Brewbound Industry News

Wisconsin’s Eagle Park Acquires SoulBoxer Cocktail Co. to Accelerate RTD, Hemp Ambitions

Wisconsin’s Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling has acquired SoulBoxer Cocktail Co., setting the stage for Eagle Park’s further expansion into canned cocktails spanning alcoholic, non-alcoholic and THC-infused formats.

Former Casamigos Colleagues Launch RTD

The former executive team behind Casamigos (minus its celebrity owners) is making another move in the bev-alc industry with Por Qué No, a ready-to-drink (RTD) tequila and vodka offering.

Hemp Industry Braces for Last Minute Action, Worst Case Scenarios, on Looming Ban

If there’s a stay of execution, it’ll probably be at the last minute. That’s what hemp lobbyists and industry groups are starting to believe about the potential for a reprieve from the upcoming November 12 THC ban, according to the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives (CABA).

Abita Plans to Double Production to 170k Barrels in 2026, Launches Beverage Platform

Abita Brewing Company’s 40th year could be its biggest since the mid-2010s craft beer boom. The Louisiana craft brewery’s forecast for 2026 is 170,000 barrels – nearly double its previous annual output, Abita president Troy Ashley told Brewbound.

Insider’s Week in Beer: Tilray’s Freezer Aisle RTD Inspo Revealed

I think we’ve all learned to do a proper whenever we hear TILRAY is done making deals at this point – although this time it’s for … Popsicles. Hmmm, OK, ya got me – do go on.

Firestone Walker to Acquire ‘Full US Rights’ to Trumer Pils & Take Over Production from Gambrinus

Firestone Walker is taking over U.S. production of Trumer Pils and acquiring the U.S. rights of the craft pilsner from The Gambrinus Company, the companies announced today.

Press Clips: Reyes Hires Breakthru Vet to Lead RNDC Integration; Tilray Strikes Deal for Hard Popsicle RTDs

Reyes Taps Breakthru Vet to Lead Integration; Tilray Strikes Licensing Deal for Hard Popsicle RTDs; Tilray Takes BrewDog to the Hamptons; and more headlines.

Constellation Brands Agrees To Acquire HOPWTR

Constellation Brands has agreed to terms to acquire HOPWTR, expanding the beer and spirit giant's presence in the fast-growing non-alcoholic space. The deal comes roughly five years after Constellation's initial investment in HOPWTR in 2021 through its Venture division.

Brown-Forman, Pernod Ricard Confirm Talks; Wall Street Sees ‘Significant Merit’

Hours after a Bloomberg report sent the beverage-alcohol rumor mill into overdrive about a potential deal between spirits giants Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman, both companies confirmed Thursday evening that they are in talks.

BeerBoard March Madness Week 1: Top Draft Beer Brands Heating Up Despite Cold On-Premise Trends

March Madness has brought upsets, buzzer beaters and a boost to some beer brands' draft sales, according to a new report from on-premise data firm BeerBoard.

New Diageo CEO Dave Lewis Sets His Sights On RTDs

Diageo’s new CEO Dave Lewis is reframing ready-to-drink offerings as an opportunity for the spirits giant, but after years of focus on the top end of the shelf, the group has ground to make up.

Report: Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman Discuss Merger (UPDATED)

Spirits giants Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman have reportedly held talks about a possible merger, according to a report from Bloomberg News.

3 Tier Beverages: Hard Cider Momentum Accelerates Through February, with Growth from Regional & National Brands

Hard cider remains one of a handful of beer segments to record consistent year-over-year (YoY) growth in off-premise scans, and that growth is accelerating, according to new insights from consulting firm 3 Tier Beverages.

Fever-Tree Completes US Integration with Molson Coors, Eyes Distribution Growth

Touting its new U.S. distribution partnership with Molson Coors as a “revenue growth multiplier,” British mixer brand Fever-Tree saw net sales grow 6% year-over-year to £131.9 million in fiscal 2025, according to its preliminary full-year earnings report released earlier this week.

A CBC Primer with Brewers Association CEO Bart Watson

Brewers Association president and CEO Bart Watson believes the Craft Brewers Conference works best when it’s “the big-tent event that everybody is coming to and connecting with.” On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, Watson explained that he views the largest annual gathering of craft brewers (April 20-22 in Philadelphia) in four buckets.

BPI: Total Beer at Benchmark for First Time in 20 Months

The latest Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) from the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) revealed that for the first time in nearly two years, distributors are not planning to purchase less beer than the previous month.

Press Clips: Stone Steps Up to the Plate at Petco Park; Plus, Monaco’s Value Positioning; JP Morgan’s Beverage Team on State of M&A

In time for Opening Day and to mark the brewery’s 30th anniversary, Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) has unveiled a new branded bar next to Section 309 at Petco Park, home of MLB’s San Diego Padres.

Constellation-Backed Hiyo Goes Nationwide at Target

Hiyo, the non-alcoholic (NA) social tonic brand with investment from Constellation Brands, will hit nearly 2,000 Target stores across the country.

NIQ Weekly Scans: YoY Bev-Alc Declines Accelerate Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day

Bev-alc’s year-over-year (YoY) off-premise losses accelerated slightly in the week leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, despite a week-over-week (WoW) improvement, market research firm NIQ reported in its weekly check in.

KEG 1 to Take ‘Controlling Equity’ Stake in Pine State Trading in Maine, New Hampshire

Multi-state distribution platform/consolidator KEG 1 has inked a deal to acquire a "controlling equity” stake in Pine State Trading Co., the fourth-generation, family-owned New England distributor with operations in Maine and New Hampshire.