OHSO buys Helton to become one of Arizona’s largest breweries

🍺 Helton Brewing, a central Phoenix craft brewery that’s been up for sale for months, has been sold to OHSO Brewery, which has four Valley locations.

OHSO owner Jon Lane says the new location on the northwest corner of Indian School and 21st Street will carry OHSO’s branding, but not be called OHSO Brewery. The new name has yet to determined.

‘‘The hard part is owning two locations within 3.4 miles,’’ Lane explains, referring to OHSO’s original location at Indian School and 49th Street since 2011.

The front of the house will be ‘‘redecorated,’’ according to Lane, and the limitations of the small kitchen will necessitate a different menu than other OHSO locations.

Goodbye, Helton Brewing

Brian Helton opened his namesake brewery in 2016 after 16 years with Colorado-based chain Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery. Helton’s popular beers included Valley Venom Pilsner, Boysenberry Sour, and Northeast IPA.

In July, Helton reportedly was near a deal to sell to Head Right Brewing. When that stalled, Lane jumped at the chance to triple OHSO’s beer production.

OHSO currently produces about 4,500 barrels per year at its Paradise Valley location and around 3,000 at its Gilbert one. The original location only has a nano-brewery, and north Scottsdale hosts its distillery.

Lane estimates the new location, after the installation of some brewing equipment from the crowded Paradise Valley site, will produce 15,000 to 20,000 barrels in its first year. It also inherits two canning lines from Helton.

Award-winning beers

OHSO’s numerous award-winning beers include Te Quiero imperial stout, Bob’s Your Dunkel dark lager, Sudoku rice lager, 89Ale amber lager, and Knights of Windsor wee heavy.

In preparation of becoming one of Arizona’s largest craft breweries – it likely will rank No. 3 or No. 4 next year – OHSO has switched distributors, signing with Phoenix-based wholesaler Hensley on Monday.

OHSO has spun off a line of smaller taprooms and markets known as Little O’s. (There’s also a licensed mini version of OHSO in Terminal 2 at Sky Harbor Airport, but it’s not run by OHSO.)

Lane says he expects OHSO’s newest location to be open no later than Jan. 1.