Category: Business of Beer
Industry news related to the brewing industry and the business of beer
News Brewers Publications Releases Guide on Hard Seltzer
‘How to Make Hard Seltzer: Refreshing Recipes for Sparkling Libations,’ the latest release from Brewers Publications, is the first comprehensive book on hard seltzer. Written by Chris Colby, celebrated beer author and homebrewer, this guide provides recipes and advice from the country’s best hard seltzer producers on making seltzer for both commercial and home enjoyment. Featuring everything from brewing details to guidance around the differing government regulations, to cocktail recipes, How to Make Hard Seltzer is essential reading for breweries and homebrewers alike.
(more...)
News Deadline to Register for GABF Approaching
The first virtual Great American Beer Festival will be a nationwide passport program connecting beer consumers and breweries from October 1-18. The festival culminates October 16-17, with passport-exclusive online content, and the GABF awards ceremony, broadcast by The Brewing Network.
(more...)
News On-Premise Business Remains Flat
With all states now in some degree of ‘open,’ but operating under health department restrictions, the on-premise business has entered a period of finding ways to maximize capacity and encouraging more consumers to return, while counterbalanced by measures to protect consumers and staff.
(more...)
News Unique Facility Identifier Now Required for FDA Registration and Renewals
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires all food facilities (including most breweries) to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and complete a biennial renewal. New in 2020, breweries are required to provide a Unique Facility Identifier (UFI) during this process.
(more...)
News Crosby Hop Farm Opens Beer Garden – in a Hop Field
Restaurants, bars and breweries have been finding some creative ways to serve customers in a safe place during the pandemic. But how about in the middle of a hop field, among towering hop vines, with plenty of room to social distance?
(more...)
News Can Shortage Concerns Grow
Everyone in the industry knows that aluminum beverage cans have been in high demand, even before the virus crisis. With the growing popularity of canned wine and cocktails, combined with booming sales of hard seltzer, the pressure has been on the can manufacturers to increase supply. But when the COVID-19 crisis forced beer out of kegs due to the closure of the on-premise business, most breweries, large and small, pivoted to canning more beer than before to sell into the off-premise.
(more...)
News TX Guild Survey Says a Third of Breweries Won’t Survive if No Relief Comes
A July survey conducted by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild found that one in three Texas craft breweries believe they will have to permanently close in less than three months without some change to the current shutdown order or new economic relief options. Two in three believe they will not make it to the end of the year under current conditions. The guild further says that the economic and public health crisis brought on by COVID-19 and Governor Abbott’s June 26th shutdown threatens to decimate the Texas craft brewing industry.
(more...)
News New Breweries and Expansions Galore in Pennsylvania
Among the pain is the passion. Prior to the pandemic’s sudden arrival in mid-March, there were the usual assortment of brewery expansion projects and new breweries close to opening. After waiting the pandemic out for a time, some have decided to open their doors, despite the virus.
(more...)
News Craft Up in Off-Sale but Many Struggle Due to Lose of On-Premise Business
The surge in grocery store sales has benefited high-end, full-flavor beer brands the most with craft sales up almost 23% and imports up 15% compared to subpremiums which are up 11% over last year for the period of early March to late June. Total beer sales are up 27.5%, driven by hard seltzers, which fall into the beer category for scan data, and are up a whopping 246.7%.
(more...)
News Pivoting to New Business Models – Like a $600 Dinner
With seating capacities reduced due to social distancing and many people wary of going out to restaurants and breweries, one esteemed sushi restaurant in Chicago has reopened its indoor space for diners seeking an unusual private dining experience for the hefty price of $600 per person. The hefty price buys out the entire restaurant for the evening for groups of two to four people with only one seating per night. It is a temporary pivot, but a creative one.
(more...)
News Seltzer is Still Growing Strong but Showing Signs of Slowing
Posted by Tom McCormick
Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association takes a updated deep dive into hard seltzer in his latest blog post. Bart notes that the category is showing some signs that growth is slowing, but overall growth is still booming with growth at 140% year-over-year in the latest four-week scan data period.
(more...)