USA, TN: R.S. Lipman Brewing Company purchases Little Harpeth Brewing and Turtle Anarchy Brewing Co.

In Nashville’s largest brewery consolidation to date, R.S. Lipman Brewing Company has purchased two other popular local breweries, Little Harpeth Brewing and Turtle Anarchy, as reported by the Nashville Post.

During the tough times of this pandemic, smaller breweries that depended on taproom volume have had a much tougher time of it than retail-focused mega-breweries and spirits brands that have actually seen sales upticks thank to people drinking more in their own homes, so many smaller operations have shuttered or been rolled up by larger brands in the past year.

R.S. Lipman is a family-owned company best known locally for its beers sold under the Hap & Harry’s banner, a name that came from friends and business associates Hap Motlow of Jack Daniels and Harry Lipman. Together, they basically put a small Lynchburg distillery on the national map a half century ago. (Well, with a little help from Frank Sinatra.) Hap & Harry’s has collaborated with local rockers Kings of Leon on several releases, and was previously brewed on a contract basis by Yazoo before constructing their own production facility at 5901 California Avenue in the Nations. That large modern brewery will now handle production of all three Nashville brands under the Lipman umbrella.

Lipman also owns a West Coast-based brewery called Napa Smith with a production facility and taproom in Vallejo, Ca.

Lager-centric Little Harpeth has been a favorite since their founding in 2014. They are perhaps best known for their Chicken Scratch Pilsner, a crisp beer made from local corn and America’s only native hops variety. The brewery location in East Nashville near the shores of the Cumberland had developed into a popular music venue as well as a tasting room before the one-two punch of the March tornado and COVID-19 pandemic forced them to close the taproom. Founder Michael Kwas has joined the Lipman team as a sales manager and former Little Harpeth sale representative Davey Spohr will also continue in a similar role with Lipman.

“Little Harpeth joining forces with Hap & Harry’s gives us an opportunity for growth that we would not be able to achieve on our own,” says Kwas. “I am excited to bring our beers to a larger community now given the ability for increased production and distribution.”

Turtle Anarchy was founded by three brothers in 2012. Mark, David and Andrew Kamp became known for their Portly Stout, a delicious dark beer which carried flavors quite well, making it the perfect vehicle for cask infusions — like a version that was called “Thai Down the Coconut” that was particularly popular and memorable. Since moving out of their small original space, Turtle Anarchy has concentrated on larger production runs of their flagship Portly Stout along with Catfish Kolsch and Another Way to Rye IPA.

Lipman plans to promote each brewery as a standalone brand, even as they share brewing equipment to optimize efficiency.

"Craft beer is a community endeavor. We realized the opportunity to band together with our friends at Little Harpeth and Turtle Anarchy would make us a stronger company, and position the brewery to continue producing great beer in a more sustainable way,” says Nic Donahue, Vice President of R.S. Lipman Brewing Company. “We’re genuinely excited about – and committed to – maintaining the unique brand personalities of Hap & Harry’s, Little Harpeth and Turtle Anarchy. It’s a true combination of community, craft and beer.”

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