Lord Hobo Brewing Company is hoping the release of its first 18-pack and a vintage muscle car giveaway will help it accelerate beyond the 50,000-barrel threshold in 2019. The Massachusetts craft brewery launched 18-packs of Freebird, a new year-round golden ale that clocks in at 5.5 percent ABV, last Friday at its brewery and taproom in Woburn. Speaking to Brewbound, Lord Hobo director of new markets Rob Day said Freebird 18-packs — at a suggested retail price of $20 — are the company’s first foray into the “affordable, larger-package format.”

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Brewers Association CEO Bob Pease weighs in on the Boston Beer-Dogfish Head deal; Rob Tod wins a James Beard award; Bell’s and Loveland head to arbitration; the Texas Senate strips to-go-sales amendment from a bill; and more industry news.

Craft Brew Alliance hopes its marketing efforts in the first part of the year built a “strong foundation” for continued growth throughout the rest of 2019, CEO Andy Thomas said during Thursday’s first quarter earnings call with investors and analysts.

Eight years ago, Dogfish Head and Boston Beer Company teamed up to brew a collaboration beer for the annual SAVOR craft beer and food pairing experience. Today, the two companies announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement valued at about $300 million. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. As part of the transaction, Dogfish Head co-founders Sam and Mariah Calagione will receive about 406,000 shares of Boston Beer stock (NYSE: SAM), valued at $314.60 per share, making them the largest non-institutional shareholders in the company, behind Boston Beer founder Jim Koch.

Dan Gordon has regained majority control of Gordon Biersch Brewing Company. A new investor group assembled by Gordon has acquired the San Jose, California-based production brewery from the Fertitta family — founders of Nevada’s Station Casinos and Zuffa, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which sold for more $4 billion to WME-IMG in 2016.

Anheuser-Busch InBev today reported global revenue growth of 5.9 percent in the first quarter of 2019, despite continued declines of its two biggest brands in the U.S. A-B, the world’s largest beer manufacturer, recorded global revenue growth of nearly $12.6 billion during the quarter, and a gross profit of more than $7.7 billion, as its worldwide volume increased 1.3 percent. The company’s revenue per hectoliter also grew 4.6 percent during the period.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

In the latest edition of Press Clips: The Boston Globe outlines the turmoil within the Craft Beer Cellar franchise; Texas beer-to-go sales amendment passes the House; Arcadia founder transfers brewery property ownership to its bank; and Anheuser-Busch responds to MillerCoors’ corn syrup lawsuit.

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 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.