Category: Major Brand News
News coverage of the global and large domestic brewing companies
News AB’s ‘Beer Garage’ Experiments with Artificial Intelligence
AB InBev has created a division with the intent to use artificial intelligence to improve everything from the brewing process to its marketing platforms. The “Beer Garage” is an AB InBev Silicon Valley-based hub where employees research, develop and test technology-driven solutions according to a story at Forbes.
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News ‘Hardest Seltzer in the Universe’ from Four Loko
The hard seltzer craze has taken off, with breweries of all sizes jumping into the category. One of the allures of this new beverage is that it seems to satisfy a growing desire by drinkers to consume less alcohol. Most hard seltzers are weighing in at 4-5% abv.
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News To Buy or Not to Buy – ABInBev Faces Deadline on CBA
When Anheuser-Busch InBev partnered with Craft Brew Alliance in 2016, they were given a deadline of August 23rd, 2019 to make a qualifying offer of $24.50 per share, which would amount to about $475 million, or else it has to pay Craft Brew $20 million. The clock is ticking as the deadline nears, and the industry waits to see what ABInBev decides to do.
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News The Buying Continues – AB Acquires Platform
They are apparently not done yet. After a break of two years since buying its last craft brewery, many in the industry thought Anheuser-Busch might have set aside its buying spree of craft breweries. Not so, as the global company announced today that it has acquired Platform Beer Co. of Cleveland.
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News Sad But True Department – Pabst Intros Hard Coffee
The “new age” of alcohol beverages is the talk of the industry with hard seltzers, hard kombucha and other innovative drinks seemingly all the rage. Like a race to be the “next new style” of beer created grapefruit IPA’s, Hazy this-and-that and other esoteric flavors, will we now see a surge in “off-flavored” alcoholic beverages? My guess is yes. And look what just popped up; Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee, a chocolate-flavored malt beverage (FMB) with Arabica and robusta coffee beans, milk, and vanilla.
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News Pressure is Up – Are Prices Going Down?
No doubt the entry of into the craft segment by Anheuser-Busch and other Big Alcohol giants through craft brewery acquisitions has turned up the pressure in the market place. Competition is as tough for craft brewers as it has ever been. But will Big Alcohol use their size to push pricing down – to squeeze smaller brewers out?
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News Trump Tariff Impact on Mexican Imports
The price of number one import Corona and other fast-growing Mexican beers will likely increase as President Donald Trump announced on yesterday that he will impose a stiff tariff on imported goods from Mexico starting June 10th until “such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico” stop.
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News Constellation to Close Satellite Ballast Point Locations
Constellation Brands has said it will close the Ballast Point brewpub in Temecula according to an article in the Press-Enterprise. The company will also close its sour beer and barrel-aging facility, which has a dedicated 40-barrel brewhouse.
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News Heineken Goes N/A
With the overall beer market down just about 1% in 2017 and 5% over the past four years, brewers of all sizes are looking in different directions, from dipping toes in the cannabis industry, spirits, alcoholic seltzers and other creative avenues. Heineken is going non-alcoholic.
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News ABInBev Aims for ‘Next Corona’
Of all the attempts by beer makers to develop the “next Corona,” all have failed. Corona continues to be the top import and continues to show impressive gains year after year. Presidente, Pacifico, Victoria and others have failed to come even close to the popularity of Corona. Now Anehuser Busch InBev is making another attempt to compete in the import market.
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News Reddit Q&A With Anchor Brewing Union Organizers Ongoing
We’ve been working for over a year and a half to organize our workplace for better conditions and wages! Here is a great article about the story so far. The next step is a vote on the 13th which will determine whether or not we join the ILWU local 6. Ask us anything about the process so far, the craft beer industry, or how to organize your own workplace!
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News AB Jumps into Spirits
No surprise. Looking to diversify as their core brands continue a long and steady decline, Anheuser Busch has now made its first foray into spirits by acquiring Cutwater Spirits in San Diego. AB has made other recent acquisitions to expand beyond beer including the cannabis industry and buying the consumer website Rate Beer.
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News Corn Syrup Fight Raises Big Question Mark – Bad for Beer?
The industry is still talking about the ABInBev Super Bowl ads that called out Miller Lite and Coors Light being brewed with corn syrup while implying that Bud Light does not. It has been awhile since the big brewers have gone at it directly in front of the consumer via adverting. Maybe that’s because Big Beer has been so concerned about the threat from craft.
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News Bubble Gum IPA – Gone Too Far?
Posted by Tom McCormick | 1 Comment on Bubble Gum IPA – Gone Too Far?
With the craft beer industry already under siege by many who feel that beer style proliferation has gone too far in an attempt to attack attention and entice more sales, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Blue Point Brewing has just released Bubble Brain IPA, a “small batch, bubble gum beer, driven by fruit, spices and yeast,” Barry McLaughlin, marketing director said in a Forbes article.
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