Editor’s note: The below news items were initially reported in the Insider version of the Brewbound Newsletter between July 9-July 11. Become an Insider today to get earlier access to what’s going on in the industry.
Owner of Good People Brewing Acquires Former Ghost Train Space in Birmingham
The former home of Ghost Train Brewing (Birmingham, AL) has been sold to the owner of Good People Brewing, Birmingham Business Journal reported earlier this week.
GPBC Property 1st Avenue LLC., a company with “the same address and owner as Good People Brewing,” purchased the 95,468 sq. ft. space for $5.2 million, according to the report, citing public records. The deal closed on June 25.
Ghost Train closed in July 2024, which was supposed to be “temporary” to allow the brewery “to make exciting changes,” according to a report from BhamNow. 2 months after the closure, Ghost Train Brewing filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a year after it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Brick West Enters Foreclosure; Owner Hopes to Keep Brewery Operational
Brick West Brewing (Spokane, WA) entered foreclosure this week after ownership failed to make payments owed to Numerica Credit Union, the Spokesman-Review reported.
The brewery – founded in January 2020 by Jordan and Joel Tampien and Matt and Ryan Goodwin – plans to stay open, according to Jordan Tampien, who told the Spokesman-Review that they have “a buyer to buy the building” who plans to lease the brewery back to Tampien and his partners.
Tampien cited “internal difficulties with our partnership” for why Numerica has gone unpaid. Brick West’s social media pages have no mention of the foreclosure. The most recent activity as of press time is a July 9 promotion of a DJ, scheduled to perform at the brewery today (July 11).
The Tampien brothers are also facing debt issues at their real estate office 4 Degrees Real Estate, including a combined $5.6 million in debt from renovating the Brick West space ahead of the brewery’s launch, according to the report.
The Spokesmen-Review has more details, including reports of soured partnerships and other business debts involving the Tampien brothers.
ACA Launches First Capital Campaign, Seeking $250,000
The American Cider Association (ACA), a nonprofit trade organization that supports and advocates for the hard cider industry, has launched its first capital campaign, “It’s Cider’s Time.”
The ACA announced the campaign Thursday in a newsletter to members, writing: “As cider grows, so do the demands on the ACA. We have the leadership, vision, and strategy to meet the moment – but we need more funding to scale our impact.”
The campaign has a goal of $250,000. It is unclear how much has been raised so far. The ACA called out a $25,000 donation from Schilling Cider, as well as undisclosed donations from Bauman’s Cider, Portland Cider Co., 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Humboldt Cider Company, Vermont Cider Co., Farmhaus Cider Co. and Original Sin Cider.
Lawson’s Finest Liquid’s Out-of-This-World Good Brew for a Cause
Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Waitsfield, VT) has released Cosmic Shift IPA (6.2% ABV), the latest offering in its Good Brew For a Cause series.
A portion of the proceeds from Cosmic Shift IPA will be donated to 10 nonprofits, with donations matched by distributors partners, including:
- Vermont Adaptive (donation matched by Baker Distributing Company);
- Philabundance (matched by Sarene Craft Beer Distributors);
- Spoonfuls (matched by Atlantic Beverage Distributors);
- Rhode Island Community Food Bank (matched by Atlantic Beverage Distributors);
- Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter (matched by Star Distributors and Hartford Distributors);
- NH Food Alliance (matched by Vacationland Distributors);
- Cultivating Community (matched by Vacationland Distributors);
- Community FoodBank of New Jersey (matched by Remarkable Liquids);
- City Harvest (matched by Sarene Craft Beer Distributors);
- United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes (matched by T.J. Sheehan Distributing).
Good Brew For a Cause is a part of Lawson’s Finest’s Social Impact Program (SIP). The brewery has donated more than $2.5 million to more than 400 nonprofits through SIP since 2018.
The MJF Announces 9th Cohort of Scholarship Recipients
The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (MJF) has awarded 7 more scholarships to members of the bev-alc industry, marking the nonprofit’s 9th cohort of recipients.
The awardees and the programs they will use the scholarship for include:
- Joshua Avina, MBAA brewery maintenance course;
- Sarah Glenn, brewing arts certificate at the University of South Florida;
- Jamaar Julal, advanced sake brewer certification course from the Sake Brewers Association of North America and Niigata University;
- Erin Lee, CIBD diploma in distilling;
- Julien Parra, WBA Fundamentals of Brewing Technology course at the Siebel Institute;
- Amanda Sandoval, WBC Concise Course in Brewing Technology at the Siebel Institute;
- And Alina Torrens, MBAA Brewing and Malting Science course.
