Beer Industry News, Insights, Jobs, & Events

Congress is getting more serious about finding a regulatory solution for the hemp beverage market, with two U.S. representatives filing a new bill today aimed at establishing a proper framework to allow brands to stay legal.

Regional and local craft beer may be on the chopping block for many distributors in the next year, according to the latest survey from Tamarron Consulting. Tamarron’s annual Brewer Partnership Compass (BPC) – a comprehensive survey of 170 wholesalers about their relationships with leading suppliers and plans for the coming year – revealed that 57.6% of respondents plan to “de-emphasize and/or reduce SKUs” of regional craft beer.

“Occasions, not cases, is the story for 2026,” according to Lester Jones, VP of analytics and chief economist of the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

If you had any remaining doubts about the heat around the RTD cocktail business, A-B would like you to hold its canned Moscow Mule. Yes, the world’s largest brewery is giving one of its coveted Super Bowl slots this year to CUTWATER! This is in addition to the brand’s partnerships with the MLB, NFL, NBA teams and PGA Tour, and a 40% bump in summer media spend.

While beverage makers are in a race against time to preserve legal standing for intoxicating hemp products, a majority of state Attorneys General are urging Congress to stand firm on the upcoming November ban.

Suntory Global Spirits-owned -196 is leaning on immersive cultural experiences to build on the success of its Japanese canned chu-hi cocktail in the U.S.

Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter August 6-7, including headlines from A-B, Tilray Brands, Departed Soles and more.

Two craft-centric distributors will swap territories in a dual acquisition deal in New York and New Jersey. Sarene Craft Beer has acquired the New Jersey business of Remarkable Liquids, which in turn has acquired Sarene’s business north of New York City.

Tilray Brands will shift brewing operations from Terrapin Beer Co.’s 100,000 sq. ft. Athens, Georgia-based brewery to other facilities within its network, beginning September 25, Tilray confirmed in a statement to Brewbound.

Beer, carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks are “delivering growth” for Ball Corporation, but beer is no longer the largest share of the aluminum can manufacturer’s business, CEO Ronald Lewis shared during the company’s Q2 earnings call.

Diageo CEO Dave Lewis unveiled a $1 billion cost-cutting plan for the struggling drinks giant today.

Molson Coors’ year-over-year (YoY) losses accelerated in Q2, as the company continues to tackle slowed momentum from its core beer brands. But declines have yet to sway the company away from its previously stated guidance for the full 2026 fiscal year (FY26).

Heineken’s U.S. business unit recorded a “high-single-digit” decline in volume in what the company called “a challenging beer market” during the second quarter, the Dutch brewing giant shared in its Q2 and half-year earnings this week.

How can a new brand make a splash in the increasingly crowded ready-to-drink waters? A winning combination of differentiated flavors, artistic packaging and a willingness to work the market day in and day out. That’s what has been working for Lake Hour, according to CEO Michelle Ivey, this week’s featured guest.