Keystone Brewing Group has announced an exclusive GB-wide sales and distribution partnership with Hofmeister, named world’s best lagers at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).
The deal expands Keystone’s premium brand portfolio and will enable Hofmeister to significantly scale its British operations.
First brewed in the UK in the 1970s, lifelong friends Spencer Chambers and Richard Longhurst relaunched the iconic brand after acquiring it from Heineken in 2016, moving brewing to Bavaria, the birthplace of lager. There, 500-year-old purity laws mean the beer is brewed from just three of the very finest local ingredients. In 2017, the first kegging of Hofmeister Helles (5% ABV) took place.
The award-winning Hofmeister range is built on premium authentic Bavarian beers — Helles Lager (5% ABV) and Weisse (5.1% ABV), a Bavarian wheat beer. The brewery has also recently expanded into the low and no market with its Bearly Any, 0.5% ABV Helles.
The new partnership will enable Hofmeister to leverage Keystone’s extensive on- and off-trade distribution network throughout Britain, with the aim of tripling its production output over the next three years.
“Keystone is excited to welcome such an iconic, international beer brand to the group,” said chief executive Steve Cox. “There has been a gap in our portfolio for a world lager, and, with its exceptional quality, Hofmeister is the perfect addition.
“World lager is one of the fastest-growing alcohol categories in the UK on trade, and we know that consumers love Hofmeister’s brand heritage and want to see more of it. As such, the deal supports our broader strategy of building a £100m portfolio of exceptional beer brands and beverages by 2028.”
In a statement, Hofmeister co-founders and joint CEOs, Spencer Chambers and Richard Longhurst, saidthey had long admired Keystone and its portfolio of brands, recognising it as a true disruptor in the market.
“With its unwavering dedication to quality and innovation, Keystone is a natural fit for Hofmeister, aligning with our core values.
“Keystone’s distinctive, character-driven portfolio is a perfect match for Hofmeister, and we’re excited to stand shoulder to shoulder with such renowned breweries as Black Sheep Brewery. We look forward to elevating our beers to new heights and expanding their reach to even more consumers across England, Scotland and Wales.”
