B3 Beverage Company is adding Heavy Seas Beer, Maryland’s biggest craft brewery, to its growing platform, the companies announced Thursday.
The nearly 30-year-old craft brewery joins Yards Brewing Co. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Two Roads Brewing (Stratford, Connecticut) and Bald Birds Brewing Co. (Audubon & Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania) in what was first described in May as a multi-facility contract brewing platform.
“The craft beer and beverage industry is at an inflection point. By combining resources, we create efficiency, scale, and reach that would be difficult for any one brewery to achieve on its own,” Heavy Seas founder Hugh Sisson said in the announcement. “This partnership gives each brand the ability to thrive while staying true to its roots. It’s a way to face future challenges together – stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.”
Beer Marketer’s Insights first reported B3’s “strategic acquisition” of Heavy Seas.
Heavy Seas, which was founded under the Clipper City Brewing name, is Maryland’s largest craft brewery by far. The company produced 24,551 barrels of beer in 2024, according to the state of Maryland’s alcohol and tobacco tax annual report.
Production has declined in recent years, falling slightly year-over-year from the 26,528 barrels produced in 2023. However, Heavy Seas’ output has been cut in half since 2019 when the company produced 51,380 barrels, according to state data.
In the deal announcement, B3 described its mission as “to unite strong regional brands, preserve their independence, and provide the resources to thrive in an evolving marketplace” The company referred to itself as “an integrated beverage platform designed to expand production capacity, streamline operations, unlock broader distribution, and accelerate innovation” for its four East Coast brands.
On the verge of Heavy Seas’ 30th anniversary, Sisson acknowledged now is “the right moment to step back from the day-to-day,” although he quoted Monty Python saying “I’m not dead yet! I’ll still be involved.”
Heavy Seas’ leadership team within B3 will include Caroline Sisson, marketing director and Sisson’s daughter; Charlie Oxendine, sales director; Chris Leonard, brewmaster; and John Eugeni, production manager. Bald Birds founder Joe Feerrar leads B3 as CEO.
Partnering with B3 will allow Heavy Seas to diversify its offerings and add non-alcoholic (NA) products, craft sodas and other beyond beer offerings.
“This partnership allows us to leverage shared production across facilities when it makes sense, while keeping our home base focused on brewing innovation and new product development,” Sisson said in the announcement. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
In the May deal with Two Roads and Yards, leaders of Two Roads, Yards and Bald Birds remained in place at their respective companies. All three maintained existing operations.