Today it was announced that one of the 'big boy breweries', Lion, is on the verge of buying up all remaining shares of Little World Beverages known mainly for their exquisite range of beers under the Little Creatures banner.
Lion are a large company that own big brands such as XXXX, Tooheys, Hahn and Boag's.
Apart from Little Creatures, Little World Beverages are responsible for the White Rabbit and Pipsqueak Cider brands.
Part of my initial attraction to craft beer here in Australia was that there are so many individual, small breweries like Little World doing their own thing - very successfully I might add. These 'boutique' breweries dared to go where nobody has before. Dared to be different to the 'big boys'. Dared to stand up and be heard. So, with this in mind, it's a shame to see one of the more unique breweries swallowed up by a large conglomerate.
However, what does this buy-out mean for me, the beer lover? Who knows. Perhaps it's too early to say. One thing is for sure. If the WA based Little World can tap into Lion's distribution network then us Queensland dwellers may well see the products on shelves sooner rather than later. I can sometimes wait patiently for up to 3 weeks for a new Little Creatures to be readilly avaiable.
Time will tell if the Lion ownership steers Little Creatures beers into more of a mainstream presence. I, for one, am hoping that they invest in Little Creatures properly and encourage the diversity that Aussie beer lovers have all been accustomed to in recent years. I want to continue to enjoy the same outstanding releases that have made me a huge Little Creatures fan.
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