Chicago Startup Eyes Craft Brewery Investments

Chicago Startup Eyes Craft Brewery Investments

A new company that aims to provide small craft breweries with both growth capital and operating assistance has launched, and it has recruited a well-known industry veteran in the process. The company has tapped longtime beer industry veteran Adam Lambert — whose career includes sales and marketing stints at Virtue Cider, New Holland Brewing, Dogfish Head and Rogue Ales & Spirits — as its chief operating officer.

Craft Brew Alliance Lays Off Half of Woodinville Brewery Workers

Craft Brew Alliance Lays Off Half of Woodinville Brewery Workers

Amid declining production at its Redhook brewery in Woodinville, Wash., Craft Brew Alliance has laid off at least a dozen of the production employees who worked at the facility, Brewbound has learned. Reached for comment, CBA chief operating officer Scott Mennen confirmed the cutbacks, but declined to say exactly how many employees were let go, saying only that it was “about half” of the brewery’s production, packaging, warehousing, maintenance and brewery operations workers.

Newburyport Brewing Company Invests in Rhode Island Contract Outfit

Newburyport Brewing Company Invests in Rhode Island Contract Outfit

Newburyport Brewing Company today announced an investment into Isle Brewers Guild, a $12 million Rhode Island-based craft brewing cooperative currently being built in Pawtucket. Newburyport is the second craft beer company to invest in the Isle Brewers Guild (IBG), which aims to attract mid to large-scale craft breweries in need of extra capacity.

Hopworks Urban Brewery Collaborates with Patagonia Provisions

Hopworks Urban Brewery Collaborates with Patagonia Provisions

Christian Ettinger thought he was being pranked. “It was too good to be true,” Ettinger, the brewmaster and founder of Portland, Oregon’s Hopworks Urban Brewery, said of a June offer to collaborate with Patagonia Provisions, the sustainable food branch of the popular outdoor clothing company. The pitch? Brew the first commercially-available craft beer using Kernza,… Read more »

Tree House Brewing Secures $7.7 Million Bond from MassDevelopment

Tree House Brewing Secures $7.7 Million Bond from MassDevelopment

MassDevelopment — a public-private economic development agency that works to stimulate economic growth across Massachusetts — has issued a $7.7 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of Landreau Realty, LLC, a real estate entity for Tree House Brewing, to help the company build its new 150,000 barrel brewing facility.

Two Beers Brewing, Seattle Cider Company Sold to French Agricultural Cooperative

Two Beers Brewing, Seattle Cider Company Sold to French Agricultural Cooperative

Two Beers Brewing – and its fast-growing hard cider brand, Seattle Cider Company – have been sold to the Agrial Group, a leading French agri-business cooperative that does business across the beverage, dairy and food industries. Official financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction closed earlier this month, according to Joel VandenBrink, the founder of both companies.

Distribution Roundup: Rhinegeist Hits Boston; Bell’s Announces Texas Distributors

Distribution Roundup: Rhinegeist Hits Boston; Bell’s Announces Texas Distributors

Seven months after it launched its cider brand, Cidergeist, throughout Massachusetts, Cincinnati-based Rhinegeist Brewery this week said it would begin distributing its core beer offerings to the Bay State as well. And Bell’s Brewery today announced formal plans to expand distribution to Texas in 2017, inking agreements with 14 distributors throughout the state.

To Fight Flagship Fatigue, Sierra Nevada will Introduce Pale Ale and Torpedo Line Extensions in 2017

To Fight Flagship Fatigue, Sierra Nevada will Introduce Pale Ale and Torpedo Line Extensions in 2017

Beginning January, 1, 2017, Sierra Nevada will introduce two new core products: The first, Sidecar Orange Pale Ale, is a 5.3 percent pale ale brewed with oranges that the company hopes will generate interest from consumers craving a more fruit-forward drinking experience. A second product, Tropical Torpedo, will also look to capitalize on a growing shift toward citrus and tropical IPA variants.

Heineken USA Establishes Five Points Trading Company

Heineken USA Establishes Five Points Trading Company

In an effort to focus on the development of international Heineken brands, and their integration within the U.S. market, Heineken USA this month announced the creation of Five Points Trading Company. The new venture, aimed at “incubating a range of popular global beers in the U.S.,” will assume importer responsibilities for the Red Stripe, Tiger, Birra Moretti, Affligem, Murphy’s, Prestige, Sagres and Mort Subite brands.

MillerCoors Assumes Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s Marketing Duties

MillerCoors Assumes Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s Marketing Duties

MillerCoors yesterday announced plans to transition marketing responsibilities for its two largest craft brands — Blue Moon and Jacob Leinenkugel – away from its Tenth and Blake craft and import division. Tenth and Blake chief Scott Whitley explained the rationale behind the move in an email to distributors yesterday, noting the increased marketing demands needed to grow what he called “powerhouse” brands.