Sales of craft beer are officially slowing, according to new data from market research firm IRI Worldwide, but a closer look shows an important distinction: the biggest brewers and their craft brands are the ones facing the slowdown. While category-wide beer volume sales remain flat across IRI’s measured multi-outlet and convenience channels (MULC — which comprise grocery, drug, club, dollar, mass-merchandiser, Walmart and military stores), up just 0.7 percent through May 15, growth in the craft beer category, which was growing double-digits at this time last year, has slowed considerably.
It’s in the name and inherently in every step of the brewing process: Schlafly Beer launches the third brew of its seasonal rotating IPA series with American IPA made with U.S.-grown hops, available starting Memorial Day, May 30.
Louis Glunz Beer, Inc., Chicago’s premier craft and specialty import beer distributor, announces the addition of Pacific Coast Cider to its catalog. From the Lodi, CA-based Cider Brothers, Pacific Coast Cider offers an array of dry, refreshing handcrafted hard ciders. Through Glunz, Pacific Coast Cider is currently available throughout Chicago.
A pioneer in the Craft Beer movement, North Coast Brewing Company is blazing new trails once again with a recent shareholder vote confirming its status as a Benefit Corporation. This new corporate structure, coupled with their B Corp Certification, recognizes that the company’s commitment to great beer is matched by its commitment to philanthropy, community, and environmental stewardship.
While the US Hop Industry has utilized grower identification numbers for half a century in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, now demand for this has emerged in new hop growing regions. Grower numbers have been assigned for over 50 years in the Pacific Northwest, home to 98% of the US Hop Crop. As a standard practice, each bale is labeled not only with the grower number, but also the year, lot # (a specific field it came from), and the variety.
Constantia Flexibles Group has agreed to sell its non-core folding carton activities in Mexico, Aluprint Plegadizos, to Mexican company Grupo Gondi for an undisclosed amount. The transaction requires anti-trust approval from the Mexican authorities and is expected to be completed in the coming months.
The Bruery & Bruery Terreux are set to launch statewide distribution in Kentucky starting June 8 through Heidelberg Kentucky. This will be the first time their portfolio of experimental and barrel-aged beers will be available in the state. Kentucky is the 28th state to be added to the company’s national distribution footprint.
Upland Brewing Co. announced today that they will release Petal to the Kettle in early June on draught throughout their distribution area as part of the Side Trail Series. It will be on tap at Upland pubs and tap rooms starting Friday, June 10th.
Creature Comforts Brewing Company will bring back seasonal American Pale Ale, Automatic, on draft as well as package it in cans for the first time in mid-June. Automatic serves as another hop-forward, yet balanced beer within the brewery’s lineup.
Sonoma Cider, the award-winning producer of such innovative hard ciders as the The Hatchet, The Pitchfork, The Anvil, and The Washboard, is adding a new limited run flavor to its portfolio, The Wimble, marking the company’s second cider to be available in a can. Set to launch this June, this cider is a twist on Gose – an old German-style beer that is traditionally sour and briny – with a lingering, and addicting, harmonic tartness from notes of rhubarb and apple.
After a lengthy courtship, Russian River Brewing Company and Firestone Walker Brewing Company announced today the imminent arrival of STiVO—an immaculately conceived mashup of their respective craft pilsners, STS and Pivo.
Upright Brewing is proud to announce the release of one of our most exciting projects yet — Oregon Native. This barrel fermented wild ale is a collaboration with Derek Einberger, a winemaker at Patton Valley Vineyards and the beer uses their pinot noir grapes to blend the line between wine and beer.
Crisp and refreshing, the seasonal pale ale is brewed with citrus hops & dried lemon peel. And though it is inspired by Master Brewer Damian Brown’s years living in Germany drinking Radlers, it’s perfect for summer days closer to home – because real NYC fun is subway rides, not private jet rides away.
Small Town Brewery (“Small Town”) officially announced today that it will launch Not Your Father’s Vanilla Cream Ale, a creamy botanical craft beer brewed with Madagascar Vanilla, combining a lightly sweet savor with a smooth finish to create a refreshing beer. The new brew is expected to begin hitting store shelves in June.
