Total U.S. beer dollar sales grew to more than $35 billion in 2018, according to retail data provider IRI. The Chicago-based market research firm, which tracks category-wide sales at major off-premise retailers, reported a 1.8 percent increase in beer dollar sales, despite a 0.3 percent decline in volume sales at multi-outlet and convenience (MULC) stores (grocery, drug, club, dollar, mass-merchandiser and military) through December 30.

Industry headwinds, brewery acquisitions, the emerging cannabis sector, and the seemingly never ending battle between big and small beer makers were the focus of Brewbound’s most-read stories of 2018.

Two brand new Bell’s beers have been announced for 2019, but Bell’s Brewery has more in store for craft beer fans this fall. Michigan’s largest independent craft brewery is proud to announce the addition of Hopsoulution, one of its Double IPAs, to its year-round lineup in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Bell’s Brewery is proud to announce the next can and bottle release in its Larry’s Latest series – Larry’s Latest Flamingo Fruit Fight (5% ABV).

Tim Gossack, Bell’s Production Manager, was one of eight former Deschutes brewers invited back to Bend, Oregon to brew a special, unique one-time collaboration brew to help celebrate Deschutes Brewery’s incredible milestone.

A brand new beer will join Bell’s Brewery’s year-round lineup early next year: Bell’s Official American Wheat IPA.

Bell’s Brewery is marching toward a national distribution footprint. The Michigan-based brewery yesterday announced plans to expand distribution to the craft beer soaked state of Colorado. In a press release, the company said it had signed with six wholesalers for coverage throughout Colorado beginning this fall.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: In-state sales are on the rise in Michigan; Baderbrau is set for an August auction; another round of brewery closures hit in Colorado, California and Georgia; and more beer industry news.

U.S. beer dollar sales increased 4.1 percent as volume sales grew 2.1 percent through the four weeks ending May 20, according to retail data provider IRI Worldwide.

Bell’s Brewery co-owner Laura Bell will “step away” as CEO of the Michigan-based craft beer company, she wrote in a letter to distributors yesterday. Citing her desire to “explore other passions and interests,” Bell said she would relinquish the position on May 18. She was appointed CEO on February 3, 2017.

Starting this summer, Bell’s Brewery will begin selling beer throughout New England and New Jersey, expanding its footprint to 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico in the process. The Michigan-based craft brewery will partner with 11 beer distributors across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Jersey.

In this roundup of legal news: MillerCoors is attempting to block a former top executive from joining Constellation Brands; Bell’s loses a nearly 3-year-old trademark fight; and a federal judge is allowing a lawsuit filed by the son of Thelonious Monk against North Coast Brewing Co. to proceed.

Following a year of flat sales at off-premise retail in 2017, U.S. beer dollar sales increased 3 percent through the first four weeks of 2018, according to retail data provider IRI Worldwide. IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm that tracks category-wide sales trends at off-premise retailers, reported total U.S. dollar sales of about $2.2 billion through January 28 in its multi-outlet and convenience (MULC) universe of stores (grocery, drug, club, dollar, mass-merchandiser and military).