Seattle's Elysian Brewing Sold To Anheuser-Busch

Elysian Brewing of Seattle – and of deliciously hoppy IPAs – is being sold to Anheuser-Busch, the big beer company headquartered in St. Louis.

"Throughout our journey we've been focused on brewing a portfolio of both classic and groundbreaking beers and supporting innovation and camaraderie in the beer industry," Dick Cantwell, Elysian co-founder and head brewer told The Associated Press.

"By joining with Anheuser-Busch we'll be able to take the next steps to bring that energy and commitment to a larger audience."

Elysian is a craft brewing company that operates four pubs in Seattle. It’s a craft operation, which means that the brewery is a small, independent operation that makes beer in the traditional way. Independent means that it’s at least 75 percent owned by a craft brewer, according to the Brewers Association.

Elysian was founded in 1995, and its first location opened in 1995. Its founders were Dave Buhler, a former liquor wholesaler, Joe Bisacca, formerly of Seafirst Bank, and brewer Dick Cantwell.

In 2003, they met with big beer company Pyramid about a possible sale. At the time, they said they couldn’t sell the business at just enough of a profit to retire, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Anheuser-Busch has been venturing into the Northwest, it appears – last year, it bought the tiny 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend, Oregon, which is a bit of a mecca when it comes to craft beer brewing.