Angry Swede up for sale
By Harry Loomis
The owner of The Angry Swede Brewing Company has announced plans to sell.
Michael Olinger, owner and founder of Angry Swede, said he is seeking $150,000 for his business and hopes to have the sale completed by the end of the year.
Olinger said that selling isn’t necessarily something he was hoping to do.
“I had back surgery a few years ago, and there’s a lot of lifting, heavy lifting that goes on with kegs and stuff like that during the brewing process,” Olinger said. “If I go down with a back injury again and have to have another surgery, I’m out two to three months. I wear all the hats here pretty much. I kind of do it all. And if I’m down for that time period, unfortunately, I probably have to close the business.”
The Viking-inspired brewery opened up for business at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the brewery has developed a loyal following in the community.
“I absolutely love being a part of that revitalization of Downtown,” Olinger said. “I can’t say it’s been easy. It’s been a struggle with inflation and the economy hasn’t been great and those types of things. But I absolutely love owning a small business.”
Olinger said he has had conversations with local brewers about potential interest in buying the business but is still in the early phases of the selling process.
However, he said if the new owner needs help learning how to brew beer, he would be willing to stay on to mentor.
“The brewing aspect, I think, is what kind of scares a lot of people away,” Olinger said. “Of course, I’m willing to stay on and train somebody for three, six months or however long they would need. Anybody can do it. It’s not that difficult.”
Even though he is selling the business, Olinger wants to see the Angry Swede thrive under a new owner.
“Whoever I sell to, I’d love to see this place still operating 10, 20 years from now,” he added. “If they want to keep me on board as kind of a consultant type position, you know, assisting with that, absolutely. I would love to do that.”
