Colorado Brewers Guild to adjust to New Belgium sale, exit from group

FORT COLLINS — Although the pending sale of New Belgium Brewing Co. will force it to give up its independent status, the state’s craft-beer trade group believes it can handle the loss based on the loss of other major brewing companies in the past three years.

In an interview with BizWest, Colorado Brewers Guild executive director Shawnee Adelson said New Belgium will not renew its membership in January, assuming its employee owners vote in favor of the sale.

She declined to say how much New Belgium has paid in dues to the Guild, but described it…