Crystal Light Vodka Refreshers are rolling out to 10 states this month. A collaboration between Kraft Heinz and Harpoon maker Barrel One Collective, the 3.8% ABV vodka-based seltzer has 77 calories per 12 oz. serving, making it “the lowest-calorie ready-to-drink [RTD] cocktail on the market,” according to a press release.

The National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) has named two additional board members, in addition to board president Jon Renthrope. Funkytown Brewery co-founder and CEO Rich Bloomfield and Vine Street Brewing co-owner and business development manager Annie McGinnis were named to the board as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

As painful as 2024 was for craft brewers, the year seemed to be equally as challenging for the trade group that represents them. The Brewers Association’s (BA) total revenue declined -9.3%, to $20,972,476 in 2024, according to its annual report, which was published Monday.

Jon Renthrope, CEO and brewmaster of New Orleans-based Cajun Fire Brewing, grabs A Round With Brewbound in this Insider-exclusive Q&A with industry leaders. He shares insights gained from founding the first Black-owned brewery in Louisiana since Prohibition, and from exploring international markets, as well as goals for his term as president of the National Black… Read more »

Teamsters Local 1199 has filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) on behalf of union members at the Boston Beer Company brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

After ending fiscal year 2024 (FY24) with single-digit volume declines, Boston Beer is planning to dial in on key innovation items and support its portfolio with increased advertising in 2025.

Maryland lawmakers are considering a bill that would expand beer and wine sales licenses to the state’s grocery, convenience, mass retail and warehouse stores. However, House Bill 1379 “faced tough questioning in committee and faces a tough road to passage in the House,” Maryland Matters reported, citing a nearly three-hour debate over it last week.

Georgia craft brewers may soon have more options to take their products to market, as the state Senate is considering a bill that would legalize self-distribution. The Craft Beer and Local Economy Revitalization Act (S.B. 122) would permit small breweries to sell up to 3,000 barrels annually “to retailers licensed in this state that are located within a 100-mile radius of the small brewer’s licensed premises,” the bill reads.

For the past three years, Farthest Star Sake has been taking curious drinkers on flavor expeditions as the only sake brewery and taproom in New England. Founder and head brewer Todd Bellomy shares his journey and his thoughts on the segment in this edition of A Round With – a Brewbound Insider-exclusive Q&A with bev-alc leaders.

Constellation Brands is facing a federal securities class-action lawsuit from an investor who alleges the company shared false information about its positive outlook for its challenged wine and spirits division.

Beer category dollar sales were roughly flat (-0.3%) to start the year at off-premise retailers tracked by market research firm Circana. Sales reached $2.854 billion at multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C) in the first four weeks of 2025, through January 26.

Beer continued to outpace other beverage-alcohol categories in Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases to start the year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) January 2025 report.

Just like the Kansas City Chiefs, draft beer also took an L in Super Bowl LIX. Draft beer volume declined -4.6% nationwide on Super Bowl Sunday, according to on-premise insights firm BeerBoard.

Boston Beer Company executives will receive raises between +3% and +8%, 95% of their allocated bonus pool in 2025, and restricted stock units (RSUs) according to an 8-K form filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11.