Kegs Full of Water: Florida Craft Brewers Brace for Hurricane Irma While Texas Rebuilds

Kegs Full of Water: Florida Craft Brewers Brace for Hurricane Irma While Texas Rebuilds

As recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey continue in the Houston area, Florida is bracing for category 5 Hurricane Irma, which is slated to hit this weekend. The storm is expected to be more powerful than Hurricane Andrew, a category 5 hurricane that devastated the Bahamas and Florida 25 years ago and is considered the most destructive hurricane in the state’s history. Several Florida breweries are already preparing to hunker down.

Upland Brewing Owner to Sell Stake, Depart

Upland Brewing Owner to Sell Stake, Depart

Upland Brewing owner and president Doug Dayhoff will sell his minority interest in the company back to existing investors and depart the company at the end of the year, the company announced today. Speaking to Brewbound, Dayhoff, 47, said the investor group would repurchase his minority interest in the company over the next “1-2 years.”

Press Clips: Key Departures at New Holland, Boston Beer

Press Clips: Key Departures at New Holland, Boston Beer

In this week’s edition of press clips: Fred Bueltmann departs New Holland Brewing, Michelle Sullivan leaves Boston Beer and Australian Beer Drinkers say they want ownership transparency, too.

Taste Radio Ep. 73: Joth Ricci on Premiumization and Portland

Taste Radio Ep. 73: Joth Ricci on Premiumization and Portland

This latest episode of Taste Radio features an in-depth interview with Joth Ricci, a CPG veteran who cut his teeth in the beer business during the early 2000s as the general manager of Columbia Distributing. During his 17-year career in the beverage space, Ricci has served as the CEO of Jones Soda, a managing partner of First Beverage Group and the president of Stumptown Coffee Roasters. He recently took over as the president and CEO of Adelsheim Vineyard, an Oregon-based winery.

New Packaging, Lower Pricing on Tap at Ballast Point

New Packaging, Lower Pricing on Tap at Ballast Point

Following a proprietary review of the craft beer segment, and its own positioning within it, Constellation Brands has re-launched a number of its Ballast Point offerings with a new look in an attempt to “tell its story more effectively” to consumers. In an interview with Brewbound, Constellation CMO Jim Sabia and Marty Birkel, the president of the organization’s craft and specialty division, said an initiative to better understand consumer-purchasing behavior provided the company with some key takeaways that helped shape its overall craft strategy moving forward.

BrewDog to Share Profits with Employees, Charities

BrewDog to Share Profits with Employees, Charities

BrewDog today announced a profit-sharing plan that will see the Scottish craft beer company give 20 percent of its annual earnings to employees and charities as part of a new “Unicorn Fund.” Under the plan, 10 percent of profits will be donated to 20 different charities. The other 10 percent will be evenly distributed across its entire workforce, which today stands at more than 1,100 employees.

Atwater Moves to M1 Network in Michigan, Eyes Midwestern Realignment

Atwater Moves to M1 Network in Michigan, Eyes Midwestern Realignment

Michigan’s Atwater Brewery has realigned its distribution network in its home state, moving the brand from Kalamazoo-based Imperial Beverage into the M1 Network of 10 MillerCoors wholesalers. In a conversation with Brewbound, Atwater owner Mark Rieth said Imperial Beverage had sold the brand across approximately 70 percent of the state since 2011.

People Moves: Seattle Cider President to Depart; Constellation Names New Craft VP

People Moves: Seattle Cider President to Depart; Constellation Names New Craft VP

In our latest edition of People Moves: Caitlin Braam, the president of Seattle Cider Company and Two Beers Brewing, will depart the organization at the end of the month. Constellation Brands also confirmed that Dave Mills, chief sales officer of the company’s Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits brand, will depart the organization at the end of August.

Southern Tier and Victory to Open Innovation Brewery in Charlotte

Southern Tier and Victory to Open Innovation Brewery in Charlotte

It’s been about 18 months since Southern Tier Brewing Company and Victory Brewing combined operations under the family-office backed Artisanal Brewing Ventures (ABV) and today, the two breweries announced plans to open a jointly run innovation brewery and taproom in Charlotte, North Carolina.