Farm + Ferment acquires Arbor Brewing Company, plans Ypsi brewery expansion

The Arbor Brewing Company officially announced the sale of the company to Farm + Ferment, a group of Michigan-based hospitality businesses that includes Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina.

As we reported on Monday, Bigalora's owners - now revealed to be Farm + Ferment - planned to buy ABC's North American operations.

Farm + Ferment Managing Partner Mike Collins tells MT that the Greffs no longer have any equity in the current and future ABC U.S. operation, but, as part of the agreement, will continue to partner on their India brewery. As of now, the U.S. operation includes The ABC Microbrewery in Ypsilanti and the Arbor BrewPub in Ann Arbor.

The Greffs and Farm + Ferment will also work jointly on any new projects elsewhere in the world, Collins says, and he adds that "the Greffs will consult with us in the U.S. and continue as brand ambassadors and ombudsmen."

All investors in Ypsilanti's ABC Microbrewery were bought out as part of the deal.

Notably, Farm + Ferment said in its press release that it plans to expand the ABC Microbrewery's capacity and open more breweries around the state.

"We're undergoing an analysis right now, but the goal is to expand the capacity in Ypsilanti to service what we see as future growth both from our existing ABC operations, and existing Bigalora operations," Collins tells MT. "We do plan on opening up Arbor BrewPubs in different locations around the state, and expect to expand the Bigalora brand, as well.

"We really view this as a partnership and being complimentary to our existing businesses."

Other Farm + Ferment companies include the Michigan Hop Alliance, Northport Farms, Baia Estate Vineyard, Bacco Ristorante, and Cloverleaf Fine Wine.

The acquisition fits particularly well with the Michigan Hop Alliance operation, Collins says, and will allow them to do more single hop and Michigan only varieties.