Delaware-based brewery merges with Boston Beer

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – The world of beer is talking about: The takeover of Dogfish Head Brewery, in Delaware, by beer brewer Sam Adams, based in Boston.

Tom Peters is more than your average beer consumer.

"I'm a pure nerd of beer," he says with a smile.

Beer is his business as a co-owner of Monk's Tavern, in the city center. The bar offers more than 200 varieties of beer from around the world, with breweries often using the Philadelphia bar personally.

"We had people from around the world come here, and they want us to have their beer.

Peters remembers the day the owner of a small local brewery came to his bar over 20 years ago, asking him to consider wearing a Dogfish Head beer. After a taste, Peters decided to sell the beer to his customers. And he has been wearing it ever since.

"We sell a lot of their beer," he said.

But on Thursday it was announced that there would be a big change in the brewery's Delaware-based business. Dogfish Head merges with Boston Beer, the company that makes Sam Adams beer. The $ 300 million mergers are a surprise to some loyal customers.

"To be honest, I'm totally surprised by that," said Paul Bonney sitting at a table at Monk's.

The immediate concern is whether the beer will change. A spokesman for Boston Beer says that will not be the case. The company will keep its recipes and ingredients. He will also keep his brewery and distillery in Delaware. The presence of beer will probably develop in shops and restaurants.

"I think it's a good thing," said Stewart Ricker while drinking some of his friends. "It's good that a craft brewer buys another craft brewer."

Peters was thinking in the same direction when he decided to continue carrying Dogfish right after the announcement of the merger.

"When a big company buys a small brewery, I usually drop the beer immediately," he said. "I do not like corporations that run the world."

However, after thinking about it, Peters began to think that the two companies were more family than the big ones.

"The more I think, the more I like the idea of ​​a survival issue of craft beer," he said.

Dogfish Head has the distinction of being the country's 13th largest craft beer producer. Consumers state that they will continue to be loyal to the brand as long as the beer maintains its quality.

"I'm going to drink," Ricker said. "As long as it's good."