Last Call: Amazon Go to Sell Beer and Wine; Zima Returns; San Diego Breweries Struggle

People Moves: Ska Brewing Hires New COO; 4th Generation Takes Over Louis Glunz Beer

Brewbound is excited to announce that Brew Talks, our traveling meetup series for beer industry professionals, will make its official return in 2017 alongside the 34th edition of Craft Brewers Conference, being held in Washington D.C. in April. The industry-only Brew Talks meetup, hosted in partnership with Dogfish Head Craft Brewery on Tuesday, April 11, will offer brewers, distributors and retailers a chance to participate in three hours of top-level business discussion and networking at Penn Social (801 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20004).

It’s official: Samuel Adams’ first seasonal release of the year, Hopscape, has flopped. During its fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Boston Beer Company executives cited a 1 percent decline in depletions for the period and a 5 percent decline for the year. But that news was overshadowed by a 15 percent decline in depletions for the first six weeks of 2017, which executives blamed on the poor performance of Hopscape, a hoppy wheat ale.

The Brewers Association has officially announced its 2017 Board of Directors. In a press release, the trade organization — which represents the interests of small and independent craft brewers — said Allagash Brewing founder Rob Tod had recently begun his second term as board chair.

Distribution Roundup: Founders Expands in Kansas; Mike Hess Hits Colorado; Two Roads Reaches Western NY

Christine Celis’ dream of brewing beer under her family name is coming true. Celis, daughter of the late Pierre Celis, is reviving the long-shuttered Austin, Texas, craft brewery that her father started in 1992 and using the “Celis” name after reaching an agreement to repurchase the brand rights from Total Beverage Solution and Craftbev International Amalgamated, Inc.

Minneapolis’ Fulton Beer has struck a deal with Artisanal Imports that will enable the company to broaden its distribution footprint throughout the Midwest and along East Coast.

In Brewbound’s latest legislative roundup: Kansas grocers want to sell full-strength beer; North Carolina brewers fight laws that favor wholesalers; Nebraska craft brewers oppose a bill limiting craft, Florida legislators consider booze sales and growler sales are on the docket in Minnesota.

Modern Times is looking for balance in 2017. “We’re really growing in all directions,” CEO and founder Jacob McKean told Brewbound via e-mail. “The last two years we’ve had enormous growth in our wholesale business, so now it’s time to add some tasting rooms. Our business model works extremely well for us; we’re just focused on scaling it at a reasonable rate.”

Josh Landan, the co-founder of San Diego’s Saint Archer Brewing, has departed the company less than 18 months after selling it to MillerCoors. In an email sent to MillerCoors employees and obtained by Brewbound, Scott Whitley, the president of Tenth and Blake, MillerCoors’ craft and import division, said Landan resigned to “spend more time on his latest venture, Villager Goods.”

A group of 33 craft breweries have signed a letter urging senators to vote against the confirmation of Scott Pruitt as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Press Clips: Walmart Accused of Selling Faux Craft Beers; Heineken to Purchase Brasil Kirin Holdings; New Belgium Unveils Voodoo Ranger Mascot.

Despite sales volume declines at home and abroad, Molson Coors CEO Mark Hunter said he was pleased with the company’s progress.