Flying Dog Brewery Sold To NY Company, Production To End In MD

FREDERICK, MD — Popular Maryland craft beer maker Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick has been sold to New York-based FX Matt Brewing Company, according to multiple reports citing a news release from the companies. As part of the sale, Flying Dog will shift all operations and production from Maryland to New York by the end of summer.

According to the news release obtained by AmericanCraftBeer.com, Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso said that while "Frederick is a great place to live and do business, unfortunately, even though we have invested millions of dollars in the brewery, it has too many limitations and puts Flying Dog at too great a competitive disadvantage."

Flying Dog plans to cease all operations in Maryland by August, according to the release. FX Matt will offer jobs to "as many employees as possible," Caruso said in the release. Flying Dog also plans to provide job placement assistance to other employees, according to Caruso.

As part of the sale, the release stated that FX Matt also plans to open a taproom and "innovation brewery" in Frederick.

The acquisition by FX Matt will help Flying Dog adapt to changing customer preferences, Flying Dog Chief Marketing Officer Ben Savage said in the release.

"There will always be a market for great beer, but the lines between beer, cocktails, spirits, and wine continue to blur," Savage said. "FX Matt Brewing Company gives Flying Dog significant resources to not only optimize our current product portfolio but also quickly develop products in new, emerging categories."

Savage added, "We are forever grateful for the loyalty that Maryland craft beer drinkers have shown to Flying Dog, and we look forward to continuing to be a part of the Maryland community moving forward."

According to the release, FX Matt was founded in 1888 and is one of the oldest family-owned breweries in the United States. The company has brewed many of Flying Dog's beers over the past 10 years due to limitations at the Frederick brewery, the release stated.

Originally founded in Colorado in 1990, Flying Dog moved to Frederick in 2006, the Baltimore Banner reported. The company scrapped plans to build a $54 million brewery in Maryland in 2017, citing "regulatory and legislative issues," according to the Banner.

Flying Dog also became known for its free speech advocacy after winning a lawsuit against the Michigan Liquor Control Commission based on its denial of Flying Dog's "Raging Bitch” beer on decency grounds, the Baltimore Sun reported.