Dear Client:  Finding growth in the current “challenging” craft landscape was the topic du jour during Brewers Association VP of strategy and chief economist, Bart Watson’s, annual state of the industry address today at the Craft Brewers Conference held in Las Vegas.  While craft beer production was down 1% in 2023, as Bart reported in … Continue reading “Bart: Craft Numbers “Not Bad” but “Not Good” Either”

Dear Client:  Brewers Association chief Bob Pease kicked off the Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas this morning, welcoming a crowd of 9,500 members, 1,000-plus international attendees, and 750 exhibitors. Out of the gate, Bob acknowledged what surely most everyone in this crowd of thousands is feeling — that these are challenging times “for all … Continue reading “BA Chief Highlights “Bright Spots” in Craft’s “Challenging” Moment”

Dear Client:    Today, two of the largest Black-owned breweries (in the largest beer-drinking state) are announcing a watershed alliance to leverage its members’ strengths and show up at market in a much bigger way. Crowns & Hops is teaming up with another California-based, Black-owned brewery, Full Circle Brewing Co., to realize scale and efficiencies. The … Continue reading “Top Black-Owned Breweries Form Circle of Crowns Beverage Group to Majorly Level Up”

Dear Client:    Dogfish Head has a few key plays on the leadup to summer — including distinctive new packaging, a new 120 Minute release and more.  NEW PACKAGING: PAINT IT BLACK. Around May, it will be time for Dogfish Head’s new packaging to show up on shelves.  They’re losing the color with the current shark … Continue reading “Dogfish Head Debuting New Packaging With Black and White Logo”

Dear Client:    The busy season in beer is nearly here, and Dogfish Head is geared up for it with a number of releases, activations, programs and even new packaging across its beer and canned cocktail biz. Co-founder Sam Calagione sat down with CBD this morning to give us a peek at what’s in store and … Continue reading “Dogfish Head Rolling a Tequila Canned Cocktail Next Month”

Dear Client:    The Brewers Association dropped its Annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report this morning, giving us a look not only at volume movement for BA-defined craft in 2023, but also dollar trends, brewery count, openings/closings, and how the Top 50 brewers of this bunch shook out.  Let’s dive in… CRAFT VOLUME DOWN 1% IN … Continue reading “Craft’s 2023 Tallies Are In: Volume Down 1%; Dollars up 3%”

Dear Client:    There’s been quite a bit of news coming out of Shiner, Texas lately, from new brands, to new campaigns, and even new frontiers like spirits, yet despite all the news, the focus remains on its tried and true. “We’re looking at our two big bets – Shiner Bock and Shiner Light Blonde — … Continue reading “Shiner Still “Incredibly Focused” on Bock and Light Blonde”

Dear Client:    A couple years back, we brought you news of a new-to-world packaging vessel from O-I Glass, called the Drinktainer [see CBD 02-04-2022]. Seemingly spawned out of the pandemic and its effect on bev-alc to-go, O-I unveiled the Drinktainer – a single-serve, recyclable glass container that features a RipCap closure – that was designed … Continue reading “Right Coast Spirits Brings Novel Package to Shelf”

Dear Client:    Minnesota-based Surly Brewing Co. has come out as a major player as the state’s closely-watched hemp-derived delta-9 THC beverages market continues to develop.  While Surly has emerged as a sought after contract brewer for other companies looking to expand or break into the d-9 market (more on that later), it says its plans … Continue reading “Delta-9 Demand Driving New Expansion for Surly”

Dear Client:    Tilray has bought its way to a top five craft brewer spot over the past four years — first, as Aphria, by entering the U.S. beer market via the SweetWater acquisition in 2020, then culminating in last year’s buyout of eight Anheuser-Busch craft brands.  But they intend to be a lot bigger in … Continue reading “Tilray Wants to be a Bigger Bev Alc Player”

Dear Client:    Iowa-based Climbing Kites, the state’s first and top-selling cannabis-infused (delta-9) beverage, has signed with a couple of big beer wholesalers to help them expand their footprint in the state and beyond.  Climbing Kites was acquired by regional Iowa craft brewer Big Grove Brewing (a 30,000-barrel craft brewer) in February.  “Having recently secured Iowa … Continue reading “Iowa D-9 Player, Climbing Kites, Expands with Iowa Beverage and Tennessee’s Eagle Distributing”

Dear Client:    Celebrating 30 years in business this year, Houston-based Saint Arnold Brewing is happy they’ve stayed independent.  “To me, staying independent was very, very important. Always,” founder Brock Wagner told CBD, noting that while “I did entertain some offers … I realized that I love doing this. “I’m much happier running the brewery and … Continue reading “Saint Arnold Still Growing 30 Years Later”

Dear Client:    Whether it’s new partnerships, new packaging or new personal records, Athletic Brewing continues to break barriers and level up. CMO of Athletic Brewing Andrew Katz told CBD this week that “we’re very aware” of the fact that Athletic’s “roots are in athletes and performance,” but since joining the company, “one of the things … Continue reading “Athletic Making Moves into Music and Single-Serves”

Dear Client:    Bell’s has had an action-packed 12 months. They went national by the end of last year, saw new brass come online, and have introduced some key new extensions to their long-popular flagships, Oberon and Two Hearted.  The company has emerged from the change a stronger company, at least by scan standards: The Bell’s … Continue reading “Extending Has Paid Off for Bell’s”

Dear Client:    The hemp-derived delta-9 news just keeps coming: Now, out of Minnesota, top 50 craft brewer Surly Brewing Co. has just entered into a contract brewing partnership to produce THC-infused beverages for HighBridge Premium. The co-packing partnership comes as Surly is retrofitting its brewery to accommodate more contract brewing, including an influx of d-9 … Continue reading “Surly Overhauls Production Facility as D-9 Co-Packing Biz Ramps Up”