There is more anticipation for Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson’s annual “State of the Industry” address this year due to intentional adjustments to the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) schedule, which now places Watson at the end of the three-day conference’s content.

The Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) rolled into Philadelphia this week – and so did the Brewbound Podcast On Location Studio. In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, the team shares their early reads on a week in which the vibes seem high compared to previous years. Plus, details on Firestone Walker and Duvel USA striking an agreement to acquire the Stone Brewing brand and four California taprooms from Sapporo USA.

All beverage-alcohol categories had a stronger St. Patrick’s Day in the on-premise this year compared to 2025, according to the latest report from market research firm NIQ.

Suntory’s On The Rocks is expanding its margarita lineup as the RTD style continues to outpace other trends. 

Now may be the time to invest in mints or hot dogs, as sales could rise following Monday’s Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) keynote address by hospitality expert Will Guidara.

Total beverage-alcohol off-premise dollar sales declined 1.9% year-over-year (YoY), to $1.354 billion, in the week ending April 12, according to market research firm Circana’s latest weekly report.

Firestone Walker and Duvel USA have inked a “definitive agreement” to acquire the Stone Brewing brand from Sapporo USA.

The ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail from Hip-Hop duo Run The Jewels has closed a $2 million seed round.

Rising gas prices may be bad for consumers’ wallets, but increased costs and their impact on shopping habits may actually be good for the beer industry, according to National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) chief economist and VP of analytics Lester Jones.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) proposed legislation last week that would allow states to respectively determine the future of hemp-based product sales within their own borders.

The 2026 edition of the Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference (in Philadelphia (April 20-22) arrives amid turbulence for the trade association’s membership and an evolution of its marquee event. The craft brewing industry has now recorded three consecutive years of declines as craft brewers fight for relevance in a crowded total beverage marketplace.

Now, what I’ve never seen in my decades of sitting in dive bars … is someone sticking a pickle spear into a beer. But, the folks at PABST are apparently swearing that’s a thing in the PR push for its new PBR x Grillo’s Pickle Beer collab.

Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter April 16-17, including headlines from Gambrinus, Numerator, Ash & Elm, Harpoon and more.

Headed to Philadelphia in the next few days for the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC)? We’ve compiled a list of the top Brewbound stories and podcast episodes attendees should revisit ahead of the Brewers Association’s (BA) big event.