In May, Matt and Rene Greff announced that they had sold the Arbor Brewing Company to Livonia-based Farm + Ferment, a family of companies that also includes Bigalora on Washtenaw and in Royal Oak, Bacco Ristorante in Southfield, a winery and a hop farm/processor in northern Michigan, and–the apparent fountainhead of all this foodie capital–American Expedition Vehicles, whose Wixom factory customizes Jeep Wranglers and Ram trucks.

Since its opening in 1995, ABC has expanded its Washington St. brewpub, added retail sales throughout Michigan and into Ohio, opened a microbrewery in Ypsilanti, and most recently ventured into the Indian microbrewing market.

After F+F acquired the Michigan Hop Alliance in January of last year, they contacted the Greffs about possible collaborations. “During one of our discussions they mentioned the fact that they were going to be opening a microbrewery,” says Rene. “We mentioned at the time we had excess capacity at our microbrewery … maybe there was a way we could partner together. That’s kind of what got the discussion started. Up until very late in the process, we assumed it was going to be partnership–we did not anticipate that we were going to be selling the businesses.” But eventually, it became clear that “it made a lot more sense for all parties involved to just structure it as a sale instead of a partnership.”

The Greffs have a ten-year contract with the new owners, Matt says, that gives them “a fifty-fifty vote over all major business decisions … basically they can’t change the direction of the company.” The arrangement, he says, was “just a way we all felt would reassure everybody” that ABC won’t lose its character.

“And make sure we’re all on the same page,” Rene chimes in.

The Greffs will maintain a presence in ABC’s U.S. operations as “brand ambassadors” and remain owners of the company’s Indian branch (so far a single brewpub in Bangalore run by a U-M grad, with a microbrewery in the works). When asked about other international possibilities, Matt excitedly names China, Kenya, and Brazil. Unlike the India operation, future international projects will be jointly owned with Farm + Ferment.

The sale of the city’s first brewpub feels like a milestone, but the Greffs seem very relaxed about it. “What’s really nice is … they bring some capital into the business that we, as just mom-and-pop independent owners, didn’t have the capacity to bring to the table,” says Rene. “Once we reassure people that it’s gonna be business as usual, people are excited for the opportunity.”

ABC Brewpub (Arbor Brewing Company), 114 E. Washington, 213-1393. Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-midnight, Fri. 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m., Sat. 11a.m.-1 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. arborbrewing.com