Stone Brewing has filed a lawsuit against MillerCoors, alleging that the Keystone line of beers has infringed on the San Diego craft brewery’s “Stone” trademark. The complaint was filed yesterday in the U.S. district court of Southern California. Stone Brewing claims that MillerCoors is purposely trying to “steal the consumer loyalty” by highlighting the… Read More…
Key Franchise Legislation Stalls in Mass. Legislature
A set of competing legislative bills addressing franchise laws in Massachusetts has died in committee, dealing the Massachusetts Brewers Guild a setback in the year-long effort to reform franchise law in the state. The Guild put out an urgent “call to action” to beer consumers in the state to request that representatives support two… Read More…
Columbia Acquires Two Wholesalers
Columbia Distributing of Portland, Oregon has made two acquisitions over the course of just a few weeks, purchasing both Oregon-based General Distributors and Marine View Beverage in western Washington. The two deals combined will add about 11 million cases of sales to Columbia. “Columbia is a growth company and we all benefit from this… Read More…
Falconer Foundations Offers Brewing Ed Scholarships
In collaboration with the Seibel Institute of Technology, the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation is offering two full-tuition brewing education scholarships in 2018. Both scholarship are full tuition grants with travel/lodging stipends. The first scholarship is to the World Brewing Academy Concise Course in Brewing Technology in Chicago in October 2018. The Concise Course in… Read More…
BA Creates New Draught Beer Quality Position
The Brewers Association has created the new position of Draught Beer Quality ambassador which will be filled by Matt Meadows and Neil Witte. The two will share responsibilities in working to promote the mission of the BA Draught Beer Quality subcommittee—to improve the quality of draught beer dispensed at retail, and educate wholesalers and retailers… Read More…
Pioneer, Leader, ‘CEO of Craft Beer’ to Step Down from BA
The Brewers Association announced today that founder and past president Charlie Papazian will depart the Brewers Association on January 23, 2019, marking his 70th birthday and 40 years with the association. “We are all here today because of Charlie Papazian,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO, Brewers Association said in a press release. “His… Read More…
Closings Continue
New Hampshire’s Smuttynose Brewing Company has said they are seeking an immediate buyer and if none is found they will be sold at bank auction March 9. Founded in 1994, the company is a longtime well-known player in the craft brewing industry. Smuttynose owner Peter Egelston has been in the industry since 1986 when… Read More…
Top Stories of 2017
Here we go, with a look at the past. It has been a wild ride in the industry the last three years, and 2017 was no exception. More big changes, which will dramatically shape the future. BA Defined Craft Up 6% in 2016 MARCH 28, 2017 The year starts out where it left off,… Read More…
Reduction in Federal Excise Tax Signed into Law
President Trump signed into law H.R.1 today, which includes the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA). CBMTRA lowers the federal excise tax for breweries, wineries and distilled spirits producers. For brewers the bill will reduce the federal excise tax on beer to $3.50/barrel (from $7/barrel) on the first 60,000 barrels for domestic… Read More…
CBA Sells Woodinville Brewery
Craft Brew Alliance announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Woodinville, Washington facility to Sound Commercial Investment Holdings, LLC for $24.5 million. The transaction is subject to a financing contingency and other closing conditions that are expected to be resolved by the end of 2017. The Redhook Ale’s Woodinville… Read More…