Maryland’s DuClaw Brewing Company Acquired by New Jersey’s River Horse Brewing Company

The Maryland beer scene recently received big news when Flying Dog announced it was sold and will be moving production Frederick to New York. DuClaw Brewing Company has made a joint announcement with River Horse Brewing Company that it has been acquired by the New Jersey brewer. The full joint statement can be seen below:

“Attention NJ & MD craft beer lovers- we have an announcement! New Jersey’s River Horse Brewing Company, in Ewing, NJ has acquired DuClaw Brewing Company of Baltimore, MD. The powerful combination of two beloved brands that each boast a legacy of over 25 years of great beer will ensure the continued success of these products.

While each brand will be managed separately, the efficiencies created by combining facilities and sharing production capacity and certain distribution partnerships will strengthen both entities. Dave Benfield, Founder of DuClaw will continue to be the driving force behind the strategy, portfolio, product innovation and vibe of DuClaw and will ensure the continuity of the highest quality beer. River Horse will be expanding capacity in its Ewing, NJ facility in order to meet the demands of DuClaw’s national distribution footprint. Stay tuned to some new innovative product releases to supplement the amazing DuClaw lineup.

“From the first day that we sat down with Dave to discuss a possible combination, we knew that this would be a wonderful partnership.” Says River Horse’s Chris Walsh. “Dave is one of the most innovative minds in brewing and is always ahead of the curve in his flavor profile formulations.” Dave is thrilled to transition the production responsibilities to the team in Ewing, NJ so he can give 100% of his attention to the part of the business that he truly loves, products, strategy and sales.

“The operations side of brewing is challenging, and at the end of the day I was spending too much of my time and energy chasing the latest mechanical, supply or logistical issue, and was taken away from driving the brand the way I wanted.” Says Benfield. “This partnership will allow me to focus on what I am best at.”

Don’t expect to see too many changes though, you should be able to get your favorite River Horse and DuClaw beers at your local store and taverns without interruption. River Horse is currently seeking new team members. Anyone interested in becoming part of the brewing, packaging or cellaring team should send a resume to [email protected]”