Fish Brewing Buys Spire Mountain Cider

Jan 21, 2005 - The Fish Brewing Company, of Olympia, Washington, has acquired Spire

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Mountain Cider from the Washington Wine and Beverage Company in Woodinville,

Washington. Spire Mountain Cider changed hands in a full asset purchase that

will relocate all cider production to the Fish Brewery in Olympia by late

January. The deal for Spire Mountain Cider involved a transfer of Fish

Brewing stock to the Washington Wine and Beverage Company, making W.W.B.C. a

significant shareholder in Fish Brewing Co.

Founded in the mid-1980s, Spire Mountain Cider is America's longest

continuously operating cider brand and the best selling craft cider brand in

the Pacific Northwest. Spire is the dominant player in Washington State,

with four cider styles available: Hard Apple, Hard Pear, Dark and Dry Apple,

and Spiced Apple, in 12oz, 22oz, and draft kegs. Now, as a result of the

acquisition, Spire Mountain Ciders are poised for even further expansion in

the neighboring Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia markets, as the

brand is introduced to Fish Brewing Company's extensive distributor network.

For Fish Brewing, this latest purchase makes the Company a three-brand

house, including the organic Fish Tale Ales, the Leavenworth Beers, and the

Spire Mountain Ciders. With the recent addition of a new 40 bbl DME

brewhouse, the acquisition of Spire Mountain's fermenting and bottling

equipment, and the vast assortment of brewing and packaging equipment bought

on auction at the Olympia Brewery, Fish Brewing has positioned itself for

substantial expansion in production and sales.