Craft brewers in the U.S. might be both in awe and disappointment as Lagunitas, California's top craft brewer, had recently agreed to have its 50 percent equity be bought by Dutch company Heineken.
The maker of craft beer brands Lagunitas IPA, Hop Stoopid and Maximus had confirmed that it is pursuing the deal with Heineken that is about to be concluded in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to the Chicago Tribune.
This move establishes Heineken's foothold in the growing craft beer segment and Lagunitas' continuous expansion.
The successful craft beer maker has its operations in Petaluma, Calif. and Chicago, and it's eying a third in Azusa, Calif., the Chicago Tribune reported.
Lagunitas founder Tony Magee has assured craft beer fans and loyal patrons that he would still be at the company's helm operations in spite of Heineken's equity purchase.
Magee spoke through Tumblr and beer advocate forums, saying that the deal with Heineken is for the better and even spread the love on Beer Advocate for "the home-grown vibe of American craft brewing," according to AdWeek.
He noted that some publications have written about the Dutch brewer buying a part of Lagunitas but have failed to mention that his company is gaining access to global distribution from a partner that Lagunitas believes it can trust.
"We look forward to that same team partnering with us to expand Lagunitas globally, so it can reach parts of the world that other craft beer brands have not," Jean-François van Boxmeer, chief executive of Heineken, said in a statement, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Heineken said that Lagunitas craft beer, which is known for its India pale ale, is the fastest-growing category in the U.S. craft segment. Craft beer is currently outperforming the overall U.S. beer market, representing 11 percent of total volumes.