Craft beer industry news.
One truth made abundantly clear in 2014: Not all cash is created equal. On one side of the equation sit companies like Founders (Mich.), 10 Barrel (Ore.), and Blue Point (NY), all of which were bought out by larger, international beer companies. While those three brands will now be able to use the money and the distribution reach of their new investors and owners to grow, there’s a definitional downside: they’ve left the ranks of the craft realm.
There is little doubt that most beer salesmen would consider a job heading up sales for Dogfish Head to be one of the most coveted positions in craft. And there was a time when Adam Lambert, the man who held that position, VP of Sales, until the end of November, would have agreed. Brewbound recently discussed his decision to leave Dogfish Head, the keys to becoming a successful beer salesman, and what he hopes to accomplish at New Holland Brewing.
Kona Brewing Company has announced it is celebrating its 21st birthday in a very Hawaiian way – by giving back to those who made them the success they are today. After months of discussion about how to best say mahalo to the people of Hawaii, the employees of Kona Brewing determined that the most fitting way was to create a special series of small-batch beers that would only be available in its island home.
In January, Odell Brewing will release the second edition of its Fernet Aged Porter, a rich imperial porter aged in retired Leopold Bros. Fernet barrels.
Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) is releasing IPX Single Hop Ale: Mt. Hood. The beer is the latest in the single hop series, which has continued to be an educational celebration of hops for more than two years. It is available on tap and in 22oz bottles throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson checked in with Yahoo Finance yesterday, providing a small snapshot of craft beer’s growth in 2014. In a video interview with multimedia correspondent Akiko Fujita, Watson said shared updated figures on the amount of craft breweries currently operating throughout the U.S. The latest number? 3,250.
Bell’s Brewery has issued a voluntary recall of its beer, Mercury: The Winged Messenger, in 43 Michigan counties, citing a glass defect on the lip of certain bottles, which could cause small pieces to become dislodged. The recall, according to a statement from the company, applies only to bottles purchased in specific counties in its home state of Michigan, “not the entire packaging run.”
As Brewbound prepares to go on a brief hiatus for the holiday season, we thought we’d feature some exciting collaboration news from two of the country’s fastest-growing craft breweries. Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing and Virginia’s Devils Backbone have partnered to create an imperial dark rye beer that Ninkasi’s founding brewmaster Jamie Floyd describes as “unlike anything we’ve ever brewed before.”
Sonoma Cider, organic hard cider producer, is proud to announce the addition of two new sales team members — James Williams and Ken Komar. The company has also added to its distribution network in California, signing contracts with Harbor Distributing and Pacific Beverage.
The holiday season is always a time of festive gatherings, celebrations and parties. This makes it the right time to remind people to drink responsibly and to not drive drunk. To help send that message, the Beer Institute is partnering with members of Congress to record and distribute public service announcements asking the public to share our industry’s Commitment to Responsibility.
DAVIS, Calif. – Sudwerk Brewing Co. set a company record this year for charitable giving, and its taproom, The Dock Store, became a popular venue for community fundraisers. Sudwerk donated more than $10,000 to community groups in 2014, much of it from events hosted at The Dock. It supported other fundraisers through community partnerships. Co-owner… Read more »
Baxter Brewing has announced plans to expand distribution to New York per two partnerships with a pair of L. Knife and Son wholesalers. Having just rounded out its presence in New England, the 4-year-old Maine brewery, which produces an all-canned lineup of beers, has inked deals with Union Beer Distributors and Craft Beer Guild Distributing for coverage throughout New York City and the Hudson River Valley respectively.
Ball (NYSE: BLL) today announced that Erik Bouts, 53, will join the company as senior vice president, Ball Corporation, and chief operating officer, global metal beverage packaging, effective Feb. 1, 2015. Bouts will report directly to John A. Hayes, chairman, president and CEO and he will be based in Zurich, Switzerland.
Today, creators of the three-day festival announce that Boulevardia will be back in 2015 on Father’s Day weekend, June 19-21, once again in the historic West Bottoms. The gathering will include popular elements of the 2014 event while adding more unique experiences for all who attend.
