Roseville-based Northern Brewer bought by world's largest beer company

The venture capital arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev has acquired Roseville-based Northern Brewer, the nation's largest home-brewing supplier, and its sister company ­Midwest Supplies.

Northern Brewer confirmed the sale Friday, but executives would not disclose terms of the deal. ZX Ventures is AB InBev's venture capital business that seeks out disruptive or innovative start-ups.

Christopher Farley started Northern Brewer in St. Paul in 1993 before home-brewing beer had become mainstream. With the rise of microbreweries and specialty beer over the last two decades, Northern Brewer was positioned to capitalize as more and more beer lovers also made their own.

"Our community continues to expand as does the diversity of quality ingredients and equipment available," Todd Jackson of Northern Brewer said in an e-mail. "Someday we want home-brewing to be as common a household craft in America as gardening or cooking. But we know we won't get there through complacency."

The company will maintain its existing leadership and employees. "Our culture will remain as it is today: vibrant, energetic, fair and dedicated to our mission and our customers," Jackson wrote in the e-mail.

AB InBev finalized its $100 billion acquisition of chief rival SABMiller earlier this week. The combined company has $55 billion in annual sales, accounting for more than a quarter of all the world's beer.