Leaders of the movement that helped bring to light stories from women in the beer industry who have experienced sexual harassment and assaults, toxic workplaces and misogyny, join Brewbound Frontlines to discuss their work and its future.
Spirits and Mexican import beer giant Constellation Brands put its official stamp of interest on the trend by investing in HOP WTR, an emerging brand of zero-calorie sparkling water infused with the fruity bittering agents as well as some on-trend functional or adaptogenic ingredients like L-Theanine (potentially providing relaxation and focus) and Ashwagandha (a purported stress reliever).
Craft breweries will have to do more than brew and sell a batch and donate proceeds from it to join the newest cause-driven global collaboration beer project. The organizers behind Brave Noise, a collaborative project “advocating for safe spaces and inclusive environments” in the beer industry, are asking participants to create and publish a code of conduct for employees and patrons, as well as donate the majority of the beer’s sales to an organization that supports the project’s mission.
Two Floridians are seeking class certification of a lawsuit filed last year against Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned Veza Sur Brewing that alleges that the world’s largest beer manufacturer is deceiving customers by positioning the Miami-based offshoot as a craft brewery.
San Franciscans will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result to sit indoors at bars following new guidance from the San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance. “The San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance is extremely concerned by a recent uptick in cases of COIVD-19 among our staff members, especially those who are fully vaccinated,” the organization wrote in a statement.
Maui Brewing Company has appointed Scott Metzger as its next chief operating officer. Metzger, who founded Freetail Brewing Company in San Antonio, most recently served as general manager at Wormtown Brewery in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Two people have died and a third was injured in a shooting at the home of George Taylor III, the chief operating officer of TRU Colors, in Wilmington, North Carolina. TRU Colors, which Molson Coors acquired an equity stake in April, was founded by Taylor’s father, George Taylor — a tech entrepreneur and former Untappd chairman — and leaders of the Bloods, Crips and GD (Gangster Disciples) gangs. The company employs active members of rival gangs “to bridge divides and create economic opportunity, all while teaching life skills with professional training,” according to TRU Colors’ website.
Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis made waves this month when he announced he was joining Veritas Fine Cannabis as an equity stakeholder and team member. The craft beer pioneer told Brewbound the cannabis industry piqued his interest several years ago, but it wasn’t until a friend from childhood who is now an investment banker introduced him to the Veritas team that he was ready to jump.
The beer category didn’t see fireworks in off-premise retail sales this July 4, market research firm NielsenIQ reported. “For the biggest beer holiday of the year, the category had lackluster performance in the off-premise channels this year, with dollar sales down -5.1% compared to last year, and up +7% compared to 2019, which was driven in great part by beyond beer segments,” NielsenIQ vice president of beverage alcohol practice Danelle Kosmal wrote.
Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers’ transition into the Sheehan Family Companies network will now include New York and New Jersey, the Framingham, Massachusetts-based craft brewery announced today.
Boston Beer Company adjusted its full-year forecast for shipments and depletions growth after a significant slowdown in the hard seltzer segment in the second quarter. The company previously projected full-year growth of 40-50% in shipments (sales to wholesalers) and depletions (sales to retailers), but has trimmed that projection to 25-40%. Its depletions increased 24% during Q2, decelerating by half from Q1’s growth of 48%, according to remarks from founder and chairman Jim Koch in the quarterly earnings release. “To be totally honest, we’re surprised at the sharpness and the suddenness of the change in trajectory,” Koch said during a conference call with investors and analysts.
Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. is getting its own facility — and the Inglewood, California-based craft brewing company is asking drinkers if they want to be a part of it.
Boston Beer Company “overestimated the growth of the hard seltzer category in the second quarter” and the demand for the company’s Truly Hard Seltzer, CEO Dave Burwick said in a press release announcing the company’s Q2 earnings results.
Midway through 2021, just two of the top 15 craft beer suppliers have been able to generate off-premise dollar sales growth in NielsenIQ tracked channels compared to a year ago, according to Bump Williams Consulting’s latest analysis of the craft segment.
