Molson Inc. has fired the top marketer on its flagship Canadian brand, the latest sign both of the countries megabrewers continue to struggle to turn around their most profitable brands. Montreal-based Molson, which along with Labatt Breweries of Canada account for 90% of beer sales, has let go Sean Moffitt, vice-president of marketing for Molson… Read More…

England’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched a campaign to keep Budweiser Budvar from falling into the hands of a global brewing company. Visitors to this week’s Great British Beer Festival in London will be asked to sign a petition to be sent to the Czech government. CAMRA maintains that privatizing the Czech brewery,… Read More…

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. said it has won exclusive rights to the Budweiser trademark in Japan. The company had begun court proceedings against Budejovicky Budvar and some of its importers and distributors who were distributing beer using the Budweiser name. A-B said it believed the packaging and labeling on Budvar’s products infringed on its trademarks and… Read More…

The three day long Challenge Cup, held across America on July 23-25th as part of American Beer Month, generated about 250,000 pints of American beer being consumed. The premise of the event, sponsored by Realbeer.com, is to honor participating on-premise accounts that sell the most American beer. This year’s Cup included separate national competition for… Read More…

Researchers for the Kirin Brewery have discovered that a bittering element in hops curbs the development of fat inside the body. A team led by Keiji Kondo, vice chief of Kirin Brewery Co.’s development section, reached the conclusion after feeding a group of mice with high-fat feed containing isohumulones, an important component of hops that… Read More…

Tour de Fat, New Belgium Brewing Co.’s “Ballyhoo of Bikes and Beer” that has raised money for scores of cycling non-profits during the last four years, hit a bump in the road July 19 in Santa Cruz, Calif. After city officials first approved the event, Police Chief Steve Belcher rejected alcohol sales, citing the dangers… Read More…

Opponents of raising the tax of beer in Oregon scored a victory Wednesday when the House Revenue Committee split a proposal to boost the beer tax off from a larger tax bill. “It plays right into the hands of the industry lobby,” said Rep. Max Williams, one of the sponsors of the beer tax proposal…. Read More…

Members of microbrewing’s Class of ’88 celebrated together July 15 in Washington, D.C., throwing the party in the United States Senate. The Brewers’ Association of America (BAA), with the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), organized the birthday bash honoring 14 BAA member breweries that opened their doors in 1988 (plus one in 1888 = 115)…. Read More…

People soon will be able to own Funny Cide – in a bottle. The light beer is set to go on sale this week. The brew was developed by Sackets Harbor Brewing Co. and its Spa City partner, the Olde Saratoga Brewing Co. Sackets Harbor began selling a beer named for the Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner… Read More…

Heavyweight Brewing Co. of New Jersey plans a unique series of special releases known as OneTimeOnePlace (OTOP). These will be draft-only, one-off brews. OTOP beers will be produced in seven-barrel batches (217 gallons) and released, in draft, exclusively to one bar/pub in each market. Heavyweight plans about one release per month. The first release is… Read More…