JJ Taylor Minnesota Acquires Chisago Lakes Distributing

Acquisition of 88-Year-Old Family Business Expands Beverage Distribution Network

Minneapolis – December 11, 2012 – J.J. Taylor Minnesota, Minnesota’s largest beer distributor, announced today that it has an Agreement to acquire Chisago Lakes Distributing. The acquisition expands the Company’s geographic distribution area as well as the portfolio of brands it distributes.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We’re excited to bring Chisago Lakes into the J.J. Taylor family,” said Mike Bamonti, J.J. Taylor Minnesota president and general manager. “Four generations of Lundquists and Colbergs have built a great family business that fits extremely well with our current operations. We believe that this sort of win-win-win transaction is good for us, good for the Colberg family that has reached the point where a transition of this sort makes sense and – most importantly – good for our customers.”

“We were very careful in looking for a company to join forces with,” said Dale Colberg, Chisago Lakes Distributing president and general manager. “Our customers are our friends and neighbors and our employees are an extension of our family. We wanted a company with the same family business values and the same commitment to great customer service and we found that company in J.J. Taylor. We’re very pleased to be a party to this agreement.”

Chisago Lakes has a distribution area that includes the Minnesota counties of Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey and Washington as well as portions of Dakota, Goodhue, Kanabec, Pine, Scott, Sherburne and Wright Counties. Its portfolio of beers under distribution includes Pabst Brewing Company, Summit Brewing Company, Shmaltz Brewing Company, and Avery Brewing Company to name a few.

The acquisition is expected to close in the next few days.

.