Heineken’s U.S. business unit recorded a “high-single-digit” decline in volume in what the company called “a challenging beer market” during the second quarter, the Dutch brewing giant shared in its Q2 and half-year earnings this week.

How can a new brand make a splash in the increasingly crowded ready-to-drink waters? A winning combination of differentiated flavors, artistic packaging and a willingness to work the market day in and day out. That’s what has been working for Lake Hour, according to CEO Michelle Ivey, this week’s featured guest.

Total U.S. beer industry supply declined 2.1% YoY in June, according to the latest volume report from the Beer Institute. The loss outperformed YTD volume (-3.9% thru June). Note: total industry supply includes domestic tax paid shipments, imports and state-level shipments.

Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, closing out a slow-motion collapse that has reshaped bev-alc’s distribution tier and emboldened new total beverage power players.

Independent red network wholesaler Heimark Distributing has reached an agreement to acquire Alford Distributing in Imperial, California, the companies announced today.

Cannabis beverage maker Uncle Arnie’s has raised a fresh $2 million on top of a round led by previous investors Mindset Capital and the investment office of Harry Rubin, the founding partner of Boston Beer Company.

Total U.S. beer industry supply declined 2.1% year-over-year (YoY) in June, according to the latest volume report from the Beer Institute (BI). That figure – which includes data for domestic tax paid shipments, imported beer and state-level shipments – outperformed year-to-date (YTD) volume, which declined 3.9% YoY through the end of June.

As the industry rumbles through the quiet zone between the Fourth of July and Labor Day (September 7), off-premise scans remain relatively unchanged from previous reports, according to the latest figures from market research firm NIQ.

Cann is bringing out a big name this summer, as investor and NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade has collaborated with the cannabis beverage maker on a new golf-inspired release.

Minute Maid Spiked is adding Vodka Lemonade Iced Tea to its lineup, marking the brand’s first entry into the hard iced tea set. The launch also lands as the brand’s first release since Sazerac took over distribution in partnership with Coca-Cola’s newly restructured “firewalled, wholly owned” bev-alc subsidiary, Red Tree Beverages.

Riding a wave of major events, occasions (not cases) became the story for the on-premise in 2026, according to Lester Jones, National Beer Wholesalers Association VP of analytics and chief economist. Jones and Draftline Technologies founder and CEO Jennifer Hauke will share why draft and the on-premise are driving the beer industry’s narrative, during Brewbound Live 2026, December 9 & 10 in Marina del Rey, California.

Flavored alcohol’s command over industry conversations and innovation launches in the past 5+ years would lead many to assume the category now makes up a notable share of leading bev-alc companies’ portfolios.

Former Firestone Walker brand director Hannah Barnett has jumped to Pabst Brewing. Barnett is now brand director for the Pabst Blue Ribbon maker.

The beer category caught quite a bit of flack in the latest weekly scans report from market research firm Circana.