Last week, word got out that Patrick Rue, the founder of The Bruery in Orange County California, and more recently the founder and operator of Erosion Wines in Napa had acquired a 50 percent stake in Moonlight Brewery, a beloved northern California brewery founded 30 years ago by Brian Hunt. 

Moonlight is known for its beers like Death & Taxes and Reality Czech and had been half owned by Lagunitas via Heineken for the past six years. 

I first learned of the news via Beer by BART, a great site run by Gail Ann Williams and Steve Shapiro. If you’re not already following them on social media, rectify that quickly. 

A subsequent press release release from the brewery noted that “Patrick will serve in an advisory capacity and will direct an oak barrel-aging beer program that enhances the integrity and heritage of Moonlight.” 

It continued by saying that under the Heineken co-ownership Moonlight "packaging shifted from exclusively draft to additionally offering beers in cans, and both production and distribution have grown all while keeping sales limited to Northern California. 

The new ownership strengthens Moonlight’s dedication to remaining locally owned. This will allow for patient growth, greater availability of its coveted beers to its fans and wholesale partners, while maintaining the deliciousness and highest quality for which Moonlight is so well known.”

Press release aside, in this episode we hear from the owners directly.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Cigar City Brewing Co.
Check out Fancy Papers from Cigar City Brewing. With aromas of freshly cut grass and tangerine along with white wine grape and bread-like aromas, this Hazy IPA has flavors of guava, melon, and lime leaf. Brewed with Strata, Sabro, and Idaho 7 hops to draw in lovers of fruit-forward Hazy IPAs, get some today where you buy beer and learn more at cigar city brewing. com Learn more at Cigar City Brewing.com 

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• Host: John Holl
• Guests: Brian Hunt and Patrick Rue of Moonlight Brewing
• Sponsors: Cigar City Brewing, The Craft Brewery Cookbook,  All About Beer and The Beer Edge
• Tags: Beer, Ownership, California, Collaboration, Innovation, Wine