Drake’s Brewing And Figueroa Mountain Brewing Form West Coast Craft Strategic Partnership: Update

Drake’s Brewing Company and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company today announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership, forming a new beer and beverage collaboration dubbed West Coast Craft (WCC).
Led by Drake’s Brewing CEO John Martin and Figueroa Mountain Brewing CEO Jaime Dietenhofer, WCC brings together two established California craft beer companies in a joint venture designed to support long-term brand sustainability, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen independent craft beer across the state. Per Circana data and the Brewers Association definition, the combined brands establish WCC as one of the top three independent craft beer producers in California.

Founded in 1989 and revitalized in 2008 by owners John Martin and Roy Kirkorian, Drake’s Brewing has grown from a small operation into a respected regional brewery known for award-winning beers, innovation, and deep community roots. Figueroa Mountain Brewing, established in 2010 and based in Buellton, CA, has built a strong reputation throughout Central and Southern California for quality, consistency, and regional authenticity. In recent years, each enterprise has expanded their portfolios, with Drake’s acquiring Bear Republic Brewing and Figueroa Mountain adding the House Beer brand, confirming both brewery’s drive to thrive in a changing market.

The West Coast Craft joint venture encompasses a shared production and procurement platform that provides efficiencies across purchasing, distribution, and brewery operations, which leverages each company’s strengths and reduces redundancies. This collaboration allows both companies to adapt thoughtfully to a rapidly changing craft beer landscape.

“Establishing a strong and compelling brand partnership was important to both Jaime and me, so discerning the right fit to ensure quality, consistency, and the continued focus of serving our long-standing communities was critical in our decision to work together” said John Martin, Co-Owner and CEO of Drake’s Brewing Company. “Combining Drake’s strong distribution partners in Northern California with Figueroa Mountain’s reach in Southern California and the Central Coast made sense, with the added opportunity to grow each other’s brands outside of their original strongholds.”

Jaime Dietenhofer, CEO of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, added, “beyond bringing together top-notch California regional brands, we were delighted to find immediate alignment on company culture, dedication to quality, and a shared approach to measured, deliberate brand growth. This partnership positions both companies for long-term success while staying true to what made us successful in the first place.”

Under the WCC partnership, all brands will remain independent when it comes to marketing, branding, and innovation. There is no change in ownership of Drake’s Brewing or Figueroa Mountain Brewing, and all beers will continue to be brewed to the same recipes, quality standards, and specifications consumers expect.

Leveraging efficiency and capacity, production will be shifted between breweries for best fit. Figueroa Mountain’s Buellton facility will handle most core brand production, while Drake’s San Leandro brewery will focus on innovation, including limited releases and alternative beverages, along with NorCal draft production and some contract brewing. All Drake’s & Figueroa Mountain retail locations and community-focused activities will remain unchanged and continue to be owned and managed by their respective breweries.

“Our brewing teams have worked closely together to ensure seamless continuity,” said Roy Kirkorian, Co-Owner of Drake’s Brewing Company. “This is an operational shift, not a brand shift. The beer in your glass remains the beer you love.

As barrelage production expands in Buellton, Figueroa Mountain plans to increase employment at that facility, while the San Leandro brewery will see a net reduction in production-focused roles. John Martin and Jaime Dietenhofer will continue in their long-time leadership roles for their respective brands while working collaboratively to ensure the success of West Coast Craft.

While Drake’s Brewing, Bear Republic Brewing, Figueroa Mountain Brewing, and House Beer are the initial brands within the Joint Venture, the partner
s are already entertaining interest from other west coast beverage brands aligned with the WCC values and vision.
This partnership reflects a broader movement within independent craft beer toward smarter, more sustainable operating models—allowing breweries to focus on what matters most: making great beer and connecting with communities.

About Drake’s Brewing Co.

Drake’s Brewing Co. is an independent, family-owned craft brewery founded in 1989 in San Leandro, CA. Drake’s is known for its innovative and high-quality beers, such as 1500 Pale Ale, Denogginizer Double IPA, Aroma Coma, and Juicy Hoot Hazy IPA. Drake’s operates multiple locations, including Drake’s Barrel House in San Leandro, Drake’s Dealership in Oakland, Drake’s: The Barn in West Sacramento, and Drake’s Flyaway at SFO (by License). Drake’s is committed to supporting its local community and environment through various initiatives and events. For more information, visit www.drinkdrakes.com and for media inquiries reach out to [email protected].

About Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.

Figueroa Mountain Brewing (Fig Mtn Brew), located in Buellton, CA, was founded in 2010 by a father and son team Jim and Jaime Dietenhofer, and remains Independent. Known for its award-winning beers, Fig Mtn Brew focuses on true-to-style brews of both ales and lagers. Flagship beers include Hoppy Poppy IPA, Lizard’s Mouth Imperial IPA, Point Conception IPA, and the Danish Red Lager. Fig Mtn Brew has won 35 GABF medals during their tenure and has the record of 15 consecutive years of winning a GABF medal. There are four locations, Buellton, Santa Barbara, Los Olivos, and Westlake Village. Buellton is the main manufacturing facility and recently completed an expansion project with a brewing capacity of 100k bbls. Jim Dietenhofer passed away in 2019, and Jaime Dietenhofer continues to run the company as CEO. For more information, visit www.figmtnbrew.com and for media inquiries reach out to [email protected].

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