News

In an effort to measure the operations of America’s craft breweries, the Brewers Association – which represents the interests of small and independent U.S. brewers – recently published the results of its annual “Brewery Operations Benchmarking Survey.” This year’s review, based on 2014 operations, featured responses from 310 unique breweries in 46 states, all of which responded to questions in the areas of human resources, sales & marketing, brewing and financial operations.

Deschutes Brewery has hired a new director of brewing operations who, among other things, will be tasked with assisting in the design, installation and launch of the brewery’s planned east coast facility. Karl Ockert, the industry executive who will fill the role effective August 3, discussed the company’s East Coast plans with Bend Bulletin’s resident beer business insider, Joseph Ditzler.

Two California beer distributors are growing their portfolios via acquisition. DBI Beverage Inc. and Valley Wide Beverage Company have expanded their operations in Central California with the joint purchase of assets from Ceres-based Cencal Beverage Co., LLC., the two companies announced in a statement.

Chain restaurants now have another year before they must comply with new federal regulations that require the disclosure of caloric value and supplementary health criteria of beer, as well as other food and drinks, sold on-premise.

At last, Notch Brewing founder Chris Lohring will have his very own brewery. Lohring, who launched the session-minded Notch as a contract craft brand in 2010, today signed a lease for a 6,000 sq. ft. research & development facility on the outskirts of Boston.

Five years after imagining the company’s first beers with a homebrew kit in his garage, Knee Deep Brewing co-owner Jeremy Warren will depart the company he founded — and tattooed on his arm — to launch an entirely new brewery. After announcing his “separation” plans on Facebook, Warren confirmed to Brewbound that he is selling his stake in the company to current CEO and majority owner Jerry Moore. Upon completion of the transaction, Moore will wholly own Knee Deep, the pair said.