MillerCoors Just Bought Athens's Terrapin Beer Co.

One of the staples in Georgia's booming craft beer scene is now a subsidiary of a major American macro. Terrapin Beer Co., which was founded in Athens in 2002, is now under the MillerCoors umbrella. Tenth and Blake, the brewing giant's craft and import division, has purchased "a majority interest" in Terrapin, according to a Wednesday announcement.

Tenth and Blake purchased a minority interest in the Athens brewery back in 2012. In the years since, Terrapin co-founder Brian Buckowski says the investment has helped his company "create innovative beers to share with beer lovers nationwide." Going forward, MillerCoors says Terrapin will independently operate as a business unit of Tenth and Blake, and it will continue to produce its own products, packaging, and brands.

"The team at Terrapin is so passionate and committed to brewing such terrific beers that we are thrilled to welcome them deeper into the Tenth and Blake family," Scott Whitley, president and chief executive officer of Tenth and Blake, said in a prepared statement. "As owners, our job is to work collaboratively with their team to support their continued success with their innovative, award-winning beers that complement our portfolio perfectly."

The deal is expected to be completed next month. Other breweries operating as business units under Tenth and Blake include Blue Moon Brewing Company (Golden, Colo.), Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company (Chippewa Falls, Wisc.), and Saint Archer Brewing Company (San Diego).

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