Alamo Beer Co. has new owners intent on putting it back on the growth track. Credit: Courtesy Photo /. Alamo Beer Co.
Australian private-equity firm SKJ Capital has closed a deal to buy San Antonio’s largest craft-brewing operation, Alamo Beer Co., for an undisclosed amount, officials said Tuesday.
Family-owned SKJ placed a bid for Alamo Beer after the brewery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in February. It’s the Brisbane-based company’s first purchase in the U.S. market.
Alamo Beer filed for protection from its debtors amid a nationwide slump in beer consumption. Last fall, Alamo founder Eugene Simor told the Current that his operation, while capable of producing 40,000 barrels annually, was running at less than 20% capacity.
As owner, SKJ will continue to operate Alamo Beer at its east-of-downtown. Officials with the Australian firm also said they’ll provide strategic oversight so the brewer can stabilize and eventually grow again.
“Alamo Beer Company is a local favorite and a true San Antonio landmark,” SKJ CEO Sam Johnson said in an emailed statement. “We’re proud to welcome Alamo into our portfolio. Our goal is to provide the resources, expertise and long-term strategy needed to strengthen operations and secure its future.”
New CEO
As part of the deal, SKJ Capital appointed Jason Pond as Alamo Beer’s new CEO. Pond has two decades’ experience working with craft-beer companies including Firestone Walker Brewing Co., BrewDog and Rogue Ales & Spirits, according to SKJ officials.
“Alamo Beer Company has a rich history backed by a strong community here in San Antonio,” Pond said in a statement. “I’m excited to bring new life to the brand while positioning the company for future expansion.”
The brewery will also undergo renovations to modernize its operations and give new sparkle to its taproom experience, SKJ officials said.
“With SKJ Capital’s leadership, Alamo Beer Co. will continue producing the beers San Antonians know and love while enabling new seasonal releases,” founder Simor said via email. “We’re excited to enhance the customer experience and begin this next chapter.”
Changing consumer tastes
Simor established Alamo Beer in 1997, initially producing brands such as Alamo Golden Ale through contract brewers. The company set up its brewery and taproom in 2015, turning it into a destination for craft-beer enthusiasts and site for community events.
In 2023, Alamo Beer expanded via a merger with VIVA Beer and Shotgun, and last year, the company partnered with Disney to launch Alamo Beer, a real version of the fictional brand of suds featured in Hulu animated show King of the Hill.
Alamo Beer’s Chapter 11 filing came as a bevy of other San Antonio brewers shut their doors, citing sluggish sales and changing consumer tastes. The city’s recent craft beer casualties include Weathered Souls Brewing Co., Busted Sandal Brewing Co. and Second Pitch Brewing Co., among others.
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