Top Features

Boston Beer Company officially announced its foray into a new frontier today: non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beverages.

Legacy Breweries, the craft brewery investment rollup led by beer industry veteran Don Bryant, has set its sights on Colorado, where its Aspen Brewing has struck a deal to acquire Capitol Creek Brewery.

The deal, which is expected to close June 1, will link Aspen-based Aspen Brewing, which Legacy acquired in 2019, and Basalt-based Capitol, giving the two craft breweries a combined 10,000 barrels of production capacity to serve both breweries’ on-site pubs.

In the latest chapter of “a wine story told by craft beer makers,” Odell Brewing Company has opened the OBC Wine Project Taproom — a 2,000 sq. ft. winery and taproom adjacent to the company’s Fort Collins production facility.

Goose Island creates several innovation roles; former Brewbound editor joins Athletic Brewing as emerging brands manager; and Boulevard brings on HR director.

Iron Heart Canning has added new warehouses in Chicago and Springfield, Massachusetts, bringing its total number of warehouses to 25 throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest.

Heineken USA today announced a pair of sports sponsorships — including the company’s first National Football League partnership — signaling the company’s ongoing interest in building its business with professional sports leagues, teams and arenas. However, the company remains embroiled in what started as a trademark infringement lawsuit and has evolved into a trade practice dispute between the Duch beer giant and Miami-based Biscayne Bay Brewing centered around the latter’s now terminated sponsorship with the Inter Miami MLS team.

While they may be restrictive with distribution, the Atlanta-headquartered company is anything but with their product line-up, transitioning from a craft brewery into a total beverage company.

Sparkling tequila soda brand Onda has closed a $5 million Series A round of funding led by Aria Growth Partners and beverage entrepreneur Clayton Christopher, the company announced last week.

Pabst president and general manager Matt Bruhn will depart the company on May 14, Pabst shared with wholesalers in an update provided to Brewbound. Bruhn’s forthcoming departure follows nearly four years at the company. He joined Pabst as chief marketing officer in November 2017 and was promoted to president and general manager in September 2018.

Four days after announcing a succession plan for its top leadership post, Anheuser-Busch InBev revealed several executive leadership changes with its wholesaler partners, effective immediately.

Stone Brewing is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year by getting nostalgic. May 10, the Escondido-headquartered craft brewery will be launching its “comeback” anniversary campaign, asking fans to vote for their favorite past Stone brews to come back in 2022.

At present, malt- and sugar-based RTDs, such as Mark Anthony Brands’ White Claw and Boston Beer Company’s Truly Hard Seltzer, can be sold at beer distributors, which offer retail beer sales. Wine-based RTDs are available at Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board-run (PLCB) stores and off-premise retailers licensed to sell wine. However, spirits-based RTDs are only available via the PLCB’s stores.

Under SB 623, which was referred to the Senate law and justice committee on May 3, breweries and wholesalers would have to revisit their distribution contracts every five years. If the contract cannot be renegotiated after five years, the parties must enter mediation with a mutually agreed upon mediator or, failing that, a mediator appointed by “a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Hop Butcher For The World has reached an agreement with Half Acre Beer Co. to purchase its Lincoln Avenue brewery and taproom in Chicago.