In this week’s Press Clips: German brewer Gilde reveals its U.S. expansion plans in North Carolina; Pennsylvania lawmakers lower brewery sales tax; North Carolina paves the way for alcohol sales at college sporting events; and more news.

Constellation Brands’ beer portfolio continues to drive the company’s growth. The multifaceted alcohol company today reported its first-quarter fiscal 2020 earnings, which were highlighted by a 5.4 percent increase in shipments (sales-to-wholesalers) and a 6.6 percent increase in depletions (sales-to-retailers) for the three-month period ending May 31.

Six months after hearing oral arguments in a constitutional challenge to Tennessee’s two-year residency requirement for obtaining a retail liquor license, the United States Supreme Court yesterday struck down a controversial stipulation that had prevented out of state retailers from setting up shop in the Volunteer State.

A federal judge yesterday agreed to allow the industry trade group the Beer Institute (BI) to join a lawsuit filed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) against a pair of federal agencies regarding the collection of so-called “duty drawback claims.”

The beer industry’s pushback against tariffs received a boost on Tuesday, as the U.S. Senate filed a companion bill that would increase the federal government’s regulatory authority of groups overseeing aluminum premium benchmarking, including the controversial “Midwest Premium.”

Financially troubled Celis Brewery is scheduled to be auctioned off during two separate public auctions slated for July 2. According to public sale notice in the Austin American Statesman last Friday, the building housing the Austin craft brewery at 10001 Metric Boulevard will be auctioned off during a public foreclosure sale at the Travis County Courthouse on the morning of July 2.

In the latest Legislative Update: Maine lawmakers vote to reform self-distribution and franchise laws; Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signs a law increasing the amount of beer craft breweries can sell directly to consumers; North Carolina passes legislation to sell beer and wine at college sporting events; and Pennsylvania legislators consider a lower sales tax on at-the-brewery sales.

In this week’s Last Call: The House Ways and Means Committee passed a one-year extension of the federal excise tax relief for alcohol producers and importers. Also, U.S. beer shipments declined in May, Deschutes begins selling canned drinking water, Bell’s Two Hearted tops the AHA’s best list, and more news briefs.

An effort to maintain reduced federal excise taxes (FET) on all brewers an importers could take a major step forward tonight. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to extend tax cuts for alcohol producers and importers as part of the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 3301) extender bill.

In this Distribution Roundup: Popular Vermont craft brewer Lawson’s Finest Liquids is partnering with Remarkable Liquids for statewide distribution in New Jersey; Republic National Distributing Company forms a joint venture with Young’s Market Company; MillerCoors’ Revolver brand adds distribution in three states; and more.

A month away from its eighth anniversary, Cape May Brewing Company is quickly growing into one of New Jersey’s largest craft breweries. Last year, Cape May achieved “regional brewery” status — those breweries making between 15,000 and 6 million barrels of beer annually — increasing production by 75 percent, to 16,269 barrels, according to the Brewers Association. Speaking to Brewbound, Ryan Krill — who co-founded the brewery with his father, Bob, and friend Chris Henke in 2011 — said the company is on pace to sell as much as 23,000 barrels in 2019.

An Illinois-headquarter maker of industrial, commercial and residential kitchen appliances has bought into the brewing equipment business. The Middleby Corporation today announced the acquisition of CM Brewing Technologies LLC, the parent company of California-based brewing system maker Ss Brewtech.

In the latest Last Call: Michigan’s Axle Brewing is searching for a buyer, as the company prepares to close its Ferndale-based taproom at the end of June. Also, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott plans to sign beer-to-go measure into law on June 15, and more industry news.

The on-again, off-again effort to improve category health through an industry-wide campaign for beer is on once again. During the Beer Institute’s annual meeting, held Tuesday in St. Louis, president and CEO Jim McGreevy said the industry’s three top trade associations — the BI, the Brewers Association (BA) and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) — have agreed to launch a pro-beer marketing campaign this summer. Category health was just one of several themes to develop during the two-day meeting, as multiple speakers touched on the growth opportunity in home delivery of food and booze, as well as the growing number of jobs open in the manufacturing and hospitality industries.