Headlines

Data Christmas continues, following the release of the Brewer Association’s (BA) annual production survey of U.S. craft breweries.

A Massachusetts Superior Court Judge on Friday granted Gopuff’s request for a preliminary injunction, blocking for now the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission’s (ABCC) attempt to revoke the e-commerce retailer’s liquor license for allegedly selling and delivering alcoholic beverages to underage consumers in the Bay State.

The craft-on-craft deals continue to roll in. Baltimore, Maryland-based DuClaw Brewing Co. has been acquired by River Horse Brewing Co. in Ewing, New Jersey.

Josh Landan is leading a craft brewery again. Landan, who founded the now defunct Saint Archer Brewery in 2013 and sold it within two years to MillerCoors, is now the CEO of Great Frontier Holdings, the newly formed parent company of Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, Oregon, and Wings & Arrow beyond beer offerings. Landan spoke with Brewbound about the merger, the combined company’s ambitions, potential future acquisitions and the contract brewing business.

In this latest installment of our quarterly 3 Up, 3 Down with 3 Tier Beverages, product team consultant Stephanie Roatis shares three insights on industry growth, including the continued dominance of Boston Beer’s Twisted Tea over the hard tea segment, as well as three underperforming areas across scan data, such as the loss of share of 4- and 6-packs to single-serves and 12-packs.

The Brewbound team, along with Brewbound Weekend Insider newsletter writer Sean McNulty, reviews the Brewers Association’s annual craft beer volume data. The team also discusses the latest craft brewery deals, including Funky Buddha and Appalachian Mountain Brewery returning to independent brewery status, and FX Matt buying the Flying Dog Brewery brand.

Music mogul and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs is suing business partner Diageo today alleging that the brands he co-owns with the spirits group, Cîroc Vodka and DeLeon Tequila, were given worse treatment because he’s Black.

Portfolio brand Wings & Arrow, whose brands include Ashland Hard Seltzer, Mucho Aloha Hard Lemonade, Villager Spirits canned cocktails and Wings & Arrow beer, is merging with Eugene, Oregon-based Ninkasi Brewing to form Great Frontier Holdings.

A bill to grant the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) alcohol shipping privileges has once again returned to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Flavor is both the present and the future blueprint for growth in the alcoholic beverage market, Dan Wandel, senior director of insights for Mark Anthony Brands, shared earlier this month during Beer Marketer’s Insights spring business conference in Chicago.

Boston Beer Company has appointed Philip Hodges chief supply chain officer, according to an 8-K filing, submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commision last week.

Constellation Brands is exiting the craft beer business. Constellation, which has found success with Mexican import brands Modelo, Corona and Pacifico, said it will divest of its craft and specialty division to refocus its efforts on its core brands. As such, Funky Buddha Brewery in Florida and Four Corners Brewing Co. in Texas will return to their respective original founders.

More than two-thirds (70%) of consumers planning to buy alcohol during Memorial Day weekend will buy beer, according to a survey conducted by market research firm Numerator. Total beer category ordering returned to growth in May after declining in April, according to this month’s Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) shared by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA).

Fans of Manhattan-based Torch & Crown Brewing have two new places to drink Almost Famous IPA and Tenement Pilsner, whether they’re spending summer in the city or at the beach. Torch & Crown has kicked off seasonal residences at Union Square Pavilion in Union Square Park and at Dive Bar Pizza on the easternmost point of Long Island.