Who owns KIRKLAND BEER?

KIRKLAND BEER is owned by

Kirkland Signature Beer is a white label beer brewed for Costco, and produced by several companies throughout the years. It is named after Kirkland, Washington, where Costco is headquartered. The beer was first brewed in 2008 by Gordon Biersch in San Jose, California, under the name “Hopfen und Malz Brewing.” At the time, Gordon Biersch was owned by Big River Breweries, a brewpub company based out of Chattanooga Tennessee. The company later was later acquired with Rock Bottom Breweries in 2010 by Centerbridge Capital Partners, who named the new group CraftWorks Restaurants and Breweries. However, in 2020 CraftWorks went bankrupt, and was purchased by private equity group SPB hospitality.

In 2009, Kirkland beer also began to be brewed by F.X. Matt Brewing in Utica, New York, under the name “New Yorker Brewing.” As a result, Gordon Biersch brewed the beer for the company’s stores in the Western United States, while F.X. Matt brewed it for the Eastern United States.

These first beers were initially craft styles like hefeweizen and IPA, but in 2014 Costco began selling their own light beer to compete with commodity brands under the label Kirkland Light. This beer was made by Minhas Craft Brewery in Monroe, Wisconsin under the name “Regal Brau Brewing Company.” However, that brand was discontinued in 2018.

In 2016, F.X. Matt lost the contract to brew the beer for the Eastern United States. The rights were subsequently awarded to Stevens Point Brewery out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.