Category: Business of Beer
Industry news related to the brewing industry and the business of beer
News First Half of 2022 Off to Sluggish Start for Beer
The pandemic has thrown just about everything in the alcohol beverage business (and life in general, for that matter) in a new and different direction. And that includes trying to measure what is up and what is down. Forever, we have measured beer sales performance by comparing to the same period in the previous year. But with widespread closures in the on-premise driving extreme buying in the off-premise, comparative sales numbers are wonky to say the least. Having said that, Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association has not shied away from taking a look at beer sales mid-year through 2022.
(more...)
News Back to the Past – New Jersey ABC Sets Harsh New Restrictions on Breweries
The New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has released long-awaited new restrictions on breweries in the state, shoving craft brewers back to the past by imposing new restrictions on their businesses. The new ABC ruling places restrictions on the number of events a taproom can host annually, puts a cap on special events a brewery can hold, prohibits food trucks at breweries and even prohibits a brewery from selling coffee at taprooms. There are a total of 18 new restrictions that breweries must now comply with.
(more...)
News Winning Bidder for Modern Times Drops Out – Maui Brewing May (or May Not) Be Next
Anaheim, California-based Brewery X, who was the highest bidder during the auction for Modern Times Brewing has dropped out and will not proceed in taking ownership of the San Diego brewery, according to an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The backup-bidder was Maui Brewing Company, but that doesn’t mean that their interest is still intact.
(more...)
News Russian Rivers’ Annual Pliny Release Generates Record $6.1 Million Economic Impact
We’ve seen economic impact reports for the beer industry as a whole, for the craft segment, both nationally and state-specific. But narrowing down to study the economic impact of a single beers release seems pretty microscopic. Unless its Pliny the Younger and the total impact to the local economy is a whopping $6.1 million.
(more...)
News Taproom Aesthetics: How To Design A Space That Draws In Customers
When Melissa Romano walks into a brewery taproom, her eyes don’t seek out the tap list. A graduate of the Cornell University College of Architecture and former professional architect, Romano instead stops to consider her first impression of the space. “I think when you walk in the front door for the first time, whether it’s how the staff greets you, or what the doormat looks like, or what’s displayed on a merchandise wall in front of you, your first impression is really going to set the tone for your experience,” she says.
(more...)
News TTB Proposes Time-Saving Changes for Brewers
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is continuing its effort to streamline the licensing and permitting process for alcohol beverage industry members. The latest TTB rulemaking proposal would streamline much of the qualification requirements for Brewer’s Notices as well as cut back on the requirements for reporting certain brewery businesses changes.
(more...)
News BI Launches Consumer Platform ‘Building Bridges with Beer’
The Beer Institute announced today the launch of its new online platform, “Building Bridges with Beer,” a digital community for beer lovers across the country “to share their favorite beer-related memories, stories, and experiences.” The platform is now live with stories of leaders and insiders in the beer industry.
(more...)
News New Belgium and Bell’s Hire DEI Director to Serve Both Breweries
New Belgium Brewing and Bell’s Brewery appointed a director of diversity, equity and inclusion who will work for both breweries. Courtney Simmons will serve as the newly combined company’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
(more...)
News New Owner of Cincinnati Beverage Co May Revitalize Heritage Brands
The new owner of Cincinnati Beverage Co., brewer of heritage brands such as Christian Moerlein, Hudepohl, Burger and Little Kings, plans a $30 million renovation of three historic brewery buildings in Cincinnati, Ohio.
(more...)
News Expert Panel Explores Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer as Segment Continues to Grow
The U.S. non-alcoholic beer market surpassed $9.5 billion in 2019, and is projected to see a steady compound annual growth rate of 7.5% between now and 2026, according to Global Market Insights. More and more craft brewers are looking to the growing segment, not only to tap into the growth potential, but also to fulfill a need of their customer base, who often will switch back forth between full-strength beers and an occasional N/A.
(more...)
News Minnesota Passes Bill to Give Brewers and Distillers More Retail Allowances
After years of failed attempts to modernize some of the state’s restrictive alcohol laws, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law yesterday the ‘Free the Growler’ bill that will allow breweries up to 150,000 barrels in annual production to offer growler sales, up from the current 20,000-barrel cap.
(more...)
News Stone Fallout – The Why and How of the Brewery that Would ‘Never Sell Out’
Posted by Tom McCormick
The sale of Stone Brewing to Sapporo U.S.A last week is without a doubt the biggest story of the year so far in the craft brewing industry. It has been a relatively quiet year news-wise in the beer industry as a whole, with few large acquisitions being announced half way through 2022. Although it was clear that Stone Brewing was financially stressed after testimony in the Molson Coors litigation became public, it was still a bit of a cultural shock when the sale to Sapporo was announced, perhaps in part because Stone co-founder Greg Koch repeatedly claimed over many years that the company would never “sell out.”
(more...)