Popularity Of Craft Beer Could Make New Belgium Sale Attractive

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4)- Colorado's most famous craft brewer may be exploring a sale. New Belgium is reportedly looking for buyers.

Industry leaders say it means craft beers aren't going anywhere as the breweries continue to grow in popularity. Now, bigger beer companies are trying to get in on the profit.

"People do want to buy local, they want to stay closer to home, kind of like what's going on with the food business. And I mean, this is food," said Co-owner of Prost Brewing in Denver, Troy Johnston.

Johnson said he expects the authentic German brewery to nearly double its production in just one year.

But one of Colorado's first to tap into the microbrew market may be looking for a big buyer. Sources claim the employee-owned New Belgium Brewing, the makers of Fat Tire, could value at more than $1 billion.

"They'd be probably foolish not to think about it to some extent," said Johnston.

New Belgium representatives would neither confirm nor deny the prospect of a sale but provided CBS4 with this statement: "New Belgium Brewing's board of directors has an obligation to have ongoing dialogue with capital markets with the goal of making sure that we remain strong leaders in the craft brewing industry. There is no deal pending at this time."

Deal or not, industry experts say craft brewers now hold about 11 percent of the total market. It's good news for owners like Johnston and the value of his business.

"When you can support your family and your lifestyle around it, why not do what you love to do?" said Johnston.

There are more than 300 brewing licenses across the state. That's the most breweries that Colorado has ever seen at one time.