Editor’s Note: The below news items were initially reported in the Insider version of the Brewbound Newsletter between September 10-12. Become an Insider today to get earlier access to what’s going on in the industry.
Superior Gets Rhinegeist, Constellation & Mark Anthony; Columbus & Delmar’s Deal for House of LaRose On
Two Ohio Anheuser-Busch (A-B) distributors have revised their merger agreement with the distribution rights to three key suppliers transitioning to a Molson Coors house.
More than a year after first announcing merger plans, House of LaRose and Columbus & Delmar Distributing reached a revised agreement as the brand rights to Rhinegeist Brewery, Constellation Brands’ beer portfolio and Mark Anthony will transition from House of LaRose to Superior Beverage, Crain’s Cleveland reported last week.
In a press release, Superior called the acquisition of brand rights “a significant growth milestone,” adding around 750,000 cases of product from those 3 suppliers to its business.
Rhinegeist, Constellation Brands and Mark Anthony sought a move to Superior when the transaction between the A-B houses was struck.
Superior distributes the brands in its existing territory and will expand to Northeast Ohio when the transaction closes in Q4. Superior added the support of K1 Management Services – the multistate distribution platform that operates across Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky and Missouri – made the deal possible.
LaRose president and COO James LaRose in a statement shared with Crain’s said: “We believe this restructured agreement will enable us to bring together two prominent multigenerational family-owned Ohio beer and beverage distributing companies in the state’s two largest markets – Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron and Canton, and Central Ohio, including Columbus – to create significant growth opportunities for everyone involved.”
Ohio’s distribution landscape was shaken up earlier this year when Redwood Holdings acquired A-B house Ohio Eagle. That deal closed earlier this week, with all 178 Ohio Eagle employees being laid off. Redwood, a billionaire-led private investment firm, already had a large Ohio A-B footprint with its 2021 purchase of Heidelberg Distributing Company.
BA Staff Economist: ‘The Margin Squeeze is Real’
– Brewers Association staff economist Matt Gacioch wrote of the gap between the increase in beer prices and breweries’ goods and labor costs.
Off-premise beer prices have increased 19% between January 2020 and May 2025.
“Over the same period, on-premise beer rose 22% and all goods rose 23%. Many brewery inputs (up to +68%) and labor (+33%) have increased even faster,” Gacioch wrote in the trade group’s latest member update.
The average case price of beer in NIQ-tracked off-premise retailers is up $0.53, to $31.23, YTD through August 30. The average price is up $0.57, to $31.40, over the last 4-week period.
Prices are up across all segments YTD, led by hard seltzer, with the average case price up $1.25, to $40.58 YTD.
Dad Strength to Pitch Sharks on Shark Tank Season Premiere
Low-ABV beer maker Dad Strength will pitch the sharks on the Shark Tank season premiere.
The episode will air at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday, September 24, on ABC with next-day replay on Hulu.
Ryan Kutscher and Craig Carey founded the company, built around 2.9% ABV IPAs (original, Juicy and Hazy). Kutscher pitched the brand as part of the 2024 Brewbound Pitch Slam (watch his pitch here, starting at 14:50).
Stone Releases 29th Anniversary Double IPA
Stone Brewing’s 29th Anniversary Double IPA is now available at all of the brewery’s locations ahead of its anniversary celebration.
The anniversary beer (8.5% ABV) features a new New Zealand hop variety, Superdelic hops, as well as Riwaka, Motueka and Nelson Sauvin. It’s available in 16 oz. can 4-packs and on draft.
Stone will celebrate its anniversary with the return of its invitational beer festival at its flagship Escondido brewery on Saturday, September 27.