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

IRI Worldwide: US Beer Sales Down Slightly Through Early November

IRI Worldwide: US Beer Sales Down Slightly Through Early November

With just six weeks left to go in 2017, U.S. beer volume sales are roughly flat, according to recent data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI Worldwide. The firm, which tracks category-wide sales trends at off-premise retailers, reported that U.S. beer volume sales were down 0.7 percent while total beer dollar sales have increased 1 percent through November 5.

Trillium Brewing Company to Open Winter Beer Garden

Trillium Brewing Company to Open Winter Beer Garden

Popular Boston-area beer maker Trillium Brewing today announced plans to open a seasonal beer garden inside the historic “Roslindale Substation Building,” located about 8 miles from downtown Boston.

Proposed Senate Tax Bill Would Benefit Brewers

Proposed Senate Tax Bill Would Benefit Brewers

For the first time ever, beer excise tax reductions have been included in a comprehensive federal tax reform proposal. On Tuesday night, U.S. Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) released a “Chairman’s Mark” to the Senate GOP’s version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Pabst Moves Into Spirits with Launch of Not Your Father’s Bourbon

Pabst Moves Into Spirits with Launch of Not Your Father’s Bourbon

In a move toward diversifying its portfolio and reaching spirits consumers, Pabst Brewing Company today announced a foray into the crafts spirits space with the launch of Not Your Father’s Bourbon. The 86 proof (43 percent ABV), small-batch bourbon is the first product to be launched in a new line of spirits under the Not Your Father’s label, which includes the popular Not Your Father’s Root Beer flavored malt beverage as well as hard vanilla cream and ginger ale offerings, among others.

Catawba Brewing Co. Reaches Deal for Palmetto Brewing

Catawba Brewing Co. Reaches Deal for Palmetto Brewing

North Carolina’s Catawba Brewing Co. has reached an agreement to acquire Charleston, South Carolina-based Palmetto Brewing Co. Catawba co-founder Billy Pyatt told Brewbound that his company will acquire “100 percent” of Palmetto’s assets and hopes to close on the transaction by the end of the year.

Executive Leadership Changes on Tap at Anheuser-Busch InBev

Executive Leadership Changes on Tap at Anheuser-Busch InBev

Anheuser-Busch InBev is once again shaking up its North American executive leadership team, today announcing the appointment of a new CEO to oversee its largest market, among other key changes. Michel Doukeris, the company’s current chief sales officer, will take over as the CEO of A-B InBev North America, supplanting current zone president and CEO João Castro Neves, who will depart the organization after 22 years to “pursue other opportunities.”

Kona Carries CBA with 10 Percent Depletion Growth

Kona Carries CBA with 10 Percent Depletion Growth

While its legacy Widmer and Redhook brands continue to decline, Kona offerings are up double-digits year-to-date in a Craft Brew Alliance portfolio that has grown to include a number of regional craft brewery partners in recent years.

CBA Earnings: Kona Sales Surge as Widmer and Redhook Continue to Struggle

CBA Earnings: Kona Sales Surge as Widmer and Redhook Continue to Struggle

Craft Brew Alliance (CBA), which makes and markets a range of beer offerings, today reported its third-quarter earnings results. The company’s performance for the three-month period ending September 30 was highlighted by a 9 percent increase in Kona depletions (shipments to wholesalers). Through the first nine months of the year, Kona depletions have increased 10 percent.

FDA Offers Additional Guidance on Menu Labeling

FDA Offers Additional Guidance on Menu Labeling

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released its latest draft guidance for calorie-posting requirements on Tuesday, offering additional clarification for establishments in which alcoholic beverages are a regular part of menus.

Beer Execs Discuss E-Commerce, Cannabis at Beer Marketer’s Insights Seminar

Beer Execs Discuss E-Commerce, Cannabis at Beer Marketer’s Insights Seminar

E-commerce retail sales are approaching $400 billion dollars, but a mere 0.2 percent of beer — or about 3.5 million cases — was purchased online last year, according to Heineken CEO Ronald den Elzen. Den Elzen, presenting to more than 200 beer industry professionals attending yesterday’s Beer Marketer’s Insights seminar in New York City, called the shift away from brick-and-mortar purchases a “retail revolution.” By 2021, den Elzen projected that online beer sales will grow to 2.4 percent, to 53 million cases.

Texas’ Guns & Oil Takes Over Former Payette Brewing Facility in Idaho

Texas’ Guns & Oil Takes Over Former Payette Brewing Facility in Idaho

Texas-based contract brewery Guns & Oil Beer has reached an agreement to take over the former Payette Brewing Co. production facility located about two miles outside of Boise, in Garden City, Idaho. In a conversation with Brewbound, Guns & Oil founder Cary Prewitt said he’s taken out bank loans to finance the $1 million project, including acquiring Payette’s 15-barrel brewhouse. He added that he’s signed a five-year lease on the 11,000 sq. ft. property.