Chris Furnari

Posts by Chris Furnari

New Belgium Grows Brewing Capacity at Fort Collins Headquarters

New Belgium Grows Brewing Capacity at Fort Collins Headquarters

New Belgium Brewing isn’t quite ready to break ground at its new Asheville, N.C. brewery location, so it has continued expanding operations at its home base. The country’s third largest craft brewery announced today that it is nearing completion on a 140,000 barrel expansion project at its Fort Collins, Colo. brewery location.

Wirtz Beverage Group, McClane Co. Purchase Stake in Missouri Beverage Co.

Wirtz Beverage Group, McClane Co. Purchase Stake in Missouri Beverage Co.

Wirtz Beverage Group announced plans yesterday to expand its beer, wine and spirits wholesale business into the state of Missouri. The Chicago-based wholesaler has formed a joint venture with convenience distributing giant McClane Co. to purchase a minority stake in St. Louis-based Missouri Beverage Co.

Craft Continues Upward Surge in Massachusetts

Craft Continues Upward Surge in Massachusetts

Craft beer sales in the Bay State continued to climb in 2012, according to new data from the Beer Distributors of Massachusetts, a trade association advocating on behalf of family-owned wholesalers. Beer sales to Massachusetts distributors totaled 4,169,941 barrels (57,378,387 cases) for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2012. But a closer look at the… Read more »

Harpoon Brewery to Host ‘Brewed For Boston’ Fundraising Nights

Harpoon Brewery to Host ‘Brewed For Boston’ Fundraising Nights

The Harpoon Brewery will host its first of three “Brewed For Boston” fundraiser events for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings tonight, beginning at 6 P.M. The special events, happening at the Harpoon Brewery Beer Hall (located at 306 Northern Ave., Boston, Mass.) are scheduled to place between 6 P.M. — 9 P.M. on each… Read more »

Summer Seasonals Get Canned

Summer Seasonals Get Canned

Three top 15 craft breweries today announced the first-ever release of their canned summer seasonal offerings. Boston Beer Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Shipyard Brewing Company, ranked no. 1, no. 2 and no. 15 (respectively) on the Brewers Association Top 50 craft brewery list, plan to offer 12 oz. cans of their summer seasonal… Read more »

Video: Crown Beverage Packaging Launches Topless Beer Can

Video: Crown Beverage Packaging Launches Topless Beer Can

The latest innovation in can packaging might pair best with a nude beach. It’s been dubbed the topless beer can, and it was unveiled by Crown Beverage Packaging at last month’s Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Washington D.C.

Deschutes Establishes Employee Stock Ownership Program

Deschutes Establishes Employee Stock Ownership Program

The country’s fifth-largest craft brewer, Deschutes Brewery, today announced that it has made its first contribution to a newly established of Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP). The fund will allow those employees who are not part of the management team to benefit economically from building value in the company, said Deschutes CFO Peter Skrbek.

Video: Pete’s Wicked Ale Founder Bets on Session Beer with New Mavericks Line

Video: Pete’s Wicked Ale Founder Bets on Session Beer with New Mavericks Line

He’s back. A man known by most in the craft beer industry simply as “Pete” has returned to the beer business. This time around, Pete Slosberg (of Pete’s Wicked Ale fame) is betting on a lower alcohol product that is slowly beginning to become more popular as a craft beer style.

St. Louis Craft Brewer Bets on Growth in Midwest Markets

St. Louis Craft Brewer Bets on Growth in Midwest Markets

St. Louis-based Urban Chestnut Brewing Company is betting big on craft beer’s growth potential in the Midwest. On Tuesday, Urban Chestnut founders Florian Kuplent and David Wolfe announced plans to invest $10 million into a 75,000 sq. ft. “green” brewery that will eventually be capable of churning out 100,000 barrels of beer annually.

Boston’s Craft Beer Community Rallies to Support Marathon Victims

Boston’s Craft Beer Community Rallies to Support Marathon Victims

Members of New England’s craft beer community are coming together and organizing community events to help victims of yesterday’s attack on the Boston Marathon. Brewbound.com has learned of at least two local beer industry groups — Jack’s Abby Brewing and Beer Advocate — who plan to host charitable events for those affected by the Boston… Read more »

Manhattan Beer Distributors Picks Up Shiner, Schlafly and Pyramid Brands

Manhattan Beer Distributors Picks Up Shiner, Schlafly and Pyramid Brands

Manhattan Beer Distributors, one of the country’s largest beer wholesalers, confirmed to Brewbound.com that it has signed distribution agreements with three top 50 craft beer brands: Shiner, Schlafly and Pyramid. The Bronx, NY-based wholesaler will launch the Shiner brand of beers — owned by The Gambrinus Company — throughout New York City today.

Brewers, Lawmakers Debate Over Proposed Tax Hike in Washington

Brewers, Lawmakers Debate Over Proposed Tax Hike in Washington

Craft brewers throughout the state of Washington are lobbying against a proposed tax hike on beer sold in-state. In 2010, the state excise tax on in-state brewers producing more than 60,000 barrels annually was temporarily raised from 26 cents per gallon to 76 cents per gallon in an effort to help increase state revenues during… Read more »

Sweetwater Retires Exodus Porter, Looks to Expand Distribution in Southeast

Sweetwater Retires Exodus Porter, Looks to Expand Distribution in Southeast

Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing is retiring yet another Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medal winner. The company today announced that it will discontinue its year-round Exodus Porter, a 6.2 percent brew that was primarily available in Atlanta and various Southeast markets.

Cisco Beers Head West, Company Eyes Additional Markets

Cisco Beers Head West, Company Eyes Additional Markets

A selection of beers from Cisco Brewers recently began cropping up at retail locations in Southern California and Nevada. The Nantucket, Mass.-based beer company began sending its beer farther west in mid-March after leveraging an existing distribution arrangement with the L. Knife & Son wholesale network.