Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery laid off dozens of employees last week, citing missed growth projections. Speaking to Brewbound, Deschutes Brewery president and CEO Michael LaLonde said the company cut about seven percent of its workforce on Thursday. Affected positions came from sales, marketing and operations.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Schlafly apologizes to 4 Hands for executive’s hit piece; Costco discontinues Kirkland Light; the equipment of Olde Saratoga is sold piecemeal at auction for about $1 million; and more beer industry news.

Nearly 26 months after the merger of Canadian brewing equipment manufacturers Diversified Metal Engineering (DME) and Newlands Systems, the combined company has fallen into receivership after defaulting on loan payments to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). DME Group’s financial troubles have left hundreds of of North American craft brewery owners who had already shelled out millions of dollars in equipment deposits in limbo.

U.S. cities with populations in excess of 5 million have seen the most percentage growth of brewery openings in the past five years, according to Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson. Watson, who took to the BA blog with data compiled from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau and brewery zip code locations, found a 183 percent increase in the number of breweries per 100,000 people in cities of more than 5 million people.

Shipyard Brewing founder Fred Forsley is partnering with Valencia Realty Capital and State Street Realty Advisors on a proposed $36 million contract brewing and co-packing facility in Hooksett, New Hampshire. The 100,000 sq. ft. facility, which is currently under development along Highway 93 with a targeted opening date of late 2020, will be capable of producing and packaging thousands of barrels of beer, distilled spirits and non-alcoholic drinks.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has eliminated nearly 40 jobs across North America, Brewbound has learned. In a statement issued last Friday, A-B said it was making “a limited number of targeted changes” to its North American “supply organization.”

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Craft Beer Guild appeals a $2.6 million ‘pay-to-play’ fine; 4,000 craft brewers have adopted the Brewers Association’s independent seal; the TTB fines a Miami A-B wholesaler $1.5 million; and more beer industry news.

Nearly two weeks after a self-described former employee raised questions about Trillium Brewing Company’s labor and brewing practices in an online forum, the Massachusetts craft beer maker has increased the hourly base pay for its retail employees.

Arcadia Ales is in negotiations with a ‘strategic partner’ to avert foreclosure; Schlafly CEO James Pendegraft steps down; Deschutes delays Roanoke brewery project; Benchmark Brewing seeks a buyer; and Great Waters shutters.

Count Brooklyn Brewery among the growing number of beer companies that has its eyes on the health and wellness space. During last week’s Brewbound Live business conference, Brooklyn Brewery CEO Eric Ottaway said the company was on the verge of releasing a non-alcoholic beer in Sweden as the company looks to tap into increasing consumer demand for more alcohol-free brews.

Craft Brew Alliance CEO Andy Thomas set the tone for last week’s Brewbound Live business conference by asking the nearly 200 beer industry professionals who attended the two-day event a simple question: Who is really your competitor?

Craft beer maker Oskar Blues is expanding into the hard seltzer space. The Longmont, Colorado-headquartered beer company, which is part of the Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective, is planning a nationwide launch of a new hard seltzer brand in early 2019.

More than three years after selling San Diego craft brewery Saint Archer to MillerCoors, Josh Landan is back in the brewing business. Landan, who co-founded Saint Archer in 2013, has launched a new brewing company, Harland Brewing Co., in San Diego with former Saint Archer VP Jeff Hansson and ex-market manager Anthony Levas.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: The California ABC uncovers brewpub violations; more than 1,200 beer companies join Sierra Nevada wildfire relief effort; Wiseacre sells stake to family office; Duvel Moortgat invests in London kombucha company; and more industry news from the week.