Craft beer industry news.
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Victory Brewing Company and Stone Brewing have joined forces once again to create the ever-flavorful, herb-infused Dogfish Head / Victory / Stone Saison du BUFF. The Stone Collaboration beer will start arriving this week in limited amounts via 12-ounce six-packs and on draft to retailers in select U.S. markets.
Boulevard Brewing today announced it would add Michigan to a growing national footprint that now includes 35 states. The company has signed with Imperial Beverage for statewide coverage and expects to begin shipping beer next month. In a press statement, Boulevard also said it would enter Kentucky with Beer House Distributors, part of the Sheehan Family Companies, a move that was announced alongside a handful of planned market entries at the end of last year.
The white delivery van from Cape Cod’s very own Devil’s Purse Brewing Company was spotted around Boston last week as it dropped off cases of Skywave Provisional Saison with Brettanomyces to select area retailers. First released last December, Skywave was available only at the brewery and a handful of specialty craft beer stores around Cape Cod. The delivery of Skywave on March 3 marks the initial foray into Boston since Devil’s Purse opened in South Dennis May 2015.
Amid increasing competition from thousands of fast-growing startup breweries, Oregon’s Craft Brew Alliance — which makes and markets the Kona, Widmer, Redhook, Omission and Square Mile Cider brands — is fine-tuning its go-to market strategy. Despite a somewhat lethargic 2015 where net sales increased just two percent, CEO Andy Thomas and other CBA executives who spoke to investors during last week’s earnings call, remained optimistic about the company’s position as it approaches the end of this year’s first quarter.
Almanac Beer Co. of San Francisco will begin distributing throughout the State of Massachusetts on a permanent basis after announcing its distribution agreement through the Massachusetts Beverage Alliance, a craft beer distributor network servicing the Commonwealth. Almanac is well respected nationally for it’s sour program and will be rotating multiple styles into distribution from its Farm To Barrel Series and Fresh Beer program starting with Farmer’s Reserve Pluot, Hoppy Sour: Azacca, and Almanac IPA amongst others.
New Belgium today announced it has hired longtime Diageo executive Ruairi Twomey as its new vice president of marketing. Twomey, who most recently served as the VP of marketing for Diageo Guinness USA and brings more than 15 years of beer and spirits experience to the Colorado-headquartered brewery, will join the New Belgium executive leadership team on March 14.
Heavy Seas Beer is excited to announce the release of a new seasonal beer this Spring, a “citrus IPA” named TropiCannon. The product will be available from April thru June in all 17 states where Heavy Seas beer is distributed. Heavy Seas Beer is also pleased to announce the release of a new year-round beer in 2016, Pounder Pils. This German-style Pilsner lager will be available starting in April 2016, in all 17 states where Heavy Seas Beer is distributed.
Upper Hand Brewery is excited to announce the upcoming release of its newest specialty beer, Double Ringer, a Double India Pale Ale (IPA). Meant to celebrate the spring thaw in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Double Ringer is the ninth beer to be released since Upper Hand opened its doors in November 2014, including four year-round offerings.
Scottish independent brewer Innis & Gunn has announced the appointment of Neil Innis Sharp as General Manager – USA. The Edinburgh based company has maintained a relationship with Sharp, brother of Innis & Gunn’s Founder & Master Brewer, Dougal Gunn Sharp, since 2007 when he was instrumental in the brand’s launch and early success in its largest export market, Canada.
It took 18 months, but Brew Hub has finally selected a site for its second “partner” brewing facility. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Brew Hub’s development partner, Green Street, has a “letter of intent to acquire a 7-acre property at the southwest corner of Chesterfield Airport Road and Spirit of St. Louis Boulevard.”
Hold on to your pints — Cape May Brewing Company is releasing five new beers this month.
Deschutes Brewery today announced it has assigned primary distribution for Northwestern Pennsylvania starting April 1st with Penn Beer Company. This news comes one week after the brewery announced its Michigan expansion plans.
Family owned and operated Blake’s Hard Cider Co. is making their way across the Midwest. The Michigan-based craft cidery today announced plans to enter Kentucky in April & Chicago by June after opening up Ohio, Indiana, parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of North Carolina over the last 2 months. These moves will give Blake’s Hard Cider 7 states of distribution, with no signs of slowing down. Quickly becoming one of the nations fastest growing craft hard cider companies; nipping at the heals of the larger national cider brands.
Stony Creek Brewery is pleased to announce plans to expand distribution into Massachusetts. The Connecticut based brewery will be available in greater Boston and shoreline MA in March via Horizon Beverage. Full statewide coverage will commence in April through the addition of Quality Beverage, Williams Distributing and Girardi Distributors.
