NEWS

We’ve compiled our most read stories of the past year, and one company dominated the headlines (with not the sunniest lineup of news): Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B).

With no end in sight to supply chain uncertainty, buying smarter can be just as important as selling more. Strategic sourcing – selecting long-term partners for packaging, ingredients and manufacturing – sets the foundation for operational resilience.

Earlier this year, wine industry veteran Jason McConnell acquired 38-year-old Anderson Valley Brewing Company [AVBC] (Boonville, CA). Now he is focused on maintaining AVBC’s cherished traditions, such as its annual fest and its celebrated disc golf course, while adding his own flair.

The beer category faces more uncertainty in 2026, according to wholesalers’ buying intentions logged in the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) monthly Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI).

Two framed, hand-painted Chinese symbols adorn the doorway in Highland Brewing president Leah Wong Ashburn’s office. Read together, they mean “crisis,” but independently, they translate to “risk” and “opportunity.”

Last week, "holiday magic” delivered positive off-premise bev-alc trends in mid-December scans, suggesting the industry might just have a bountiful Christmas and end to 2025. However, in the latest report, “the Grinch stole the green,” according to Circana EVP of BevAl, Scott Scanlon.

From class-action suits over Fireball to disputes over jalapeño-flavored Tequila, this year’s bev-alc legal drama was, in a word, spicy.

This year’s top spirits headlines capture an industry in transition: major distribution shifts, sudden closures, shocking lawsuits, the race to win an emerging category, and of course, at least one celebrity closing a deal. Here are the top 10 BevNET spirits stories, as ranked by popularity.

As the leader of California’s second-largest craft brewery – and one that sells more than 80% of its volume in its home market – Firestone Walker CEO Nick Firestone is uniquely qualified to discuss how trends in craft’s largest market are affecting its biggest suppliers.

Amidst all the fast-growing beverage categories and trends, there’s only one that’s facing a ticking clock towards extinction. The future of the thriving cannabis beverage industry, specifically hemp-derived THC drinks that can be sold outside of adult-use regulated channels, is under intense pressure following November’s decision by Congress to effectively ban all hemp-derived products even... Read more »

Hopefully a lot of you had “A bottle o’ Beam” on your Christmas lists, as it sounds like there’s quite a bit of it to be had out there.

In the December 2025 Brewbound Quarterly On-Premise Report, NIQ data reveals a market where growth is increasingly concentrated in specific outlets, formats, and styles, while once-reliable channels quietly lose ground.

Editor’s Note: The below news items were initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter December 22-26. Not an Insider? Become one today to get earlier access to what’s going on in the industry. CGA: 40% Consumers Plan to Take Part in Dry January; Half of Gen Z to Participate Two-in-five consumers plan to take part... Read more »

Total Wine & More has named retail veteran Ryan Ross its new CEO, concluding a four-month search.

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back on a year’s worth of the Brewbound Podcast and all the acquisitions, distribution shakeups and innovation plans we chatted about, as well as all the wonderful guests that joined us.

After five years in operation, Spirited Away, the first non-alcoholic (NA) bottle shop in the U.S., has a new owner.

Five months after placing a winning bid for Alamo Beer Company, Australia-based private equity firm SKJ Capital has finalized its acquisition of the San Antonio-based craft brewery, SKJ announced today.

Stateside Brands, the company responsible for popularizing vodka-based iced tea, is now adding vodka to another beverage: the sports drink.

As alcohol sales have remained strained for years on end, the emergence of mainstream, legal hemp-based beverages has been a major boon for adult beverage retailers. Jon Halper, owner and CEO of retail chain Top Ten Liquors, is one of them.

Many bars and restaurants close their doors December 25, but the Christmas holiday still historically provides a boost for bev-alc sales in the on-premise, according to CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.