Fremont Brewing Sold

Seattle Hospitality Group has acquired a controlling interest in Seattle’s Fremont Brewing, three years after it acquired another iconic Seattle company, Pike Brewing. Seattle Hospitality Group is also the parent company of Ethan Stowell Restaurants.

“Both of our breweries share a deep-rooted passion for brewing exceptional beer and fostering meaningful connections within the local community,” said Fremont Brewing owner Matt Lincecum in a press release. Lincecum co-founded the brewery with Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson in 2009. “Keeping it local is really what this partnership with SHG, Pike, and Fremont is all about.”

Pike Brewing, founded by Charles and the late Rose Ann Finkel in 1989, is considered among the state’s most iconic brewers. It operates a landmark location at Seattle’s Pike Place Market and recently opened a taproom in Ballard.

Finkel said the partnership will “enhance our legacy.”

“This move allows us to continue our tradition of crafting exceptional beer while embracing new possibilities for increased distribution, growth, and innovation,” Finkel said.

The Brewers Association in 2022 said Washington state boasts 448 craft breweries, fourth-most in the country. The industry accounted for $1.742 billion in economic impact. The Boulder, Colo.-based Brewers Association will release numbers for 2023 in May.

Seattle Hospitality Group, founded in 2002, also holds stakes in seaplane operator Kenmore Air, and charter bus and transportation company MTRWESTERN. Its affiliate partners include the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Sheraton Grand Seattle adjacent to the Seattle Convention Center.