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).

Celebrating diversity has always been an integral part of Bell’s culture. This summer, 16 oz. cans of Sparkleberry will join that celebration. 

In this week’s edition of Press Clips: Maryland distributors vow to fight Comptroller’s changes; brewers hail tax reform savings; MillerCoors ends Coors Light NASCAR sponsorship; Mitch Steele’s Atlanta brewery sets an opening date; and Bell’s releases Hopslam.

In this week’s edition of Last Call, Russian River raises $200,000 for wildfire relief; Amazon announces the end of its wine program; Diageo opens a temporary Guinness taproom in Maryland; and more.

Bell’s Brewery’s India Red Ale is available now for a limited time!

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), which represents America’s 3,000 independent beer distributors across the country, is pleased to present the NBWA Brewer Partner of the Year Award to Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo, Mich. Now in its third year, the Brewer Partner of the Year recognizes brewers for building strong partnerships, providing valuable education and growing their brands through supportive partnerships with beer distributors.

A new seasonal release, Hopslam mini-kegs and the return of The Oracle – just a sample of the incredible lineup Bell’s Brewery has in store for fans in 2018.