Brewbound — Craft Beer News, Events & Jobs

One year after inking a deal with coffee giant Starbucks, the world’s largest beer company is making another investment in the non-alcoholic beverage segment. Anheuser-Busch InBev today announced plans to acquire Hiball Inc., a San Francisco-based beverage company founded in 2005 that produces a range of caffeinated beverages, including energy drinks, sparkling waters and cold brew coffees. The company also makes a line of non-caffeinated juices and seltzers, called Alta Palla.

DuClaw Brewing Co. is officially on the market. The Baltimore, Maryland-based craft brewery today announced that it had retained investment banking firm Equity Partners HG to help identify an investor or buyer for the company.

Major Brands, the largest Missouri-owned distributor of beer, wine and spirits, has released Schlafly Beer’s brand rights to the Saint Louis Brewery, ending the two parties’ 17-year distribution partnership as of Monday.

Coronado Brewing Company today announced it would acquire a majority stake in Monkey Paw Brewing, a small craft brewery located in San Diego’s east village neighborhood. Specific financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close on September 1, were not disclosed. Coronado will use cash flow from its production brewery and brewpub operations to finance the transaction, chief operating officer Brandon Richards told Brewbound.

After an nine month search, New Belgium Brewing has found its next CEO. The Fort Collins, Colo.-headquartered company, which also operates a brewing facility in Asheville, North Carolina, today announced that Steve Fechheimer, the former chief strategy officer at Beam Suntory, would take over as CEO in mid-August.

After nearly three months of striking, more than 100 union delivery drivers and warehouse workers have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with Long Island beer distributor Clare Rose. Last week, Teamsters Local 812 announced that it had struck a tentative deal with the beer wholesaler after negotiating terms through a private mediator.

In this edition of Press Clips: C&C Group continues to struggle in the U.S. market; Target plans to sell more craft; Meijer now offering beer delivery in Michigan; and much more.

Flying Dog Brewery has officially terminated its membership with the Brewers Association (BA), citing changes to the not-for-profit industry trade organization’s Advertising and Marketing Code that are aimed at addressing “sexually explicit, lewd, or demeaning brand names, language, text, graphics, photos, video, or other images.”

On this week’s episode of Taste Radio, BevNET CEO John Craven joins Brewbound editor Chris Furnari for an interview with Craft Brew Alliance CEO Andy Thomas. As the head of one of the largest craft beer companies in the U.S., Thomas oversees a portfolio that includes Kona, Widmer, Redhook and other craft brands. During his segment, Thomas shares insight into topics such as the commercial evolution of the category, the importance of being patient with innovations (and where to find the inspiration to fuel them), and how the proliferation of small craft breweries is challenging companies to cultivate stronger, more unique brand identities.

Beers from Indiana’s Sun King Brewery will make their first appearance on out-of-state retail shelves next month when the company begins distributing to Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky.

After about 20 months of planning and building, Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) will finally open its Redhook brewpub in downtown Seattle in August. Located in the Pike Motorworks Building in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, the 10,000 sq. ft. Redhook “Brewlab” will feature a 10-barrel brewing system, 16 rotating draft beers and seating for 260 people, according to Derek Hahm, CBA’s vice president of sales and brewpubs.

Brooklyn Brewery and Danish brewer Carlsberg have announced yet another international craft brewing partnership — this time in Eastern Europe. The two companies have formed a joint venture with Švyturys Brewery, based in the port city of Klaipėda, Lithuania.

New Glarus Brewing Co. is adding 16 fermentation tanks that will eventually allow the Wisconsin brewery to double its annual capacity to more than 400,000 barrels.

MillerCoors today announced that chief public affairs and communications officer Pete Marino will be taking over as the president of Tenth and Blake, the company’s craft and import division, on September 1. Scott Whitley, who had led the division since October 2014, will retire on September 30, according to CEO Gavin Hattersley.