Today, pioneering Colorado breweries Wynkoop Brewing and Breckenridge Brewery announced plans for a joint venture that will allow the beer makers to share facilities, personnel and development initiatives. The union would combine a production brewery with a potential annual capacity of 60,000 barrels, three brewpubs, eight restaurants and combined brewing production of nearly 40,000 barrels of craft beer in 2010.

“A year after launching our canning and self-distribution, we’ve quickly reached our brewing capacity.” says Wynkoop CEO Lee Driscoll, “This partnership means we can quickly boost our production without the huge expense of a brewery expansion. And we can grow with the expert help of Breck’s veteran brewery staff.”

Breckenridge President Ed Cerkovnik says the move allows the two allies to achieve greater success. “This is a marriage of opportunity and not necessity,” he says. “Both companies want to grow and expand. The combined company provides us with a platform to more effectively and rapidly do that.”

Wynkoop and Breckenridge hope to finalize the venture in January of 2011.