Alexandria-based Aslin Beer Co. announced on Monday that it is merging with New York City’s Torch & Crown Brewing Company to form Driven Collective, a move that positions the 10-year-old local brewery as the production hub for an expanded East Coast operation.
The merger comes as the craft beer industry faces widespread closures and consolidation, with Aslin and Torch taking what they call a “contrarian approach” focused on controlled growth and vertical integration, according to Brewbound and DCBeer.com.
The deal brings together Virginia’s third-largest brewer, which produced about 25,000 barrels in 2024, with the smaller New York operation that brewed 5,000 barrels. Aslin CEO Andrew Kelley becomes CEO of Driven Collective, while Torch & Crown CEO John Dantzler takes the CFO role.
Under the new structure, Aslin’s Alexandria facility will serve as the primary production site for both brands’ core and seasonal beers. Torch’s SoHo brewery will shift focus to research and development for small-batch releases, while Aslin’s Pittsburgh and Virginia Beach locations will handle innovation and local collaborations.
“This isn’t about trimming fat or chasing efficiency. It’s about putting the pedal down with purpose,” said Andrew Kelley, CEO of Driven Collective, in a statement. “We’re combining great brewing, NYC hustle in distribution, East Coast reach, and a shared drive to keep pushing boundaries.”
Dantzler said the move creates “a vertically integrated platform with production scale, distribution reach, and real leadership depth.”
Kelley indicated the platform may expand beyond the two founding breweries. “It won’t be just Aslin and Torch for long,” he told DCBeer.com. The companies said no jobs will be lost in the merger.
The merger gives Aslin direct access to New York City’s premium beer market through Torch Distribution, eliminating traditional distributor markups. Aslin currently distributes to 12 states and Washington, D.C.
Founded in 2015 by Andrew Kelley and Kai Leszkowicz, Aslin operates under the motto “Consume Life” and runs taprooms in Herndon, Alexandria, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh and Virginia Beach. The company recently launched Wax, a non-alcoholic beer containing THC and CBD. Torch operates locations in SoHo and Union Square.
The companies said the merger aims to prove that “craft still has room to run” at a time when industry headlines focus on contraction.
Aslin is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a festival Saturday from 3-9 p.m. at its Alexandria facility at 847 S. Pickett St. The brewery began in a Herndon office park and opened its Alexandria location in July 2019. It now operates five locations across Virginia, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.
