Founder of Boneyard to obtain shareholding in Deschutes as part of the deal
BEND, Oregon. (KTVZ) – In Bend, beer is big business, which is why a new business partnership announced Wednesday between Deschutes Brewery and Boneyard Beer is great news.
Deschutes Brewery President Michael LaLonde told NewsChannel 21, “What is happening is that Deschutes is taking over the Boneyard brand and all of its beer brands, its recipes, the location they have on Lake, which is the original Boneyard pub and tasting room “
Boneyard co-founder Tony Lawrence is getting a stake in the business.
“Tony really does own the Deschutes Brewery,” said LaLonde. “So it’s really Deschutes who will have his brand, supported by everyone in the company. Tony will have the freedom to pursue his brand.”
Lawrence says he is excited about the potential this business has for his long-held brand.
“When I travel outside the region and see customer feedback or their interest, or their own curiosity,” said Lawrence. “Now we can put this to work and see where the Boneyard brand is in history, up and down the West Coast, and where our IPAs and the liquids we produce really fall into.”
Deschutes founder Gary Fish says the ad quickly became big news in the world of beer and craft beer.
“Since we made the announcement at 10 am this morning, we have received calls from around the country about this business and about the possibility of obtaining the Boneyard brand,” said Fish.
Asked whether Boneyard will begin mass distribution, like Deschutes Brewery, LaLonde said they have big plans – but that they will be done in small steps.
“At the moment, we have a lot of big plans for Boneyard, but we want to make sure it is successful,” he said. “It will be small steps. At the moment, they have distribution in Oregon, a little in Washington, a little in northern California. That’s where we’re going to focus, and as soon as we fill that footprint, it will be when we think of other regions.”