Drake’s Brewing recently announced its purchase of “certain assets” of Bear Republic Brewing. According to Mercury News, Drake’s will acquire Bear Republic’s “recipes, formulas, and intellectual property.”
Bear Republic Brewing’s owners Rich and Tami Norgrove, alongside John Martin and Roy Kirkorian of Drake’s Brewing, describe the merger as “joining forces.”
“We have always admired Drake’s Brewing Company’s passion for craft beer and their community as well as their commitment to quality,” Norgrove tells Mercury News.
Peter Kruger will stay on as brewmaster for the Bear Republic brand, but brewing will transition from the Bear Republic headquarters in Cloverdale to San Leandro — where Drake’s Brewing currently has its Barrel House — in the next few months.
In addition to the Barrel House — “an outdoor beer garden and warehouse-style tasting room” — Drake’s also operates a full-service restaurant, Drake’s Dealership, in Oakland, and Drake’s BARN in West Sacramento.
It’s unclear what the plans are for Bear Republic’s lakeside brewpub in Rohnert Park and its distribution warehouse in Cloverdale at this time. What Now San Francisco was unable to contact a business representative before the time of publication.
