New Belgium Begins Contract Brewing for Startup Lager Brand

New Belgium Begins Contract Brewing for Startup Lager Brand

After experiencing an 11 percent production decline in 2018, New Belgium Brewing has opened its Colorado brewing facility to an upstart lager brand that is aiming to eclipse the 100,000-barrel threshold within two years. New Belgium — the fourth largest craft brewery in the U.S. — and Charleston, South Carolina-based East Island Brewing Co., maker of the “Island Coastal Lager” brand, today announced the new brewing arrangement in a joint press release.

Deschutes Testing No- and Low-Alcohol Products, Releasing Gluten-Reduced Beer

Deschutes Testing No- and Low-Alcohol Products, Releasing Gluten-Reduced Beer

Count Deschutes Brewery among the list of beer companies experimenting with no- and low-alcohol offerings. The Bend, Oregon-headquartered craft brewery — the 10th largest U.S. craft brewery, according to the Brewers Association — has begun testing prototypes of two non-alcoholic beers.

Brewers Association Unveils 2018 Rankings of Top US Brewing Companies

Brewers Association Unveils 2018 Rankings of Top US Brewing Companies

The Brewers Association today released its annual rankings of the top U.S. beer companies based on projected 2018 sales volume. Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist made the biggest leap forward last year, moving up an eye-catching 11 places (to 28th) from its ranking as the 39th largest craft brewery in the country in 2017, according to statistics published in the May/June issue of the BA’s New Brewer magazine.

CBA Plans National Ad Campaign, Double-Digit Growth for Kona in 2019

CBA Plans National Ad Campaign, Double-Digit Growth for Kona in 2019

Hoping to build off the continued growth of its flagship Kona Brewing portfolio, Craft Brew Alliance said it plans to increase sales of the Hawaiian-themed brand by double digits in 2019. During Thursday’s earnings call with investors and analysts, CEO Andy Thomas laid out the company’s plans to hit that goal, while also reflecting on a “good” 2018.

CBA Earnings: Kona Still Growing as Widmer, Redhook Brands Suffer Double-Digit Declines

CBA Earnings: Kona Still Growing as Widmer, Redhook Brands Suffer Double-Digit Declines

Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) today reported its 2018 and fourth-quarter financial results, which were highlighted by 8 percent full-year depletions growth for the company’s lead brand – Kona Brewing. Despite the continued success of Kona, CBA’s total shipments, including beers produced under contract at its facilities, declined by 700 barrels, to 747,600 barrels, versus 2017, while depletions dipped 2 percent last year.

DME Resumes Operations in Charlottetown Under New Ownership

DME Resumes Operations in Charlottetown Under New Ownership

Diversified Metal Engineering (DME) has returned from the brink of collapse. CIMC Enric Tank & Process B.V. yesterday closed on a deal to acquire the financially troubled Canadian brewing equipment manufacturer.

Deep Ellum Brewing Enters Oklahoma, Opens Fort Worth Outpost

Deep Ellum Brewing Enters Oklahoma, Opens Fort Worth Outpost

Deep Ellum Brewing Company was busy last week. The Dallas-based craft brewery — which was acquired last June by the Fireman Capital-backed Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective — launched in Oklahoma, its first market outside of Texas; opened a research-and-development brewery and restaurant in Fort Worth; and commissioned a new 60-barrel brewhouse at its main production facility.

Following Test Drive, Craft Brew Alliance Formally Establishes ‘pH Experiment’ Business Unit

Following Test Drive, Craft Brew Alliance Formally Establishes ‘pH Experiment’ Business Unit

Midway through last year, Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) launched an innovation initiative aimed at testing the viability of, and consumer demand for, non-traditional alcoholic beverages that play on the fringes of the beer category. Today, the Portland-headquartered craft beer company – which owns the Kona, Widmer Brothers, Redhook, Omission, Square Mile, Cisco Brewers, Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Wynwood labels – announced that its so-called “pH Experiment” has become a standalone business unit.

Former Governor and Brewpub Entrepreneur John Hickenlooper Launches Presidential Bid

Former Governor and Brewpub Entrepreneur John Hickenlooper Launches Presidential Bid

After years of flirting with the idea of making a run at the White House, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper officially announced his bid for the presidency on Monday. The brewing industry will recognize Hickenlooper, 67, as the former geologist turned beer entrepreneur who co-founded Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing in 1988.