Craft beer industry news.
Never one to rest, Ordnance Brewing has crossed the Columbia River and signed with Kendall’s Pioneer in Kelso, Washington. The distributor will represent Ordnance in Western Washington to Tacoma and up the Columbia Gorge through Skamania County.
On Friday, June 3, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant will release Crusher Session IPA, a West Coast-style IPA, in cans – just in time for summer. This approachable beer will be available in 16-oz. cans at all Iron Hill locations, and is a relatively low ABV IPA perfect for warm-weather sipping.
With a plethora of state laws regulating the approximately 5,000 craft breweries and craft distilleries in the United States—coupled with double digit growth over the past decade for craft alcohol manufacturers of all varieties, including cider, mead and wine—navigating the legal contours of this emerging sector has become increasingly complex.
MKE Brewing Co. is leading the trend when it comes to the evolution of craft beer packaging with the introduction of the Lo-Gii Asian Spiced Wit 12 oz. can 15-pack, launching this week. This casing size and style is a first for any Wisconsin craft brewer. In addition, they are only the second craft brewer in the nation to integrate the new quantity concept.
This Friday, June 3, marks the return of Seattle Cider Company‘s summer seasonal, Berry, now available in 16-ounce cans! This tart and refreshing cider was created using a delicious blend of Pacific Northwest blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, pulling in all the flavors of the season without the sweetness. Berry takes over for spring seasonal Basil Mint, joining the cidery’s three year round and two limited edition ciders on shelves in 12 states across the country.
The “Uncharted Waters” Series by Heavy Seas Beer will soon welcome back Red Sky at Morning. This limited release will be available beginning in July (while supplies last) in all 17 states where Heavy Seas beer is distributed.
Upland Brewing Company today announced a significant expansion of its award-winning Sour Ale program. Started in 2006, the program began as a way for Upland to experiment with a brewing style that went back hundreds of years in Europe, but was far less common in America.
Heavy Seas Beer is excited to introduce a new seasonal offering, TreasureFest, an Oktoberfest style lager. This limited release will be available starting July in all 17 states where Heavy Seas beer is distributed.
Epic Brewing continues its expansion on the east coast with distribution in Maryland. Epic is partnering with Backup Beverage LLC, Maryland’s newest craft beer distributor. Initial distribution will cover the counties west of the Chesapeake Bay with future expansion planned in the east.
In this week’s last call: A-B promotes Patchogue in a new Blue Point Brewing campaign; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas to open Nevada’s first Goose Island pub; Buffalo Wild Wings tests the waters on to go beer sales; Melvin Brewing Company plans a brewery expansion in Washington and Gov. Kasich signs House Bill 37
Two beverage industry titans are teaming up to enter the $1 billion ready-to-drink premium bottled tea segment. On Thursday, Starbucks and Anheuser-Busch InBev announced a partnership to manufacture and distribute a ready-to-drink bottled tea under the Starbucks-owned Teavana brand, which Starbucks acquired in 2012 for $620 million. The product is slated to launch in the first half of 2017.
With the U.S. Department of Justice on the verge of green-lighting Anheuser-Busch InBev’s proposed $106 billion takeover of SABMiller, according to Bloomberg, Brewers Association CEO Bob Pease has penned a New York Times opinion piece about the potential repercussions of the “MegaBrew” merger. In his op-ed, Pease expressed concerns about A-B InBev’s ability to “stifle consumer choice” and “choke off America’s beer renaissance,” by restricting access to market.
Maui Brewing Company announces its bold new look that ties their family of beers together through inspiration in new packaging and branding. The new identity incorporates vibrant tones with a contemporary island vibe. The refreshed logo, new icons, and a new web presence were introduced to the company’s 96 employees in a private event at the Kihei brewery prior to announcing it to their partners and the media.
Bear Republic Brewing Company of Cloverdale, California has signed with Clear River Beverage to distribute their products in Minnesota. Bear Republic has won 22 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and was named the GABF Small Brewing Company and Brewmaster of the Year in 2006.
