facebook-pixel

National beer importer acquires Utah’s Uinta Brewing

USBeverage acquires Utah’s largest independent brewery, creator of Cutthroat Pale Ale and other brands.

(Scott Sommerdorf | Salt Lake Tribune file photo) A bartender pours a 3.2 draft beer at Uinta Brewing's tasting area in 2017. National beer importer USBeverage announced on Jan. 10, 2022, that it has acquired Uinta, Utah's largest independent beer maker.

  | Jan. 10, 2022, 9:49 p.m.
| Updated: Jan. 11, 2022, 4:29 p.m.

One of the country’s biggest independent beer importers has acquired Utah’s largest independent craft brewer, Unita Brewing Co.

United States Beverage, founded in 1997 and based in Stamford, Conn., announced the acquisition Monday. No terms for the sale were disclosed.

In a news release, the company said “both USBeverage and Uinta have confirmed that Uinta leadership, operations and staff will remain in place.”

Uinta has been locally owned and operated since its start in 1993. It’s known statewide for such award-winning beers as Cutthroat Pale Ale, Detour Double IPA and Lime Pilsner.

USBeverage owns a variety of brands, including Malibu Splash, Estrella Damm and Dragon Stout Fire.

The sale comes on the heels of two tough years for the craft beer industry, which saw a 9% production decline in 2020. Unita Brewing Co. was on the list of Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in the country in 2019, but not 2020.