Knowing how and when to expand have become increasingly challenging issues for craft breweries looking to capitalize on growing consumer thirst for high quality beer. While the temptation to try and grow rapidly is undoubtedly a palpable one, Sean Wilson, founder and “chief executive optimist” of Fullsteam Brewery is focused on a slow and steady… Read more »
Despite declining performance for domestic and imported beer, the craft beer market has risen strongly and appears poised for even greater heights, according to a new report from market research firm Mintel. The report reveals that sales of craft beer more than doubled from $5.7 billion in 2007 to $12 billion in 2012. And the upward trend shouldn’t stop there; Mintel also forecasts that by 2017, craft beer sales will reach $18 billion.
What was once old is new again. As of February 1, MacTarnahan’s Brewing Co. — part of the North American Breweries portfolio that was sold last October to Cerveceria Costa Rica, S.A. for $388 million — will return to its original Portland Brewing Company name.
Craft brewers are incredibility inefficient when it comes to producing beer. And that’s what makes them terrific job creators for cities and towns. At least that’s what Scott Metzger thinks. Metzger, the founder of Freetail Brewing and an adjunct professor of economics at the University of Texas at San Antonio was speaking during a recent… Read more »
With the addition of new brewhouse capacity and positive momentum following the opening of a new tasting room, San Diego-based Coronado Brewing Company today announced plans to expand distribution across Northern California and Washington. Coronado will be distributed by Wine Warehouse in Northern California and Odom Corporation in Washington.
They’ve got a powerful ally in a governor who has sworn to veto it, but a proposed tax hike on beer sold in New Hampshire has nevertheless agitated beer producers and distributors across the state. As proposed, House Bill 168 would raise the excise tax on beer sold from a wholesaler to a retailer by… Read more »
A Connecticut brewery is planning to return to its roots. Thomas Hooker Brewing Company, which is currently located in Bloomfield, Conn., recently announced plans to move its brewing operations back to downtown Hartford.
Overwhelming demand has brought Firestone Walker beer from one giant beer-loving state to another. Firestone Walker Brewing Company announced today that it will begin distributing its beer to Texas over the course of the next two months. The Paso Robles, Calif.-based brewery has partnered with Brown Distributing for distribution in the greater Austin area, and with Andrews Distributing for the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Avery Brewing Co’s wholesaler, CR Goodman, has sold the distribution rights to the Boulder-based brewery to Beverage Distributors Company (BDC). The move was made at Avery’s behest; a spokesman for the brewer said CR Goodman had received fair market value from BDC. BDC, based in Aurora, is expected to provides statewide distribution coverage for Avery.
New Belgium announced today that co-founder and CEO Kim Jordan and her family have sold their controlling interest in the brewery to its employees via its Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESPO). The ESOP already owned 41 percent of the company. There was no disclosure of how much money Jordan and her family gained from the sale.
To coincide with the opening of the company’s new tasting room, San Diego-based Coronado Brewing Company commissioned a three-minute promotional video to capture the ‘typical day’ of a San Diegan. The video – which mashes together a brew day at Coronado Brewing and a day of fun for San Diego beachgoers – was shot and… Read more »
Golden Road Brewing today announced that it has parted ways with former Brewmaster Jon Carpenter, who tendered his resignation in early January. The company is replacing Carpenter with former Drake’s Brewing Company head brewer Jesse Houck, whom Golden Road had once considered for the Brewmaster position back in 2011.
21st Amendment Brewery’s new brew – Sneak Attack Saison – is as much a metaphor for its growth in the past two years as it is a creative attempt to capture consumer mindshare by releasing a summer beer style during the winter.
Craft beer industry members converged on San Diego last November for the Brewbound Session, a full-day business conference and networking event that was attended by over 130 craft brewers, distributors and other beer industry professionals.
