Beer Industry News, Insights, Jobs, & Events
Margarita RTDs Outpacing Hard Tea
The ready-to-drink (RTD) margarita is outpacing some of the industry’s hottest new RTD segments, with high ABV and spirit-based versions picking up steam, according to a new report from Bump Williams.
NIQ: Adult Non-Alc Needs to ‘Move Beyond Flavor Extensions’
Non-alcoholic (NA) wine, beer and spirits still account for less than 1% of total alcohol category sales – leaving a runway for brands that innovate with popular functional ingredients, according to a new report from market research firm NIQ.
Press Clips: Boston Beer to Lay Off 66 Angel City Workers; Black Frog’s 1st Location Closes; BA Offers ‘National Beer Day’ Toolkit
Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter March 9-11, including headlines from Boston Beer, Black Frog, The Brewers Association and more.
New on Shelves: Sam Adams’ ‘Our City. Our Beer’ Variety Pack, Stateside’s Super Lyte, Blake’s Giddy Up & More
Check out new products initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter March 9-11, including offerings from Samuel Adams, Blake’s Beverage, Stateside and more.
Circana: Beer Growth Cools in February; YTD Dollar Sales +1.6%, Volume Flat
Despite holiday boosts and positive weekly scans, beer trends softened in February compared to January, according to the latest monthly report from market research firm Circana.
As Ohio Intoxicating Hemp Beverage Ban Looms, Lawsuit Seeks to Block Shutdown
Several producers and a distributor filed an emergency lawsuit in Ohio last week in an effort to block Gov. Mike DeWine’s attempt to abruptly shut down the state’s intoxicating hemp beverage industry.
Half Acre, Maplewood Merge to Form Chicago Beverage Platform That Won’t Become ‘a Collection of Brands’
Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Company and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery have merged into what the brands’ leaders are calling “a long-term commitment to Chicago as a great beverage city.”
JuneShine Brands to Outsource All Production, Shut Down Own Facility; 30 Employees Affected
JuneShine Brands is shifting production of all its brands to third-party producers, the San Diego-based company announced today.
Featured Jobs
George Clooney & Partners Take Aim at NA Beer With Crazy Mountain; Beer Vet Steve Fechheimer Shares Details
George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman’s non-alcoholic (NA) beer brand has been among the beer business’ worst-kept secrets. The Casamigos founders teased getting into beer’s fast-growing space last October. However, whispers about their involvement started long before.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills Touts Support for Craft Brewers Amid Tariffs, Rising Costs
Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who is running in the Democratic primary to challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, weaved local and national politics into her roughly 15-minute speech, drawing a direct line from the White House’s impact on universal issues such as affordability, tariffs and sustainable energy to the struggles felt across the Pine Tree State.
Circana Weekly Scans: Bev-Alc Sales -1.6% YoY During Winter Storms; TBD if Trend or ‘Anomaly’
Total bev-alc dipped back into the red year-over-year (YoY) through the last week of February, after two consecutive weeks of growth in Circana-tracked off-premise channels, the market research firm reported this week.
Tilray Brands Acquires BrewDog’s Australian Brewery and 5 Pubs With Eye to Expand Sales of Key Brands
Tilray Brands continues to acquire pieces of Scottish craft beer maker BrewDog’s global business. The Canadian cannabis, beverage and wellness firm today announced it has closed a deal to purchase BrewDog’s brewery and taprooms in Australia.
Former SGWS Employees Indicted For Bribery Scheme in California Grocery Chains
A federal grand jury has indicted five former senior executives at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits (SGWS) – the largest alcohol distributor in the U.S. – along with a salesman from a major Napa Valley wine company, on charges stemming from an alleged bribery scheme that prosecutors say ran for nearly a decade and earned favors from California’s largest grocery retail chains.
Insider’s Week in Beer: 🧐 A $10 Beer & Shot, In This Economy?
Folks often ask me, Sean – what’s it like living the glamorous life of a weekend beer biz columnist in New York City? Is it just like Sex and the City? Well Zoe, some days it is for sure (although with far fewer brunches), but it does come at a price. Thus, I give you this week’s dispatch from a bar in my neighborhood, which may give some insight into the volume issues the industry continues to see.