In 1981, the Fred Koch Brewery was purchased by the Vaux Breweries of Sunderland, England. Vaux expressed confidence planning on a 30 percent expansion of the brewery's 30,000-barrel annual capacity. In 1983, the book ""Gourmet Guide to Beer"" ranked Koch's Golden Anniversary Beer number one among 140 American-brewed pale lagers. And its Jubilee Porter, made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of Prohibition, was also well received. In 1984, as a St. Patrick's Day promotion, the brewery distributed green colored beer. The novelty shipment was a sell-out.