The statement “I’m going blond” doesn’t usually imply the long term. Maybe a brunette seeks brief, superficial change to counter the monotony of stylistic routine. Perhaps she just wants to look like Kim Novak. Or Lance Bass. But no matter the motive, going blond is typically seen as something temporary. It remains to be seen if the beer industry should consider Guinness’ recent release of Guinness Blonde American Lager as an act of whimsy.

IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm, and GuestMetrics, an on-premise data provider, announced Tuesday that they have formed an alliance that will integrate the research of both entities. The alliance will provide IRI clients with in-depth information about on-premise consumer purchases via GuestMetrics that will be placed against the context of IRI’s off-premise data.

For the brewer and the drinker, the act of delving beyond the familiar creates one of the most alluring dimensions of the craft beer movement. Brewers aiming to reach this point — to define a brewery by its fabric and its fibers, rather than outside fashion — continue to make porters and stouts. And as drinkers gradually dismiss the psychological hindrances of darker beer, the creations register.

The agreements mark the first commercial movement from a potentially disruptive contract brewer with an ambitious model — one that has the flexibility to work with both emerging and well-established breweries.

As Dogfish Head’s supply catches up to demand, the Milton, Del.-based brewery continues to announce details on its re-entry into states that it had exited in March 2011. In a blog entry posted today on the brewery’s website, a Dogfish Head spokesperson writes that beer is on the way to wholesalers in Wisconsin and will… Read more »

Despite several years of volume declines, Anheuser-Busch maintains its massive hold on the U.S. beer industry with a leading 47.6 percent market share and $14 billion in revenue this year, buoyed by expenditures in data-mining and innovation.

CBA announced Tuesday the hiring of Ken Kunze, who has been named the company’s new chief marketing officer, according to a release. Kunze, who has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the consumer packaged goods, beer and beverage industries, will start Monday and will report to Andy Thomas, CBA’s president of commercial operations.

With hopes to bring on new markets, such as southern Illinois, Maryland and Pittsburgh, Pa., and without much recent experience going through this process, Chris Lennert, Left Hand’s vice president of operations, has clearly defined a compatible marketplace.

The new brewery will initially produce about 100,000 barrels with a final capacity of about 250,000 barrels, which founder Brian Dunn said could be reached in 15 to 20 years. Once built, he plans to eventually enter new markets and add an outdoor beer garden.

When walking around the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show in Atlanta, one can easily pass booths featuring off-kilter beef jerky, energy drinks, e-cigarettes, fried everything. But a growler-fill station for craft beer?

You can still find bronzing grandparents, golf courses and nightclubs in Florida, but after speaking with hordes of craft brewers at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver earlier this month, it seems that the Sunshine State also offers a growing range of craft beers.

Earlier this week, Nectar Ales announced that it will revert to its original brewery name, Humboldt Brewing Company. The name change nods to the brewery’s start in 1987 in Humboldt County, Calif., before it was acquired by Firestone Walker Brewing Company in June 2005 and then again acquired by Total Beverage Solution in July 2012.

Demand continues to balloon at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Brewers Association (B.A.), which runs the event, will add more breweries or beer drinkers. “Demand for the festival, demand for the competition was huge this year,” said Paul Gatza, the B.A.’s director.

Nitro beers and milk stouts are niche categories, but that’s just fine if you ask Chris Lennert, the vice president of operations at Left Hand Brewing Company. “We’re still niche as an industry,” Lennert said.