Huber Brewing Sold

Joseph Huber Brewing Company Bought By Canadian Brewer Huber Brewing Updated: 7:46 PM Sep 20, 2006 Zac Schultz Monroe: The Joseph Huber Brewing Company in Monroe is being purchased by a Canadian company. "This is a win–win for everybody," says Bob Nichols, president of the Joseph Huber Brewing Company. The new owner is Canada based Mountain Crest Brewing Company. "This really allows for potential expansion, hiring of additional employees, and some capital improvements at the brewery as well," says Nichols. Huber already contract–brews Mountain Crest beer along with its own beers, and the brewery will continue to do so. "It really won't mean any changes other than on the sales and marketing side. We will continue to sell and market the Berghoff brands as well as Blumers, Huber, most of the labels," says Nichols. The Berghoff line of beers will be spun off into its own company, and brewmaster Kristopher Kalav is ready to introduce 3 new beers by early next year. "I'm very excited about the whole prospect. I think we're going to be able to continue to grow and come out with new and different products that with any luck people will like as much as I do." Another benefit to the sale is the new owner will help distribute Berghoff outside the Midwest. "This is going to allow us to expand to both the east and the west coast as well as some of the southern markets," says Nichols. "To be able to come from a small town family brewery and be able to have at least national distribution–that sort of thing is very exciting," says Kalav. But perhaps most importantly Wisconsin's oldest brewery will just keep on brewing. "The Joseph Huber Brewing Company is the second oldest brewery in the country, and for us that heritage is essential," says Nichols.