Brewbound Session: Craft Challenged By Marijuana, Wine, Women

Brewbound Session: Craft Challenged By Marijuana, Wine, Women

Legalized marijuana is burning the craft beer business, according to Vivien Azer, Cowen and Company’s managing director and senior research analyst specializing in the beverage, tobacco and cannabis sectors. Speaking at the Brewbound Session today, Azer’s was just one of several voices that discussed a craft beer business that has experienced a decade of wild growth but has slowed in the past 18 months.

Announcing the 2016 Brewbound Award Winners

Announcing the 2016 Brewbound Award Winners

In an industry becoming more crowded and complex every single day, it’s important to look back at the accomplishments of brewers all fighting to stand out in a beer category that now includes nearly 5,000 companies. To recognize the achievements of some of these companies, Brewbound acknowledged the following recipients in the areas of philanthropy, marketing, collaboration, production innovation and overall business success. Winners of the 2016 Brewbound Awards were named during the Brewbound Session business conference, which took place on December 1, 2016 in San Diego, CA.

Startup Brewery Challenge 7: Meet the Players

Startup Brewery Challenge 7: Meet the Players

We’re less than 24 hours away from the 2016 Brewbound Session in San Diego, and it’s time to introduce our presenters and judges for Startup Brewery Challenge 7, our on-of-a-kind business pitch competition presented by Craft Brew Alliance. Six craft brewery entrepreneurs who have been on the market for two years or less will take the stage tomorrow to show off their business plans, sample one core product offering and receive immediate feedback from a panel of five expert judges.

Pabst Brewing Hires Former Duvel Chief as New CEO

Pabst Brewing Hires Former Duvel Chief as New CEO

Three months after departing Duvel USA, beer industry veteran Simon Thorpe has been tapped as the new CEO of Pabst Brewing Company. Thorpe — whose career also includes stints with InBev, Crayola, Kellogg’s, Tambrands and Unilever — will take over the CEO position from Eugene Kashper, who will continue to serve as a principal owner and the full-time chairman of the Pabst board.

BrewDog Plans to Gamble Crowdfunded Investments at the Roulette Table

BrewDog Plans to Gamble Crowdfunded Investments at the Roulette Table

If Wesley Snipes were an investor in BrewDog, he’d probably give anyone considering the Scottish craft beer maker’s latest stunt a word of advice: always bet on black. BrewDog co-founder James Watt announced “BrewDog’s Big Bet” on Wednesday — a double-or-nothing bet of Equity for Punks USA investors’ money at a roulette table once its crowdfunding campaign concludes in February 2017. The event will be streamed through BrewDog’s Facebook site.

Craft Brewers Guild Files Motion to Dismiss Shelton Brothers Lawsuit

Craft Brewers Guild Files Motion to Dismiss Shelton Brothers Lawsuit

Nearly one month after being sued by beer importer Shelton Brothers for alleged “unfair and illegal” practices, Massachusetts-based beer distributor Craft Brewers Guild filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Tuesday. The action stems from a November 4 lawsuit filed by Shelton Brothers, which claimed that Craft Brewers Guild’s illegal pay-to-play practices between 2013 and 2014 had cost the import company $1.7 million in potential sales.

Report: Beer Volumes Declining in Markets Where Recreational Cannabis is Legal

Report: Beer Volumes Declining in Markets Where Recreational Cannabis is Legal

Legalized marijuana is harshing the buzz of three longtime craft beer meccas, according to a new report from Cowen and Company. In Colorado, Oregon and Washington, where recreational cannabis use has been legalized, the beer business is underperforming, according to Vivien Azer, Cowen and Company’s managing director and senior research analyst specializing in the beverage, tobacco and cannabis sectors.

Networking Opportunities Abound at Brewbound Session San Diego

Networking Opportunities Abound at Brewbound Session San Diego

Brewbound Session San Diego will take place this Thursday and, in addition to featuring a thought-provoking discussions with a stellar lineup of industry executives and entrepreneurs, we’ve also carved out plenty of time for attendees to enjoy some great beers and intimate conversations with one another. To kickstart the networking, registered Brewbound Session attendees are invited to join the official welcome reception, sponsored by Blue Horseshoe, taking place at the “Paradise Terrace” at Paradise Point on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 6:00 PM.

To Attract Investors, BrewDog Promises to Build U.S. Brewpubs

To Attract Investors, BrewDog Promises to Build U.S. Brewpubs

In the latest attempt to raise $50 million to build out its first U.S. brewery in Ohio, Scottish craft beer maker BrewDog announced Monday that it would open a brewpub in any American city where at least 500 people invest in the company’s Equity for Punks USA crowdfunding campaign.

Dutch Brewer Bavaria N.V. Acquires Latis Imports

Dutch Brewer Bavaria N.V. Acquires Latis Imports

Dutch beer maker Bavaria N.V. has acquired Latis Imports, a Connecticut-based importer of Belgian speciality craft beers. Terms of the deal, announced Monday, were not disclosed, but Latis co-founder David Van Wees told Brewbound that he sold 100 percent of his stake to Bavaria.

U.S. Hop Growers Post Record Year

U.S. Hop Growers Post Record Year

2016 was a record year for United States hop growers. For the second consecutive year, the U.S. planted more hops (52,962 acres) than Germany (45,957 acres) as farmers expanded their operations to accommodate for increased hop production.

Coronado Brewing Company Expands into Austin, Texas

Coronado Brewing Company Expands into Austin, Texas

Coronado Brewing Company announced yesterday that it would expand distribution to Texas, signing with Brown Distributing. The San Diego-based company’s beers will be available in the Lone Star State this month, according to a press release.