Kings & Convicts Brewing Company, the organization that bought Ballast Point in December 2019, has announced it will be taking over Saint Archer Brewing facilities in San Diego's Miramar and Leucadia neighborhoods.
Kings & Convicts is a privately-held company backed by a small group of investors who are passionate about the Ballast Point brand and who are focused on the long term. Co-founded in 2017 by Englishman, COO and head brewer, Chris Bradley, and Aussie and CEO, Brendan Watters, Kings & Convicts currently brews ales and lagers out of its 5,000 square-foot Highwood brewery and taproom in the North Shore of Chicago, which are available on draft and in cans at the taproom and in bars and restaurants across Chicago and Wisconsin. With many years between them separately operating and managing successful global businesses in the hospitality, finance, GPS and mobile technology sectors, Chris and Brendan connected over their mutual love for good craft beer. The duo previously announced plans to open a second location of Kings & Convicts in Pleasant Prairie, WI, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, but that project may be scrapped. In December 2019, it was announced that Kings & Convicts had purchased San Diego-based Ballast Point Brewing Company from its previous owner Constellation Brands."That's right mates, we are officially coming to San Diego!," posted Kings & Convicts Brewing on its social media channels. "Raise a glass and get ready for a hell of a time with K&C in SD.The new Miramar and Leucadia tasting rooms will become the first official Kings & Convicts locations in San Diego. We can’t wait to highlight the entire K&C portfolio, along with some additional independent craft breweries to the thirsty San Diegans. The new Miramar production facility will begin brewing our own year-round core beers and specialty releases! The party won't stop there though, we will also be helping with small-batch beers for our crew over Ballast Point Brewing and some exciting brand-new independent craft beverage products."
Kings & Convicts is taking over Saint Archer's 100,000-barrel capacity Miramar brewery and adjoining taproom, as well as its 1,200-square-foot taproom in Leucadia. The nearly 9-year-old Saint Archer's craft brewery sold to beer-behemoth MillerCoors in 2015, but with the sale of its San Diego properties, Molson Coors has announced it is shutting down the Saint Archer’s brand for the time being.
When the deal closes in the coming weeks, Kings & Convicts will open a full-scale brewery at the former Saint Archer's headquarters at 9550 Distribution Avenue in Miramar. The 50,000 square-foot brewing space will serve as Kings & Convicts West Coast headquarters, with the canning line pumping out beers that will soon be found in local stores. The company will also open a 1,200 square-foot tasting room at 978 North Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas. Many former Saint Archer's employees will be invited to stay on board and work for Kings & Convicts.
For more information about The Kings & Convicts Brewing Co., visit kingsandconvicts.com.
