Kirin’s New Belgium Brewery sells San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing

August 26, 2024 – Another Japanese brewing giant is selling off a San Francisco brewing legend. The New Belgium division of Kirin is selling the Haight-Ashbury’s Magnolia Brewing, according to reporting today from the San Francisco Chronicle.

The brewery will go to three San Franciscans with ties to the brewing and bar business. Kevin Kynoch, who owns local bars Fly Bar, Fishbowl and Polo Grounds, is teaming up with Brandon Phillips (formerly of 21st Amendment Brewery) and Brian Reccow, who managed Magnolia during their bankruptcy. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Magnolia was founded in 1997 by Dan McLean, who many credit as helping to greatly expand the prominence of the San Francisco beer scene. The brewery achieved a cult status among locals, and later added a second location in the Dogpatch neighborhood of the city. In 2015, however, Magnolia went bankrupt, and was purchased by New Belgium for $2.7 million in 2017. Two years later, New Belgium itself was purchased by Kirin.

According to the Chronicle’s reporting, McLean has recently tried to buy back Magnolia, but was unsuccessful.

Kynoch, Phillips, and Reccow will take position of the business on September 1st, and expect to shut down temporarily as they get things in order. They also say they hope to keep their current staff.