NEWS

Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter April 9-10, including headlines from Reyes, Rockport Brewing, Constellation and more.

Beer recorded the largest year-over-year (YoY) price increases across all bev-alc categories in March, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Molson Coors-aligned Baker Distributing acquired fellow Vermont blue/silver network house Calmont Beverage last month, according to a memo to suppliers obtained by Brewbound.

Weeks after Brown-Forman and Pernod Ricard confirmed they are in merger talks, Sazerac has entered the chat – but analysts are skeptical that the two whiskey giants can make a deal.

Coachella kicks off this weekend, with up to 125,000 people set to flock to Indio, California, each day to see Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G and others – hopefully with a beverage in hand.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Mark D. Anderson, the founder and former CEO of shuttered Drake’s Organic Spirits, alleging he orchestrated a years-long investor fraud scheme that raised $2.4 million.

Weeks after Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman confirmed that they are in merger talks, Sazerac is now reportedly eyeing a deal with the Jack Daniel’s maker.

Constellation Brands’ beer portfolio ended its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) with depletions growth in Q4 after three consecutive quarters of year-over-year (YoY) losses. That momentum and the energy of its incoming CEO have the company optimistic for growth trends moving into FY27 – cautiously optimistic.

THC drinks will have an expanded potential retail set in Minnesota. Despite an existential timeline ticking on the category’s future, beverage retailers continue to add intoxicating hemp drinks to store shelves. Target is the latest to go deeper in the set…at least in its home state.

After a two-week run, St. Patrick’s Day’s boost to bev-alc sales has come to an end. Total bev-alc dollar sales in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels declined 0.9% week-over-week (WoW), to $1.98 billion, according to the market research firm's latest report (data ending March 28).

How did craft close out Q1 in scans? In this episode, the Brewbound team convenes to discuss the early read on trends in off-premise retailers with the first three months of 2026 in the books. Plus, conversations about platform building, BrewDog's identity under Tilray ownership and if Daycaps are really a thing with Gen Z.

Constellation Brands’ beer portfolio ended fiscal year 2026 (FY26) with some positive momentum for the year ahead. The company’s lineup of Mexican import brands (Modelo, Corona, Pacifico, Victoria) increased Q4 shipments (sales to wholesalers) 1.1%, while depletions (sales to retailers) increased 0.6% in the quarter, the company shared after market close Wednesday. Net sales also improved 1% year-over-year (YoY).

Unsurprisingly, the most expensive city to grab a beer is New York, according to a recent report from on-premise POS firm Toast. The median pint costs $9.16 in the Big Apple, likely driven up by Manhattan, as Toast reported the median pint across the East River in Brooklyn is $8.02.

All 514 Eagle Rock Distributing employees in Colorado will be permanently laid off in June following the completion of the sale of the independent Anheuser-Busch InBev wholesaler to Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

PepsiCo's Blue Cloud is leaning into a new model: developing crossover alcohol brands and licensing them to producers such as Boston Beer and FIFCO USA with Lipton Hard Iced Tea.

A majority of U.S. consumers still want expanded beer home delivery options, according to the sixth annual Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Beer Shipping Report, commissioned by Sovos ShipCompliant and the Brewers Association (BA).

Carton packaging innovator Tetra Pak broke ground on a new facility at its U.S. and Canada headquarters in Denton, Texas last month as part of an expansion of its Product Development Center.

The Brewers Association (BA) will honor a trio of industry members with nearly a century of experience among them during its annual Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) later this month in Philadelphia.

The Milan-based parent company of Fernet-Branca has invested in alcohol-removal technology, but don’t expect a zero-proof Fernet (at least yet).

The brewmaster who helped shape Stone Brewing’s portfolio during the mid-2000s craft ascension and established New Realm Brewing has joined Abita Brewing Company. Mitch Steele, known for helping popularize hop-forward beers, is Abita’s new director of brewing operations.