The Brewers Association (BA) hosted the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) for the 37th year in a row in Denver last Thursday through Saturday. And once again, it was bigger than ever. Over 800 breweries poured more than 4,000 beers with approximately 62,000 people attending over the course of the three days. As those in… Read More…
Craft Levels Off in YTD Report
Patrick Livingston from IRI gave a compelling update on the health of craft in his Brewers Assortation (BA) Power Hour presentation today. Most notable was that craft is leveling off in the IRI tracked off-premise as the year progresses. Craft had shown growth through March but has grown very little since then. BA-defined craft… Read More…
BA Rolls Out New Independence Campaign
The Brewers Association (BA) has launched a new national awareness campaign called “That’s Independence You’re Tasting” In an ongoing effort to “distinguish and promote America’s small and independent craft brewers,” according to a BA press release. The videos will be presented across a variety of media platforms. “Independent craft brewers are a success story… Read More…
Kansas’ Largest Brewery to Cease Operations
Kansas certainly isn’t known as a top-tier state for craft beer, but when the largest craft brewery in the state closes, it is notable. According to numerous news sites, Tallgrass Brewing is ceasing all production this week as it failed to secure financing to keep the kettles boiling. Founded in 2007, the company built… Read More…
Busy Week at Constellation: Going to Pot, Layoffs and a Brewpub
An interesting week at Constellation as various industry sources reported the company has laid off 60 employees in their craft division while at the same time investing $4 billion (billion with a “B”) in the cannabis company Canopy Growth Corporation. The massive investment will raise Constellation’s stock holding to 38% in the Canadian-based multi-layer… Read More…
BA Reports 5% Craft Growth in Mid-Year Report
Production volume for the craft segment was up 5% during the first half of 2018 according to the Brewers Association mid-year report. This shows stabilization following a 5% growth for full-year 2017. “While more mature, the market continues to show demand for small and independent craft brewers,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association…. Read More…
CANarchy Adds Another
After a relatively quiet half of the year in craft brewery ownership changes, a second shoe has dropped in the span of one week. Three Weavers Brewing of Inglewood, CA announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership with CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, the self-described “disruptive collective of like-minded brewers.” In an unrelated… Read More…
Constellation Buys Four Corners
It wasn’t a question of “if,” it was just a question of “when” a mega-brewery would buy another craft brewery. Today was “when.” Constellation Brands announced today the acquisition of its third craft brewery, Four Corners Brewing. The Texas brewery joins Ballast Point Brewing in San Diego and Funky Buddha Brewery in Florida to… Read More…
Trump to Support Ending Federal Ban on Cannabis?
The L.A. Times has reported that President Trump would support a congressional effort to remove the federal government’s ban on cannabis. Ending enforcement against cannabis by the Justice Department would likely stimulate a dramatic increase in the cannabis industry, and could remove the TTB’s ban on CBD oils, hemp and potentially even THC in beer…. Read More…
Coronado Brewing to Sell Recent Acquisition
The news surrounding the sales and transactions of craft breweries seems to keep getting stranger with each passing month. Coronado Brewing Company, which recently acquired a small nearby fellow San Diego brewery has announced that they are now selling it. Coronado Brewing acquired a majority stake in Monkey Paw Brewing less than a year… Read More…