Brick Up For Sale?

In a not completely unexpected move, Waterloo’s Brick Brewing issued a press release earlier this week indicating that it has “commenced a review of strategic alternatives available to the Company to enhance shareholder value” – basically the same message that came from Sleeman a few months before their sale to Sapporo last year.
Some analysts are suggesting that Molson would be the most likely suitor in a potential sale, primarily to pick up the Laker portfolio of discount beers, a market that Labatt grabbed a large portion of with their recent purchase of Lakeport. Although others say that Laker and other Brick brands aren’t established enough for a larger brewery to take interest, and a private equity fund would be a more likely buyer.
In the meantime, it’s still business as usual for Brick. To mark the 24th anniversary of the classic beer-swilling film Strange Brew, all cases of Red Cap sold from now through the end of the summer will include one of six clear stubby bottles featuring a Bob & Doug McKenzie label. And on the contract brewing front, PC Blanche was recently launched, and a deal has just been signed with Banks Brewing of Barbados to brew the non-alcoholic Tiger Malt for the Canadian market.