A locally-based partnership of Mike Hines, Alban Beaumont, Hamish Jones and Steve Sloan has acquired Volstead Trading Company and its brewery and canning facility for an undisclosed sum.
Former owner Jason Ray is returning to practise as a lawyer.
Volstead is an established fixture in independent craft brewery circles, emerging from the Christchurch quakes.
The Riccarton venue is expected to tie in with the group’s Concept Brewing and Bloody Good Gin interests.
Mr Hines said the group invested in Volstead despite the industry’s challenges because the brewery and bar gave them more room to grow the businesses.
The investment backed their belief in the thirst for quality craft beer continuing, he said.
“The craft beer boom is well and truly over and I think it got to the point of being weird for the sake of being weird in some of the beers being launched and people have got back to just wanting a good beer, and not a high red curry pilsner or whatever else. A half pint is a novelty but you are not going back to have two or three of them.’’
The industry has seen craft beer bar and brewery outlets close as patrons rein in spending from higher living costs.
He said that had not deterred them from buying Volstead because of its strong reputation and their confidence in being able to deliver a good product.
“People want a good beer and want a good place to have it. If we were staying just as Concept it’s a long game to try and play if you are only supplying kegs. That’s a very long line to get to profitable so we always had the plan of putting in a tap room and we have been supplying a little bit into the Volstead and already knew what was going on there and it used to be one of my locals as well.’’
He said the Volstead brewery would build on brewing progress made by Mr Jones for Concept with its canning facility opening up new opportunities.
Volstead’s purpose-built brewing set-up was three times the size of Concept’s “Frankenstein’’ brewery plant added to over the years and gave it more room to expand.
“The last beer Hamish launched before we got involved [in Concept] was called ‘Nobody wants to admit they ate nine cans of ravioli’ so it was a case of I can’t imagine why this wasn’t a raging success. We are trying to get things more stable but still having fun with the brand and having that consistent quality.’’
They want to distribute more canned craft beer from the standalone Concept and Volstead brands — brewed at the one location — into supermarkets and other retailing outlets.
Volstead had relationships with some of the supermarkets based on previous award-winning brews and Concept had previously put out a line after bringing in canning contractors.
The partnership is keen to add more food choices to the menu so patrons stay longer after enjoying a good beer.
A lineup of food trucks will be introduced as they settle on dining options which could include two or three of them being permanently stationed to bring in visitors from nearby hotels.
Brewery tours are expected to be new additions and a closer connection encouraged between the brewers and drinking public.
Their feedback would be sought on small trials of seasonal releases before committing to wider production runs.
Mr Hines said they were in the long haul and had extended the lease of the bar and brewery by six years beyond its next renewal.
“We are absolutely not looking to reinvent Volstead, we are looking to put a bit more love into it and make sure it’s well stocked, comfortable and people know it’s there and get some liveliness happening.’’
Mr Jones will run the brewery operation with Mr Sloan, Mr Beaumont is mainly in charge of business development and Mr Hines, a business broker, is handling sales, finance and marketing.
A former owner of Roundabout Brewery in Pennsylvania, Mr Sloan is an award-winning brewer relocating to Christchurch with his Kiwi wife.
Mr Hines and Mr Beaumont have been friends for 35 years with their travels taking them to rickshaw and rail adventures in India and Mongolia and they combined with Mr Jones who founded Concept.
