Brewbound Industry News

Brewbound Podcast: A Beloved Brewpub Says Farewell

Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC) founder Phil Bannatyne joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the recent announcement that the Massachusetts brewpub will shut its doors in December after 35 years in business.

New This Year: Submit Your Nominations for Brewbound’s Best Of 2024 Awards

Brewbound’s annual Best Of Awards are accepting nominations for 2024! The awards celebrate beverage-alcohol companies for their achievements and impact throughout the last year and serve as an appreciation of notable industry members, trend setters, breakout brands, change agents and up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

BeerBoard: Draft Beer Volume +8.3% During NFL Opening Weekend

Draft beer reclaimed the volume lost during last year’s National Football League (NFL) opening weekend (September 5-8), according to on-premise data firm BeerBoard.

Above Premium a Key Focus of Molson Coors’ 2025 US Growth Strategy; Company to Partner with Australia’s Naked Life Non-Alc Cocktail Brand

Molson Coors chief commercial officer Michelle St. Jacques laid out the company’s 2025 strategy in the U.S. as part of its “next chapter” as she opened the 2024 distributor convention in San Antonio Tuesday afternoon. Although the core remains a top priority, Molson Coors will put a large focus on its above premium portfolio.

CPI: Beer Inflation Remains Above Other Bev-Alc Categories; Below Total Inflation Away from Home

Beer inflation eased slightly in August, but still remains above other bev-alc categories and the total industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.

Bump Williams: New-to-World Brands at Forefront of Spirits RTD Growth; Sales Trends Slow By More Than Half

Spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) products will face a challenge to maintain double-digit growth rates in 2025, including a decluttering of items at retail in order for the segment to remain healthy, according to Bump Williams Consulting’s (BWC) monthly report.

Jim Koch: On-Premise ‘Somewhat Neglected;’ Boston Beer’s Innovation ‘Sweet Spot;’ Truly Harder to Stabilize Than Anticipated

Boston Beer Company founder Jim Koch tackled several industry issues during a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Conference last week. Koch hit on issues from beer growth and headwinds to opportunities in the on-premise channel and early returns on the company’s new premium vodka-based hard tea brand Sun Cruiser.

Flaviar Acquires Speakeasy Co., Boosting B2B Business

Bev-Alc marketplace Flaviar has acquired industry fulfillment service provider, Speakeasy Co., bolstering its B2B capabilities as it aims to become a multi-billion-dollar global bev-alc e-commerce player. Terms of the cash and stock deal were not disclosed.

Firestone Walker to Focus on Core Brands for 2025 Growth; Addresses Flavor Demand with Beer-Forward Innovation

Duvel Moortgat-owned Firestone Walker is staying in the beer category in 2025, and believes beer can still speak to consumer needs – even the consumers who “don’t know they like beer yet.”

Russian River’s Natalie Cilurzo to Give Keynote Address at 2024 Brewbound Live Biz Conference

Russian River Brewing co-owner Natalie Cilurzo will share how the Sonoma County craft brewery created an annual event celebrating its Pliny the Younger triple IPA release in her opening keynote address to the 2024 Brewbound Live business conference on December 11.

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Listed for Sale at $7.9 Million

Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC) could change hands again for the second time in nearly five years, according to a BizQuest listing that offers the Boonville, California-based craft brewery for sale.

CA Closing Door On Hemp-Derived THC Products

Citing concerns over public health, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed heavy restrictions Friday on “intoxicating hemp products.” Through an emergency regulation, Newsom proposed removing food and beverage products containing hemp extract from stores within the Golden State.

IWSR: Millennials Lead Non-Alcoholic Adult Beverage Sales, Account for 61% of NA Beer Drinkers

Millennials are driving the rise of non-alcoholic (NA) adult beverages in the U.S., data firm IWSR reported.

🤝 INSIDER’S Week in Beer: A Real Unity Ticket

While I usually resist Justin’s notes to me to please work more politics into this newsletter, in this case – I think it’s merited. Ladies and gentlemen, I have excellent news: The Beer Party is gaining momentum.

Craft ‘Ohana Shifting Modern Times Production to AleSmith; 57 Jobs to be Cut

Production of Modern Times Beer will shift to AleSmith Brewing in San Diego as part of a new contract brewing relationship with Craft ‘Ohana, the portfolio company that includes Maui Brewing, Modern Times and Kupu Spirits.

A Round With … Samuel Adams’ Megan Parisi

Beverage options abound in downtown Boston: properly poured Guinness at an Irish pub, wine at an Italian restaurant in the North End, a large iced regular at one of several (several!) Dunkin’ locations. But there’s only one place you can find a pint of pineapple basil ale, and that’s Boston Beer’s Samuel Adams Boston Taproom, where head brewer Megan Parisi is brewing all sorts of interesting beers for tourists and locals alike.

Molson Coors Walks Away from DEI Policies

Molson Coors has joined the growing list of large consumer-facing companies to disavow their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, according to Bloomberg.

Tilray Brands Cuts Jobs Within Beverage Division

Tilray Brands has restructured its workforce and cut “a limited number of employees across various departments,” the company confirmed to Brewbound.

Foxtrot Prepares For Its Second Act

Five months removed from its abrupt closure, next-gen convenience chain Foxtrot Market is preparing to reopen its doors tomorrow.

Beer Institute: July Tax Paids -2.5% as Industry Finds ‘A New Baseline;’ Imports Set New Monthly Record

U.S. brewers shipped an estimated 12.8 million barrels of beer in July, a -2.5% decline year-over-year (YoY), and a loss of 458,000 barrels compared to July 2023, according to the Beer Institute (BI).