Constellation Brands, distributor of beer brands including Corona and owner of brands including Ballast Point, has acquired the Four Corners craft brewery for an undisclosed sum. The Texas-based brewery will be incorporated into Constellation’s Craft and Speciality Beer Group, which was expanded last year with the purchase of Florida-based Funky Buddha, and will reportedly maintain all current management and existing staff at the brewery.

George Esquivel, Greg Leftwich and Steve Porcari founded Four Corners in 2012 and the brewery’s flagship products include Local Buzz Honey-Rye Golden Ale and El Chingón IPA. Notably, the brewery has seen significant success in the last few years, with a press release reporting that sales have increased five-fold since 2014; in addition, the brewery expanded last year to allow a capacity increase from 8,000 barrels in 2016 to 25,000 barrels in 2017. According to the Brewers Association, an industry trade group representing small and independent craft breweries, Four Corners is estimated to have produced 11, 560 barrels in 2017.

Four Corners co-founder, George Esquivel, said: “We like to say that Four Corners Brewing is our collective beer journey, and partnering with Constellation continues that journey by opening amazing possibilities of where our brand and company can go.

We’re proud Texas brewers, and we’ve always had intent of sharing our brews and our story with as many people as possible. We know Constellation Brands is the right partner to help us do that”.

“We’re proud Texas brewers, and we’ve always had intent of sharing our brews and our story with as many people as possible. We know Constellation Brands is the right partner to help us do that”.

Since its founding, the brewery has won local awards for brewing and branding, including D Magazine’s 2015 Editors’ Choice Award for Best Brewery and The Dallas Society of Visual Communications’ 2015 gold for packaging design and gold for Judge’s Choice. Four Corners expanded distribution outside of Dallas earlier this year via 2-Row Distributing, a division of Del Papa Distributing, which also distributes Constellation Brands’ products. Four Corners has further established connection to Constellation via its distribution agreements with Houston’s Silver Eagle Distributing, and Dallas’ Andrews Distributing, both of which also handle products from Constellation.

President and chief operating officer at Constellation Brands, Bill Newlands, added: “Four Corners brings a culture that mixes adventure and innovation with elements of heritage and tradition.

“It’s a compelling opportunity for Constellation because Four Corners’ bicultural inspired flavours and branding capitalise on one of the hottest trends in beer – Hispanic influenced products. George, Greg and Steve have created beers that are big on flavour, refreshing and pair well with bold Texas cuisine, while creating a brand that embraces and reflects the diversity of its people. We’re excited to help them take the brand further.”

In addition to Funky Buddha, Constellation acquired Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits for $1bn in November 2015 and in October 2016 made a deal to purchase Obregon Brewery for $600m. The number three beer company in the US, Constellation saw first-quarter net sales rise by 6% last month to $2.05bn and, within its beer portfolio specifically, volume increased by 8.6% and net sales increased by 11%.