Maui Brewing Hands Over Management of Modern Times to Wings & Arrow Brewing

October 24, 2024 – Just two years after purchasing the brand out of bankruptcy, Maui Brewing owners Craft ‘Ohana appear ready to hand over San Diego-based Modern Times Brewing to a new manager: Josh Landan’s Wings & Arrow Brewing.

In an announcement from the company dated today, Craft ‘Ohana CEO Garrett Marrero cited “the need for strategic partnerships to help Modern Times flourish while enabling us to focus fully on our core Maui brands.” As part of the move, San Diego’s Wings & Arrow will take over day-to-day management of the Modern Times brand, while Craft ‘Ohana will still retain a stake in the brand.

Management of Modern Times’ coffee and hospitality businesses, which includes 3 locations in San Diego, will be separated out to a different investment group led by San Diego businessman Duncan Ward.

Modern Times was originally founded in 2013 by Jacob MacKean, and quickly became a darling of the San Diego beer scene. However, the brand suffered significantly after allegations of sexual harassment, and in 2021 MacKean resigned as CEO. In 2022, the company went bankrupt.

Who would take over ownership of the brand became a public saga, with Anaheim’s Brewery X originally beating the now-defunct TRU Colors Brewery in the court-ordered auction. Brewery X later failed to bring forward the funds for the sale, and TRU colors later backed out as well. That left Maui, the stalking horse bidder in the sale, as the winner, with a price of $15.3 million.

When Maui won the auction, they merged both companies into a new holding company, Craft ‘Ohana, which Marrero became the CEO of.

Wings & Arrow was founded in San Diego in 2021 by former Saint Archer founder Josh Landan. In 2023, they merged with Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing to become Great Frontier Holdings. The company also owns several other brands, including Ecliptic Brewing and Ashland Hard Seltzer.