Justin Kendall

Justin Kendall

Editor, Brewbound

Justin Kendall provides daily coverage of the beer industry on Brewbound.com, conducts live-streamed interviews during Brewbound’s events and co-produces the Brewbound podcast. Kendall is a nearly 20-year career journalist who led alt-weekly newspapers in Kansas City, Missouri, and Des Moines, Iowa.

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Posts by Justin Kendall

Schlafly Sold Again: Sage Capital Sells Controlling Stake in Saint Louis Brewery Back to Family

Schlafly Sold Again: Sage Capital Sells Controlling Stake in Saint Louis Brewery Back to Family

The Schlafly family once again has controlling interest of The Saint Louis Brewery, makers of Schlafly Beer. More than seven years after acquiring a majority interest in the Saint Louis craft brewery, private equity firm Sage Capital, as well as several current and former Schlafly Beer employees, including co-founder Dan Kopman, have sold their stakes in the business to a new investor group led by David Schlafly, a real estate developer and cousin of brewery co-founder Tom Schlafly.

Red Bull Terminates 3 Massachusetts Wholesalers, Leading to ‘Mass Layoff’ at Burke

Red Bull Terminates 3 Massachusetts Wholesalers, Leading to ‘Mass Layoff’ at Burke

Red Bull North America this week announced it would terminate distribution contracts with three Massachusetts beer and non-alcoholic beverage wholesalers in June, as it transitions to a self-distribution model for off-premise accounts. The energy drink maker also announced it would transfer its on-premise business to wine and spirits distributor Martignetti Companies.

As Rumors of Financial Woes Persist, Celis Brewery’s Future Remains Uncertain

As Rumors of Financial Woes Persist, Celis Brewery’s Future Remains Uncertain

Rumors of financial troubles, layoffs and a possible bankruptcy filing have swirled around the Celis Brewery in Austin, Texas, for the better part of 2019, and more information about the company’s future could be revealed in the coming days. A new investor group led by a beer industry outsider is reportedly considering a deal to acquire the distressed brewery, Brewbound has learned.

Molson Coors’ US Shipments, Depletions Decline in Q1

Molson Coors’ US Shipments, Depletions Decline in Q1

Worldwide sales of Molson Coors offerings in the first quarter declined 1.2 percent, to $2.3 billion, the company reported today. Molson Coors reported a 4.7 percent decline in worldwide brand volumes, to 18.2 million hectoliters. Nevertheless, the company’s net sales per hectoliter increased 2.3 percent through March 31.

As More Brewers Buy on Spot, Brewers Association Suggests Contracting for Hops

As More Brewers Buy on Spot, Brewers Association Suggests Contracting for Hops

A growing number of U.S. craft breweries are not locking in long-term hops contracts and that leaves those companies vulnerable as supply tightens, according to industry trade group the Brewers Association (BA), which surveyed 250 members to gain insight into how beer makers are managing one of the industry’s most important raw materials.

Meeting of the Malts: Pennsylvania Craft Beer Production Tops in the Nation

Meeting of the Malts: Pennsylvania Craft Beer Production Tops in the Nation

For the third consecutive year, Pennsylvania produced more craft beer than any other state in the nation, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson shared during the Brewers of Pennsylvania’s annual Meeting of the Malts gathering in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Boston Beer Loads Up Wholesalers with Truly for the Summer

Boston Beer Loads Up Wholesalers with Truly for the Summer

Boston Beer Company’s first-quarter shipments increased 32.5 percent, to a record 1.1 million barrels, in an effort to supply its wholesalers with about six weeks of Truly Hard Seltzer ahead of the summer selling season.

Mammoth Brewing to Acquire Nevada’s Great Basin Brewing Company

Mammoth Brewing to Acquire Nevada’s Great Basin Brewing Company

Two quarter-century-old beer companies are merging in an effort to remain competitive amid increasing pressure from small and large players alike. Mammoth Lakes, California-based Mammoth Brewing Company has reached an asset purchase agreement with Reno, Nevada-based Great Basin Brewing Company.

Canarchy Appoints New CEO

Canarchy Appoints New CEO

After operating for nearly a year without a CEO, the Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective has appointed long-time beer executive Tony Short to its top leadership post. The Fireman Capital-backed brewery consortium — whose brands include Oskar Blues, Cigar City, Deep Ellum, Perrin Brewing, Three Weavers, and Utah Brewers Cooperative (Wasatch and Squatters) — had been without a chief executive since last May, when David Pillsbury exited the company after about six months on the job. At the time, Canarchy promoted chief operating officer Matt Fraser to the role of president.

Weyerbacher Sells Majority Stake to Private Investment Group, Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Weyerbacher Sells Majority Stake to Private Investment Group, Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Weyerbacher Brewing Company today announced the sale of a majority stake in the company to 1518 Holdings LLC, a Philadelphia-based private investment group. Speaking to Brewbound, newly named president Josh Lampe, who previously served as chief operating officer and has supplanted brewery founder Dan Weirback as the company’s leader, said 1518 Holdings had acquired a 55 percent stake in the 24-year-old business.

Valuing Itself at $264 Million, Modern Times Seeks $1 Million via Wefunder

Valuing Itself at $264 Million, Modern Times Seeks $1 Million via Wefunder

San Diego’s Modern Times has turned to crowdfunding in an effort to raise more than $1 million, which it says will be allocated for the continued operation of its business, “minor efficiency projects” and equipment purchases, and continued expansion. In the process of posting the equity crowd raise via the Wefunder platform, the company has provided future investors and others throughout the beer industry with a peek under the hood of one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in the U.S.

Washington’s Craft Brewing Industry Contributes $1.4 Billion to State Economy

Washington’s Craft Brewing Industry Contributes $1.4 Billion to State Economy

Washington’s craft brewing industry contributed $1.4 billion to the state’s economy in 2017, according to an economic impact report released Tuesday by the Washington Beer Commission. The study, conducted by Seattle-based research firm Community Attributes Inc, found that the state’s 382 breweries produced 582,400 barrels, generated $581.4 million in revenue and employed 6,300 workers in 2017.