Anheuser-Busch InBev

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Actual Brewing files for bankruptcy; beer sales grow in January; Northern Eagle Beverage acquires New Jersey A-B wholesaler; class-action lawsuit filed against Molson Coors; and more industry news.

Anheuser-Busch InBev today announced the purchase of fast-growing Cutwater Spirits, a craft distilling venture that was originally born inside of Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. Specific financial terms of the deal – A-B InBev’s first in the spirits space — were not disclosed.

RITAS, the legendary brand behind the original margarita in a can, is expanding its core lineup for the first time with RITAS Spritz. Forget the swirl, stuffy attitude and fancy decanter, RITAS Spritz is making its debut as wine’s alter ego.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Alvarez & Marsal reaches an agreement to sell DME Group’s main business; lawmakers threaten to limit dates for Boston beer gardens; and the U.S. House introduces the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act.

ZX Ventures, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s venture capital arm, has acquired the remaining portion of beer ratings website RateBeer.com that it did not already own. Financial terms of the deal were not announced, but a spokesperson for ZX Ventures said the transaction had closed.

Benson Hill Biosystems, a crop improvement company unlocking the natural diversity of plants, and Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s leading brewer, announced a global partnership to develop improved barley varieties using Benson Hill’s computational platform Breed, powered by CropOS.

Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams will mark Anheuser-Busch InBev’s biggest ever bet made on the big game.

Sales of beer, cider and flavored malt beverages topped $38.2 billion in 2018, according to market research firm Nielsen, which tracks category-wide sales at major off-premise retailers.

Bud Light today became the first beer in the United States to add a comprehensive on-pack serving facts and ingredient label, with the unveiling of a new secondary packaging design that will hit stores in February.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Asahi announces plans to acquire London Pride maker; U.S. beer shipments decline in 2018; Charlie Papazian exits the Brewers Association; Clare Rose lays off 14 employees; and more industry news.

Amid growing interest in more “functional” alcoholic beverages, one of the country’s pioneering hard kombucha brands is undergoing a makeover in an effort to appeal to younger female consumers looking for boozier versions of the fermented tea beverage. Originally launched in 2013 as a more traditional non-alcoholic kombucha, Kombrewcha — which was co-founded by Honest Tea co-creator Barry Nalebuff and received investment from Anheuser-Busch’s ZX Ventures in 2016 — has upped its alcohol content and unveiled new packaging as an emerging hard kombucha category begins to develop.

VEZA SUR Brewing Co. has heard you loud and clear. Here comes the brewery’s first-ever bottle release. The stubby bottles, filled with fresh and deliciosa cerveza, are hitting shelves across Miami-Dade County.

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.

Virtue Cider has launched Mezzo Spritz, a classic Italian cocktail with an American twist. This low-ABV beverage is made with cider, sparkling water, and botanicals.