The Brewers Association (BA) has awarded more than a half a million dollars in research grants to groups focused on barley and hops development. The BA, a not-for-profit trade group representing the interests of small and independent U.S. beer companies, said the 17 grants given through its Research and Service Grants Program would “further the development of a healthy and sustainable raw materials supply chain.”
In episode 17 of the Brewbound Podcast, Campbell discusses the Brut IPA trend, how Brewery Ommegang plans to help build awareness around the new style, and the challenges of building an entirely new product category. He also discusses strategies for executing successful partnerships – such as the one Ommegang had with HBO and the Game of Thrones series – as well as a consumer shift toward prioritizing proximity over quality when making purchasing decisions.
In the latest Legislative Update: Michigan enacts new requirements for satellite facilities; South Carolina brewers attempt legislative reform; full-strength beer is now available in Colorado; and more lawmaking moves.
2018 was undoubtedly a challenging year for a number of U.S. beer companies. The year was marked by layoffs, brewery closures and sluggish sales as more than 7,000 breweries battled for shrinking market share. As beer professionals throughout the country prepare to flip their calendars to 2019, let’s take a look back at three of the most notable storylines that helped shape the narrative this year.
Industry headwinds, brewery acquisitions, the emerging cannabis sector, and the seemingly never ending battle between big and small beer makers were the focus of Brewbound’s most-read stories of 2018.
Off-premise retail beer sales in the U.S. eclipsed $32 billion through December 2, according to market research firm IRI. The Chicago-based group, which tracks sales at multi-outlet and convenience stores, recently reported that dollar sales of beer were up 1.7 percent year-to-date.
In this week’s edition of Last Call: Utah enacts new drunk driving limit; cannabis bars are coming to West Hollywood; Ray Faust lands at Crook & Marker; Buffalo Wild Wings unveils new store designs; Anheuser-Busch responds to Iowa State fans’ thirst for Busch Light; and more industry news.
In episode 16 of the Brewbound Podcast, Brooklyn Brewery CEO Eric Ottaway discusses the growing consumer interest in low- and no-alcohol products, the overall state of the beer business, his company’s global partnership strategy and the shrinking international opportunities for U.S. craft breweries.
Nearly a month after Diversified Metal Engineering (DME) entered into receivership, a Texas craft brewery that paid the Canadian brewing equipment manufacturer more than $1 million in deposits is ceasing operations. In a December 21 social media post, Big Bend Brewing Co. announced it would “suspend operations” after six years, and shutter its taproom effective December 31.
As the partial shutdown of the U.S. government stretches into its fifth day, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has officially closed. The TTB, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, will suspend all “non-excepted TTB operations,” according to a notice posted to its website.
Beerboard, the company behind the digital menu displays at retailers such as Buffalo Wild Wings and World of Beer, recently examined on-premise trends using data from more than $1 billion in draft beer sales in 2018.
In this week’s edition of Last Call: Cargill unloads its malt business; domestic beer shipments decline 6 percent in November; Canopy Growth eyes the U.S. market following the Farm Bill signing; the Arcadia auction is postponed; and more industry news.
Craft brewery owners in Pennsylvania are attempting to restructure the collection of a forthcoming sales tax that is slated to begin next July and would increase the cost of beer sold directly to consumers for on- and off-premise consumption at the state’s nearly 300 taprooms, tasting rooms and brewpubs. The point of contention for brewery owners is not the implementation of the tax itself, but rather when it is collected.
In episode 15 of the Brewbound Podcast, Woods discusses his company’s shift from a distribution-focused business model to a retail-minded operation. He also talks about the difficulty of trying to build a new product segment – in his case yerba mate-infused beer – and the challenges small breweries face now that thousands of competitors have flooded the space.
