Anheuser-Busch Purchases Wicked Weed Craft Brewery

Anheuser-Busch InBev is adding North Carolina brewery Wicked Weed it to its craft and import brand unit.

The acquisition was announced on Wednesday.

The Ashville Citizen-Times reports that Wicked Weed, established in 2012, will join brands such as Stella Artois and Devils Backbone in Anheuser-Busch's High End business unit.

Wicked Weed co-founder and head blender Walt Dickinson says the Asheville brewery doesn't anticipate major changes or limitation to its creative freedom and will continue to retain significant autonomy upon finalization of the sale.

Co-founder and sales head Ryan Guthy says the brand's distribution footprint will expand, but its imaging won't change.

The North Carolina brewery has created nearly 600 different beers since its founding. It owns and operates four facilities in Asheville.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.