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…
Industry Descends on Nashville with Hope & Fear
Over 14,000 industry members of all stripes, colors and sizes descended on Nashville last week for the Craft Brewers Conference, the annual conference hosted by the Brewers Association (BA). The mood was mixed between good-vibe-enthusiasm and an aura of pending doom. The good vibe was fueled by beautiful spring weather, abundant live music, food… Read More…
MillerCoors Files Counterclaim in “Stone” Suit
Two months after Stone Brewing filed a lawsuit over the use of “Stone” in the marketing and packaging of the MillerCoors brand Keystone, the global beer company has filed an 82-page counterclaim. The counterclaim contained many reasons MillerCoors feels the lawsuit should be tossed, but the standout argument was the contention that MillerCoors used… Read More…
Green Flash Brewing Forecloses and Sells
In a flash of events, Green Flash Brewing was foreclosed on by their largest lender Comerica which in turn has sold the assets of the company to an investor group under the name WC IPA LLC. The Virginia Beach brewery was not picked up by WC IPA and will be sold separately. WC IPA… Read More…
Small breweries drive growth
The number of operating breweries in the United States grew 16% in 2017 and smaller breweries generally fared better than large ones. Total beer sales declined 1% for the year, while craft (as defined by the Brewers Association) beer sales grew 5%. Microbreweries, meaning ones that made 15,000 barrels or less, and brewpubs delivered 76%… Read More…