North Carolina craft brewers and wholesalers have reached a compromise in a contentious years-long dispute over the state’s self-distribution and franchise laws. After filing a lawsuit two years ago challenging the constitutionality of a state law requiring brewers who sell more than 25,000 barrels to forfeit self-distribution rights and sign with a wholesaler, Craft Freedom LLC — a trade group consisting of Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and NoDa Brewing Co. — has struck a deal with the North Carolina Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association that could create an additional brewer classification for “mid-sized independent breweries” selling fewer than 100,000 barrels annually.

A lawsuit brought by two North Carolina breweries that challenges the constitutionality of the state’s distribution laws is inching toward a trial. Last Thursday, Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour denied the state’s motions to dismiss the case or send it to a three-judge panel. A trial date has not been set.

In the latest Legislative Update: Maryland’s Reform on Tap Act dies in committee; the Massachusetts Senate revives franchise law reform bill; and more state news.

Following last year’s sale of Asheville’s Wicked Weed to Anheuser-Busch InBev, 23 North Carolina breweries have banded together to form the Charlotte Independent Brewers Alliance (CIBA), a non-profit membership group aimed at distinguishing local beer and cider makers from their competitors.

The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild has hired Andrew Lemley as the organization’s new executive director. Lemley comes to the Guild from New Belgium Brewing Company, where he most recently served for the last four years as the Fort Collins-headquartered brewery’s government affairs representative.

In this week’s Legislative Update: Delaware increases the state tax on alcohol; North Carolina approves the so-called ‘Brunch Bill’; 48 breweries oppose Clean Water Rule changes; and more.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: North Carolina brewers claim Anheuser-Busch receives favoritism from the state’s wholesalers; Fiddlehead opens a new production facility; the Brewers Association announces committee assignments; and more.

As expected, two North Carolina breweries have filed a constitutional challenge to a state law that requires breweries producing more than 25,000 barrels annually to contract with a wholesaler.

In this week’s Last Call, the FDA moves to delay menu-labeling regulations; a look at the aftermath of Maryland brewers’ reform efforts; North Carolina’s self-distribution fight continues; and more.

In this week’s, Legislative Update: Texas lawmakers consider bill that could force big breweries to close taprooms; North Carolina fails to increase cap for self-distribution; and much more.

Legislative Update: Maryland Brewers Association Teams Up with Diageo; Minnesota Lawmakers Pass Sunday Sales Bill; Mississippi Direct Taproom Sales Governor’s Signature Away From Law; Montana Bill Attempts to Raise Production Cap to 60,000 Barrels; North Carolina Brewers Attempt to Raise Cap, Run into Wholesaler Opposition.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery embarks on a multi-million dollar expansion and launches an ad campaign; Stone Brewing taps its first Richmond-brewed beer; Appalachian Mountain Brewery updates shareholders and the Beer Institute reports import volumes through May.

Olde Mecklenburg to Pull Distribution from “Triad”; Yards Brewing Searching for More Space; Asheville Citizen Times Examines Rumored New Belgium Sale; Sale of London’s Camden Town Brewery Questioned; Original Gravity Brewing Sues Final Gravity Brewing

Inc. Magazine’s annual ranking of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. is out and, not surprisingly, several craft breweries made the cut. Nine craft breweries appeared on this year’s list, which is ranked according to percentage revenue growth over a four-year period.