Ten years ago Aslin Beer Co. was a small brewery with a cult following in a Herndon, Virginia office park. Today they’re the third largest brewer in Virginia, and they’re merging with New York’s Torch & Crown Brewing Company! Please welcome Driven Collective; that’s a heck of a tenth anniversary present! Let’s dig in.
Neither brand is going away. Aslin’s Alexandria brewery will produce both Aslin and Torch & Crown flagships and seasonals. One-offs and collaborations from Aslin will come from their Pittsburgh and Virginia Beach locations, while T&C’s SoHo brewpub will do the same for that brand. Andrew Kelley of Aslin becomes Chief Executive Officer of Driven Collective while Torch & Crown’s John Dantzler becomes Chief Financial Officer.
At first glance this seems asymmetrical; Aslin is by far the larger brewery and company, with three locations in Virginia, one in DC, and one in Pennsylvania, while Torch & Crown has a brewpub in SoHo and a Union Square beer garden. Aslin brewed about 25,000 barrels in 2024, while Torch and Crown brewed 5,000 bbl. However, both T&C and Aslin beers will be distributed by Torch Distributing in New York City, opening a more direct pipeline to bars, restaurants, and beer drinkers for the larger brewery. Though Torch & Crown beers will be brewed in Alexandria, we may not be able to get them; the brewery remains focused on New York as its core market. There are no current plans to sell Torch & Crown cans or beers at Aslin locations.
Moreover, Driven Collective is probably not done with mergers and acquisitions. “It won’t be just Aslin and Torch for long,” Kelly tells us via email. Equally important, no one will lose a job via this partnership. Very interesting things are afoot.
In the meantime, let’s party! Aslin’s tenth anniversary is this Saturday in Alexandria from 3-9PM and they’ve brewed up a bunch of new releases and collaborations, including
- 10:10 Portal – Barrel-Aged Barleywine, 14.59% ABV, barleywine aged in bourbon barrels, described as “smoother than silk”
- Double Digits – Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, 13.77% ABV, bourbon barrel aged stout conditioned on chocolate
- TENacity P.O.G. Fruited Lager, 4.5% ABV, refreshing party-time fruited lager with vibrant notes of pineapple, orange, and guava.
- Kinder, Gentler – Collaboration with Tröegs, it’s a West Coast Imperial Pilsner, brewed in our PGH brewery.
Details, including more beers, bands, food, and tickets: https://www.aslinbeer.com/aslin10
Press release on the merger and Driven Collective:
Aslin Beer Co. and Torch & Crown Merge to Launch DRIVEN COLLECTIVE — A New Way Forward for Craft Beer
Two innovative craft breweries merge to form a vertically integrated platform for growth, creativity, and cultural relevance across the East Coast and beyond.
New York, NY & Alexandria, VA — Sept 23, 2025
Two innovative players are choosing to bet big on what’s next in craft beer. Today, Aslin Beer Co. and Torch & Crown Brewing Company announce their official merger and the launch of Driven Collective, a new, independent platform designed to unlock smarter growth, fuel creativity, and prove that craft still has room to run.
This move brings together two beloved brands rooted in two of the country’s most dynamic cultural hubs: the DMV and New York City. But Driven Collective isn’t just a merger, it’s a blueprint for the future of craft. By integrating production, distribution, hospitality, and brand under one roof, the company aims to give indie beverage brands the tools, talent, and runway to thrive.
“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. “We’re combining great brewing, NYC hustle in distribution, East Coast reach, and a shared drive to keep pushing boundaries. Driven is where creative brands come to grow fast and with intention.”
“Together, we’ve built a vertically integrated platform with production scale, distribution reach, and real leadership depth. We’re not just merging; we’re multiplying what makes each of us great,” said John Dantzler, former Torch & Crown CEO and now CFO of Driven.
The Driven Collective celebrates a pivotal milestone, coming at a time when headlines focus on contraction and closures in craft, Aslin and Torch are taking a different approach, doubling down on quality, creativity, and control. Aslin Beer Co. is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the upcoming ASLIN10 blowout beer and music fest, further proving the strength and staying power of craft beer. Torch, at five years in business, has been grabbing headlines with its innovative approach to building community and distinctive programming.
For supporting like-minded independent breweries ready to scale, Driven Collective is built to:
- Eliminate middle layers and reclaim margin with direct distribution in NYC via Torch Distribution, shortening the path between beer and drinker.
- Accelerate product innovation through increased production scale at Aslin’s Alexandria facility, while Torch’s SoHo brewery returns to its roots as an R&D engine for small-batch and limited-release beers.
- Expand consumer reach with a bi-regional platform that bridges two of the country’s most influential beer scenes, creating visibility, media relevance, and access to new audiences.
- A hospitality-first approach, enhancing the taproom experience, deepening local connections, and delivering next-level culinary experiences in its community-oriented spaces.
- Unlock creativity at scale through a shared services model that redirects resources toward innovation, brand-building, and hospitality.
- Create career mobility and leadership depth for employees across both organizations, fostering a new kind of craft workplace with room to grow.
- Lay the foundation for what’s next in craft, proving that independence, creativity, and operational strength don’t have to be at odds.
- Most importantly: Driven Collective still believes in craft and is building the company to prove it still matters.
For consumers, this means more access to the beers they already love, from DC to NYC and everywhere in between. It means fresh releases, more collaborations, optimized hospitality-minded taproom experiences, and greater presence on shelves, taps, and menus.
Aslin Beer Co. currently distributes its lauded, boldly branded beer to 12 states and the District of Columbia. Celebrating its 10th year in business, Aslin has popular taprooms in Alexandria, VA, Herndon, VA, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, PA, and Virginia Beach, VA. Guests enjoy 20+ beers and a satisfying menu of food from its IZZI kitchen at all locations, with an IZZI food truck soon to open at the D.C. taproom. Recently, Aslin launched Wax, an innovative non-alcoholic beer with 2MG THC + 2MG CBD in every can.
Torch & Crown Brewing Company is known for its refined takes on classic beer styles and commitment to hospitality. Torch operates two flagship locations that double as cultural gathering places. Its SoHo brewpub offers elevated American fare alongside fresh beer. Its Union Square beer garden lives inside a landmark NYC Parks building, serving light bites and cold pints in one of the city’s most iconic public squares.
Both brands’ core and seasonal offerings will be brewed at Aslin’s Alexandria facility, with Torch’s SoHo brewery and Aslin’s Pittsburgh and Virginia Beach brewhouses focused on innovation, community releases, and hyperlocal collabs.
