Headlines

Craft Production Up 17 Percent in Texas

Craft Production Up 17 Percent in Texas

Craft beer in the Lone Star state is blooming like a Texas Rose. According to a new report from the Texas Craft Brewers Guild (TCBG), the state’s craft beer production grew more than 17 percent in 2013, which accounted for 5.34 percent of all the beer produced by Brewers Association-defined craft brewers.

The Bruery Pivots, Rebrands ‘Wild’ Ales Under New Moniker

The Bruery Pivots, Rebrands ‘Wild’ Ales Under New Moniker

The Orange County, Calif.-based brewery stated that it will “rededicate its focus” with regard to its original Bruery brand, “specifically on experimentation with non-wild ales, modern twists on classic styles and aging beer in bourbon and other spirit barrels,” according to a company statement.

Demeter Group: Consumers Don’t Differentiate Craft from ‘Pseudo’ Craft

Demeter Group: Consumers Don’t Differentiate Craft from ‘Pseudo’ Craft

Today’s beer consumers are often heralded as smarter than they’ve ever been. Nevertheless, a new report from Demeter Group suggests the difference between craft and what the investment firm refers to as “pseudo” craft continues to elude a sizeable portion of the population. The conclusion drawn from Demeter’s new report, “Protecting Craft Against Pseudos,” is… Read more »

Set in Stone: South Carolina Beer Bill Signed Into Law

Set in Stone: South Carolina Beer Bill Signed Into Law

Last night, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law the so-called “Stone Bill,” which immediately lifts restrictions for the Palmetto State’s smaller beer companies and makes a number of key changes to the state’s current brewery license regulations.

Full Sail Hires New VP of Sales

Full Sail Hires New VP of Sales

Full Sail Brewing Co. has hired beer industry veteran Andy Krakauer to serve as the company’s new vice president of sales. Krakauer, who most recently served as the director of business development and strategy at MillerCoors, said he plans to bring further “structure” and “rigor” to the company’s sales force.

Sierra Nevada Hires Former A-B InBev Brewmaster as Technical Director

Sierra Nevada Hires Former A-B InBev Brewmaster as Technical Director

Add Sierra Nevada to the growing list of craft brewers that have plucked talent from the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Sierra, the country’s second largest craft brewer, based on 2013 sales figured supplied by the Brewers Association, has hired former A-B InBev senior brewmaster Daniel Kahn as Technical Director, a new position created to… Read more »

Distribution Roundup: Ohio Wholesaler Eyes Canadian Craft

Distribution Roundup: Ohio Wholesaler Eyes Canadian Craft

One Ohio distributor is looking beyond Old Glory to further capitalize on the growth of craft beer in America. Esber Beverage, a family-run wholesaler in Canton, is actively seeking Canadian craft brands to supply American retailers — which seemingly already have more SKUs than the sky has stars — with beer from the country’s northern… Read more »

Kona Expands Distribution to Mississippi

Kona Expands Distribution to Mississippi

Venturing further into the mainland, Kona Brewing Co. today announced it has added Mississippi to its distribution footprint, which now covers 40 states. Earlier this month, the island-themed beer brand owned by Craft Brew Alliance tapped retail channels in the key markets of Jackson, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and Biloxi, through its network of Anheuser-Busch wholesalers on… Read more »

South Carolina ‘Stone Bill’ Passes, Off to Governor’s Desk

South Carolina ‘Stone Bill’ Passes, Off to Governor’s Desk

South Carolina lawmakers in both the House and Senate adopted what has become known as the Stone Bill this afternoon, effectively loosening restrictions on how brewers in the Palmetto State do business. The bill — known in the Senate as S. 1230 and in the House as H. 3512 — is now off to be… Read more »

Press Clips: Craft Beer Science; Beer Mile Conspiracy Theories

Press Clips: Craft Beer Science; Beer Mile Conspiracy Theories

Giving the white coats of craft beer their due, The New York Times published a story on Monday profiling the efforts of two teams of microbiologists as they seek to create “the first genetic family tree for brewing yeasts and the beers they make.”

‘Stone Bill’ Passes South Carolina Conference Committee

‘Stone Bill’ Passes South Carolina Conference Committee

This afternoon, a conference committee made up of six South Carolina lawmakers voted unanimously in favor of the bill — known in the Senate as S. 1230 and in the House as H. 3512 — which was inspired by Stone Brewing Co., the Escondido, Calif.-based brewery looking to invest upwards of $30 million to build a new facility on the East Coast, creating up to 400 jobs in the process.

Jack’s Abby Expands Distribution to Connecticut

Jack’s Abby Expands Distribution to Connecticut

Massachusetts-based Jack’s Abby brewery will expand sales to Connecticut and has signed agreements with G&G Beverage Distributors, Inc. for coverage in the Fairfield and New Haven counties, as well as L. Knife & Son’s Craft Beer Guild Distributing of Connecticut for distribution throughout the Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, Tolland, Windham and New London counties.

Distribution Roundup: New Routes to Market for Craft Brewers

Distribution Roundup: New Routes to Market for Craft Brewers

Back in February, Reyes Holdings acquired the distribution rights to Coca-Cola in Chicago. As Brewbound reported at the time, the acquisition marked Reyes’ “first major foray into beverage distribution outside of the beer category.” It made sense: who would turn down the rights to distribute one of the world’s most recognizable brands?

Beer Institute: Beer Sales Could Once Again Top $11 Billion This Summer

Beer Institute: Beer Sales Could Once Again Top $11 Billion This Summer

As the weather begins to heat up this summer, so will beer sales, said the Beer Institute, a trade association representing both large and small brewers. According to the organization, which cites data from Nielsen, a consumer trends agency, more than 38 million American households will spend upwards of a collective $11 billion on beer… Read more »