McKenzie River Corporation
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Industry | Beverages |
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Founded | 1987 |
Headquarters | San Francisco, CA, USA |
Owner | Minott Wessinger |
McKenzie River Corporation is a beverage marketing firm based in San Francisco, CA. Founded in 1987 by Minott Wessinger with the help of his father, Fred Wessinger, the McKenzie River Corporation has launched a number of successful beverage products to the US market.[1]
History
Minott Wessinger began the McKenzie River Corporation (named for the McKenzie River in central Oregon), previously known as McKenzie River Partners, to follow in the footsteps of this great-great grandfather, Henry Weinhard, the Pacific Northwest brewing pioneer.[2] Wessinger is a part of a family tradition of brewing which began in 1856.[3]
Products
- St. Ides Premium Malt Liquor – St. Ides is a malt liquor that was introduced to the US market in 1987. It contains 8.2% ABV (alcohol by volume). The St. Ides brand is now owned by Pabst Brewing Company.
- Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager – After building the Great Northern Brewing Company in Whitefish, MT in 1994, Black Star Beer was launched in early 1995.
- Sparks – Sparks was one of the first alcoholic energy drinks to enter the US beverage market, launching in early 2001.[4]
- Steel Reserve High Gravity Lager – Steel Reserve was introduced in early 2000 and was the first “High Gravity” lager.[5]
- Howling Monkey Energizing Elixir – Howling Monkey is a caffeinated energy drink that was introduced 2007.[6]
- Le Tourment Vert Absinthe Francaise - McKenzie River Corporation began importing Le Tourment Vert to the United States from Distillerie Vinet Ege, near Cognac city, France in early 2008.[7]
- "Air", a first Sparkling Alcohol Water, was launched the summer of 2012. Air has 4% alcohol by volume and is currently available a number of flavors.
Miller Purchase
On August 14, 2006, Miller Brewing announced it had completed the purchase of Sparks and Steel Reserve brands from McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million. Miller had been producing both products prior to this purchase.[8]
References
- ↑ http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4324798
- ↑ http://www.explorewhitefish.com/whitefish_listing.php?uid=9730&listing=Great+Northern+Brewing+Company
- ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=UsKKpvOVRRUC&dq=The%20History%20of%20the%20Oregon%20Country%20scott&lr=&pg=PA637&ci=127,587,696,622&source=bookclip#v=onepage&q=The%20History%20of%20the%20Oregon%20Country%20scott&f=false
- ↑ http://energy-drink-ratings.blogspot.com/2006/06/sparks-energy-drink-review.html
- ↑ http://www.40ozmaltliquor.com/archive/steelreservehg.html
- ↑ http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/howling_monkey
- ↑ http://absintheology.com/le-tourment-vert.html
- ↑ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4115671.html