Boston-based Harpoon Brewery is expanding beyond bev-alc and into cannabis, announcing the launch of Rec. Weed, a THC-infused non-alcoholic beverage.

Molson Coors’ U.S. business ended 2022 on a weak note, as the company recorded declines in both shipments (-11.2%) and depletions (-6.8%) in the fourth quarter, according to the company’s Q4 and full-year 2022 earnings report.

Dry January is over but health and wellness trends aren’t slowing down and neither are sales of NA versions of alcoholic beverages. The work has just begun too for dedicated non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits retailers.

Hop supply in the U.S. has outpaced hop usage for more than six years, a disparity that is “unsustainable” and will ultimately be corrected with reduced crop in the future, Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson warned during a Collab Hour webinar last week.

Legislative efforts to change how spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages are categorized gathered momentum this week, as lawmakers in Texas introduced a new bill that would give greater market access to packaged spirits-based cocktails under 17% ABV, allowing them to be sold in grocery and convenience stores, while a Washington State Senate committee passed a bill to adjust how the products are taxed.

Rhinegeist Brewery will launch Beer for Humans, which the Cincinnati, Ohio-based company has dubbed an “easy hop ale,” next week. Bend, Oregon-headquartered Deschutes Brewery has launched Tropical Fresh IPA, the newest year-round offering in its family of Fresh-branded IPAs. Charlotte-based NoDa Brewing has rolled out Cheerwine Ale, a new year-round offering brewed in collaboration with Cheerwine, a North Carolina-based cherry soda.

Buffalo Trace, the producer of the popular Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, will double its whiskey production in the coming days.

In a heavy Boston Beer Company news week, I wouldn’t blame you if you missed out on some of this week’s headlines. Chief among them: I believe we have our first craft-on-craft deal of the year.

Both sales velocity and check value at bars and restaurants nationwide increased by nearly double-digits in early February, according to CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NielsenIQ. Leading up to the Super Bowl, which took place on February 12, on-premise velocity in the host city and state of Phoenix, Arizona, increased +35% compared to the previous week.

The Coca-Cola Company is continuing its “total beverage” mission this year by putting more focus on categories with long growth runways such as coffee, sports drinks, and alcohol, CEO James Quincey said during the company’s Q4 and full year earnings call this week.

The Brewbound team will head to the California Craft Brewers Association’s (CCBA) Summit in Sacramento from March 20-22. Brewbound editor Justin Kendall, managing editor Jess Infante and reporter Zoe Licata will record podcast interviews from the “Brewbound Studio” on the expo floor throughout the day on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Brewers Association (BA) generated $23,395,125 in total revenue in 2022, surpassing the $20 million mark for the first time since 2019, the trade group representing small and independent brewers shared this week.

California craft breweries Bear Republic Brewing and Drake’s Brewing will merge, according to reports. In the transaction, which is expected to be announced on Thursday, Drake’s will acquire Bear Republic’s formulas, recipes and intellectual property, according to SiliconValley.com.

Boston Beer Company’s top priorities in 2023 are sustaining double-digit growth for Twisted Tea and stemming the losses for Truly Hard Seltzer, executives shared during the company’s Q4 and full-year earnings report. Leadership laid out their 2023 plans to investors. Here are some of the highlights of Thursday’s call with investors and analysts.