The MJF works to “remove financial barriers, advance technical education and facilitate career opportunities for people of color” within the brewing and distilling industries, through scholarships, mentorship and networking opportunities. With the latest cohort, the MJF has now awarded 64 scholarships in 5 years.
Molson Coors-Backed Naked Life Now Available Nationwide
Naked Life, an Australia-based NA RTD cocktail brand Molson Coors formed a “strategic partnership” with in late 2024, is now available nationwide in the U.S.
Naked Life’s offerings – including $9.99 4-packs of Mojito, Negroni Spritz, Classic G&T, Cosmo and Margarita – are available nationally at Total Wine & More stores, and DTC through Amazon and DrinkedNakedLife.com. Additionally, the NA cocktails are on shelves at select Meijer and Fresh Thyme locations, according to a press release.
Dark Horse’s Limonata Sicilian Pilsner Enters Ohio
Benchmark-owned Dark Hose Brewing (Marshall, MI) hopes Ohioans will say “ciao” to Limonata (4% ABV), the brewery’s Sicilian pilsner with lemon.
Limonata launched last month in Michigan, where it has placements in Detroit’s Comerica Park, Utica’s Jimmy John’s Field, as well as golf clubs and retailers.
In June, bev-alc portfolio company Benchmark invested in Blake’s Beverage Co. Revisit prior Brewbound coverage of the company’s beer entrance via acquisitions of several Michigan breweries.
New Realm Chief Jeff Chassner Joins THC Beverage Co. Cann
Former New Realm Brewing (Atlanta, GA) chief sales officer Jeff Chassner has joined Cann as VP of sales for the THC “social tonic” brand.
Beyond 5 years at New Realm, Chassner’s resume includes VP of national sales at BeatBox Beverages, sales director at SweetWater Brewing and a decade of various management roles at Molson Coors, according to his LinkedIn page.
In his new role, Chassner will be responsible for “leading Cann’s retail sales operations” in the U.S., and “expanding Cann’s penetration through traditional retail channels,” according to a press release.
Cann beverages are available in 5,000 retail locations across 30 states, as well as DTC in 35 states. The company’s portfolio includes THC-infused multi-serve bottled aperitifs, 2-10mg THC- and CBD-infused canned tonics, and THC- and CBD-infused 0.5 oz. liquid packets, or “Roadies.”
‘I Fear That There’s Going To Be A Lot of Brands Looking For A Home’
– Topa Topa co-founder and CEO Jack Dyer told Brewbound, referring to the impact of distribution consolidation in CA on the state’s craft breweries.
CA bev-alc distribution moves have dominated headlines throughout 2025, including several acquisitions by Hand Family Companies’ (HFC) Sunset Distributing.
Sunset was formed earlier this year with HFC’s acquisition and merger of Stone Distributing Company and Classic Beverage. Last month, Sunset announced another acquisition: Scout Distributing.
Topa Topa (Ventura, CA) was part of Scout’s portfolio in Los Angeles. Prior to last month’s acquisition, the brewery was already distributed by Sunset in San Diego, according to the distributor’s website.
Dyer said: “When you combine books like that, if you’re not above a certain size now in this rather large organization, you may either, 1. Not get the attention that you’re used to getting; or 2. You may be out of there. That’s the concerning thing for craft, is that there’s just not that many options.”
Meanwhile, in the wine and spirits world, RNDC is exiting the Golden State, eliminating 1,756 jobs in the process. The move was made after several large suppliers left RNDC, including Brown-Forman and Tito’s Vodka.
Dyer added: “Our industry is resilient, and we’ve got a lot of people making a lot of great beer, a lot of great brands. So somebody will fill that void and hopefully end up with a lot of good brands that can still stay relevant in the marketplace.”
Coors Light Goes Inside Patrick Mahomes’ Head … Literally (Sort Of)
Coors Light is helping Kansas City Chiefs fans cool down later this month with a cold plunge vessel in the likeness of QB Patrick Mahomes’ head, “the chillest place on Earth,” according to the brand.
Coors Light wrote: “Cold plunges have become the go-to ritual for athletes and chill-seekers alike. The Patrick Plunge taps into that same ritual by providing a full-body refresh, all while channeling the chill energy of Coors Light.”
The plunge will be open to 60 fans on July 19 at the KC Live! entertainment complex in downtown Kansas City. Participants are asked to donate $15 to Mahomes’ children-focused foundation, 15 and the Mahomies.
Chill-seekers who can’t make it KC Live! can order 1 of 45 miniature Patrick Plunges to keep their beer cold. Sales start on Coors Light’s website at noon ET on July 15 and each elaborate koozie costs $40 to benefit 15 and the Mahomies.