Brewbound Industry News

Press Clips: Colorado Bev-Alc Producers Punch Back at Proposed Fee Hike; Tröegs Goes Dark with Night Gazer Extra Stout

The Colorado Beverage Coalition – which represents the state’s breweries, wineries, cideries, distilleries and related partners – has come out against a bill that would raise fees on beverage-alcohol by 60%.

Jim Koch Optimistic in State of Bev-Alc & Boston Beer Despite Continued Volume Loss; 2026 Focus on Teas & RTDs

Fiscal year 2025 (FY25) marked Boston Beer Company’s fourth consecutive year of shipments (sales to wholesalers) and depletions (sales to retailers) declines. But leadership’s remarks during Tuesday’s earnings call with investors and analysts were anything but negative.

How Adult Non-Alc Brands Are Cracking Retail Alternatives

From yoga studios to luxury fashion houses to corporate campuses, a diverse ecosystem of alternative channels has quietly emerged as a small but meaningful growth opportunity for adult non-alcoholic (ANA) drinks – and mostly through organic discovery.

CHEERS Act Returns with Proposed Tax Breaks for Draft Systems in Bars, Restaurants & Venues

The CHEERS Act is back for another round in Congress. The bipartisan legislation would provide a tax incentive to bars, restaurants and entertainment venues to invest in energy-efficient draft systems.

A-B Touts Michelob Ultra Zero as Top NA Volume Brand; Heineken Still Leads in Dollar Sales, While Athletic Family Still Runs Ahead Of Pack

Michelob Ultra Zero is now the No. 1 non-alcoholic beer brand by volume in off-premise scans tracked by Circana for the 12-week period ending February 8, Anheuser-Busch InBev shared this week. A-B hailed the brand as the “fastest-growing” NA beer in the industry. Although Michelob Ultra Zero is the top NA volume brand, it trails Heineken 0.0 in dollar sales.

Boston Beer FY25 Depletions -4%, Shipments -4.7%; 2026 Expectations Flat to Down Mid-Single Digits

Boston Beer Company has closed out another year in a state of contraction, according to fiscal year 2025 (FY25) data shared today by the company.

Firestone Walker Sends 805 Family to Minnesota

805 is heading to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Firestone Walker has launched the 805 portfolio – including flagship 805 Blonde, 805 Cerveza and 8ZERO5 non-alcoholic (NA) – in Minnesota via Johnson Brothers-owned Artisan Beer Company, the Duvel Moortgat-owned brewery announced.

Circana Weekly Scans: Valentine’s Day Trends Improve vs. 2025, Led by Spirits & Beer

Consumers were in the mood to celebrate love – or rather, to celebrate bev-alc – this Valentine’s Day.

Drake’s, Figueroa Mountain Form Joint Venture Under West Coast Craft Banner

Drake’s Brewing and Figueroa Mountain Brewing have formed a joint venture known as West Coast Craft, the companies announced last week.

Is the Dry January Boost Drying Up? NA Beer’s Share Gains Slow as BWC Flags ‘Signs of Saturation’

The non-alcoholic (NA) beer segment failed to grab a significant amount of dollar share in grocery stores in January, according to NIQ data analyzed for Brewbound by Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).

Topo Chico ‘Unavailable’ in US Possibly Until Q3; Alcoholic SKUs Unaffected

Sparkling water fans are bracing themselves for a prolonged drought after The Coca-Cola Company confirmed that Topo Chico mineral water is temporarily unavailable in the United States due to production issues at the source in Monterrey, Mexico.

Kava Haven’s NA Spirit Looks For a Foothold In Cocktails

As functional drink brands look for a foothold in the booming alcohol alternatives space, one kava company is trying something new.

Insider’s Week in Beer: 🏝️ The Winter Olympics Find Their Beach

Well, once again the beer biz never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. While there may be 3 kinds of medals on the podiums at the Winter Olympics, it seems there’s only … one beer brand for sale in the main arena over in Cortina, Italy.

Supreme Court Tariff Ruling: BA & Trade Groups Respond; Trump Threatens Additional Tariffs

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling Friday to strike down President Donald Trump’s implementation of tariffs on imported goods, the president said he would invoke an additional 10% global tariff and bumped that figure up to 15% on Saturday. 

New York Liquor Stores Could Get Cannabis Drinks Under New Bill

New York may allow licensed alcohol retailers to sell THC-infused drinks if a new measure introduced in the State Legislature earlier this week gains passage.

Legislative Roundup: Proposed Tax Changes in Hawaii, Sunday Sales in Mississippi and More

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill that would charge a liquor tax based on ABV rather than bev-alc category.

Bernstein: Health & Wellness’ ‘Fever Pitch for Alcohol’ Starting to Break

Beverage-alcohol’s health and wellness headwinds are showing signs of dying down in 2026, Bernstein analyst Nadine Sarwat wrote in her February 13 “Weekend Consumer Blast.”

NIQ: Spirits, RTDs Gain in C-Stores as Beer Sales Slide 3%

The convenience channel is shrinking – but not for spirit and wine-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, according to a new report from market research firm NIQ.

Brewers Association 2025 Annual Report: Revenue -24.6%, Expenses -22.4%

The Brewers Association (BA) slashed nearly every line in its 2025 expenses, but the cuts were still not enough to offset declining revenue, according to the trade group’s annual report.

Molson Coors FY25 Shipments -8.6%, Depletions -5.4%; Launches Horizon 2030 Biz Plan

Molson Coors Beverage Company’s global business recorded declines across shipments, depletions and net revenue in 2025, the company shared Wednesday. In addition to reporting its Q4 and full-year financial results, Molson Coors’ top executives unveiled a new business strategy, Horizon 2030, during the CAGNY Conference in Florida.