News

Bell’s Brewery is expanding the brand family of its flagship Two Hearted IPA, beginning with Hazy Hearted IPA and a new variety pack, the Comstock, Michigan-based brewery announced today.

As 2022 nears a close, middle tier consolidation has yet to slow down. The latest deal involves self-described “consolidator of beverage alcohol distributors” Keg 1 and its Keg 1 River City LLC subsidiary striking a deal to acquire River City Distributing Company in Louisville, Kentucky.

Several big craft beer deals have gone down in 2022, from the sale of Stone Brewing to Sapporo, to Tilray’s recent acquisition of Montauk Brewing. Those transactions have one thing in common: investment bank Arlington Capital Advisors. Arlington director Ryan Lake broke down the state of beverage alcohol M&A during the Brewbound Live business conference.

Opening a brewery in any year is a challenge. In 2022, amid inflation, rising cost of goods and labor shortages, what’s it like to try to move from brewery-in-planning to open with a full taproom? Sarah Real and Mike Dell’Aquila, the co-founders of Hot Plate Brewing, share their experience.

U.S. craft breweries saw a “varied recovery” in 2022, with volume returning to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, but not all channels bouncing back and margins tightening, according to the Brewers Association’s (BA) annual Year in Beer report.

A judge has granted Pullayup, Washington-headquartered Olympic Eagle Distributing a preliminary injunction against Constellation Brands’ termination in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Lagunitas will close its Seattle taproom next month, which was “not a decision we took lightly,” the Heineken-owned craft brewery said. Cloverdale, California-headquartered Bear Republic brewing shuttered its remaining taproom for the winter on December 11, and plans to reopen in the spring. Portland, Oregon-based Sasquatch Brewery announced last month it will halt beer- and cider-making operations, but its pub will remain in business.