House, Champion Lynchburg, Brasserie Saison, Passiflora, and Siren (opening late 2021).”

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