Beer Industry News, Insights, Jobs, & Events

Brewbound Voices: The A-B Consent Decree Expired Earlier This Week. What Now?

Brewbound Voices: The A-B Consent Decree Expired Earlier This Week. What Now?

Ten years ago, the Justice Department (DOJ) allowed the world’s largest brewer (Anheuser-Busch InBev) to buy the world’s second largest brewer (SABMiller), but only after imposing rules designed to protect competition and keep the market open. Those rules expire this month. This is what they did, and why their expiration matters.

Goose Island Unveils Sweet 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout Collection

Goose Island Unveils Sweet 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout Collection

In the midst of a summer of hard sports drinks and the revitalization of light beer, Goose Island is hoping to steer the conversation toward dark, moody imperial stouts for at least a little bit. The Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned craft brewery has revealed its dessert-laden 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout (BCBS) lineup. The barrel-aged stout family is traditionally released on Black Friday (November 27 this year).

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Off-Premise Alcohol Sales Fall 21% WoW After July 4, Growth Brands Hold Momentum, per Circana Weekly Scans

Off-Premise Alcohol Sales Fall 21% WoW After July 4, Growth Brands Hold Momentum, per Circana Weekly Scans

Off-premise beverage-alcohol sales took an “expected” nosedive following the Fourth of July, according to market research firm Circana’s latest weekly report. Dollar sales declined 21.4% week-over-week (WoW) for the week ending July 12. Year-over-year (YoY), dollar sales declined 0.3%, to $1.448 billion. Volume, measured in case sales, declined 1.7%.

NIQ: Margarita Sales Temper as Martinis Gain On-Premise Momentum

NIQ: Margarita Sales Temper as Martinis Gain On-Premise Momentum

The margarita’s grip on cocktail menus is loosening as drinkers, particularly younger ones, have begun to diversify their cocktail choices. After a long reign at the top, challenges to the margarita have emerged: value velocity fell 16% year-over-year (YoY) in Q4 2025 according to a new report from NIQ.

Insider’s Week in Beer: 💍 Marriage Getting Twisted? Get Tea

Insider’s Week in Beer: 💍 Marriage Getting Twisted? Get Tea

As any bev-alc professional will tell you – nothing moves product like associating it with the end of a marriage. Or at least that’s my guess as to the pitch in the Twisted Tea marketing meeting for its end-of-summer sales push. The marketing group at Twisted Tea took the phenomenon of divorce filings increasing at the end of summer and thought “How has no one ever used this to sell FMBs?!”

21st Amendment, TTB Agree to $423k+ Offer in Compromise

21st Amendment, TTB Agree to $423k+ Offer in Compromise

Before the legacy craft brewery was resurrected earlier this year, 21st Amendment (21A) seems to have run up a sizable tab with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).