Craft Brew Alliance today announced its 2015 financial results, highlighting a net sales increase of just 2 percent and a shipment decrease of 1 percent across its core family of brands including Kona, Redhook, Widmer, Omission and Square Mile Cider. CBA shipped a total of 824,400 barrels in 2015, down from 830,200 the year prior. Despite the dip, CBA managed to improve gross margin by 110 basis points, to 30.5 percent in 2015, resulting in a 6 percent gross profit increase of $3.5 million.

Craft Beer Guild LLC — a Massachusetts beer wholesaler responsible for selling about 200 craft brands from around the U.S. — has agreed to pay more than $2 million for violating state laws that prohibit unfair trade practices and illegal activities, the Boston Globe reported. The Globe, citing a person familiar with the wholesaler’s operations, said the fine was about $2.6 million. That amount also includes sales made via its “Craft New Hampshire” operation, the ABCC and Craft Beer Guild confirmed.

Scottish brewery Innis & Gunn yesterday announced United States Beverage LLC as its new U.S. importer. The brewery’s line of oak-aged beers had previously been imported through its own Innis & Gunn USA affiliate. “Following a thorough review of our own business within the US and the fast changing US beer market, we have taken the decision to partner with United States Beverage to accelerate the growth of our beers and further strengthen our position in the US,” Dougal Sharp, founder of Innis & Gunn said in a statement.

In March, Wachusett Brewing – via its newly established Craft Cocktail Company DBA — will introduce a line of hard seltzer products under the “Nauti Seltzer” brand identity. Positioning it as a “healthy alternative in the hard soda category,” the 110 calorie, five percent ABV Nauti Seltzer offerings – which will come in raspberry, lemon-lime, grapefruit and cranberry flavors — will have a national focus from the onset and are aimed at health-conscious consumers looking for an alternative to traditional beer.

Brewbound kicked off its 2016 Brew Talks tour this week with a stop at Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida, where 100 beer industry professionals convened to talk about the state’s emerging craft beer industry. Joining the evening’s first conversation were Cigar City founder Joey Redner and Tim Schoen, CEO of Brew Hub, a large-scale contract outfit that produces beer for a variety of craft beer partners. Together, the pair shared thoughts on how small brewers could navigate an increasingly competitive landscape and discussed ways in which craft operators should manage periods of rapid growth.

In this week’s edition of Last Call: Harlem Brewing has inked a 39-store deal with Walmart, Brooklyn could leave Williamsburg in 2025, the Iowa Senate has passed a growler freedom bill and more hard soda is on the way.

That didn’t take long. For the third time in four years, Mississippi lawmakers failed to pass legislation that would have given small breweries the right to sell beer directly to consumers. Mississippi House Bill 846, introduced earlier this month, died on Tuesday after the 33-member Ways and Means house committee failed to vote on the proposed act before a deadline.

The clock is winding down on Craft Beer Guild LLC, the Boston-area beer distributor that earlier this month was handed a 90-day license suspension for violating state laws that prohibit illegal pay-to-play schemes. The clock is winding down on Craft Beer Guild LLC, the Boston-area beer distributor that earlier this month was handed a 90-day license suspension for violating state laws that prohibit illegal pay-to-play schemes. The wholesaler, which is responsible for selling about 200 craft brands throughout Boston, Central and Western Massachusetts, has until Wednesday, March 2 to decide if it will pay a fine equal to 50 percent of gross profits over the 90-day period in lieu of serving a suspension.

Colorado’s Left Hand Brewing will enter Louisiana next month, the 36th state where the company’s products are sold. The brewery has inked an agreement with Crescent Crown Distributing LLC. for coverage throughout the state. California’s Knee Deep Brewing, meanwhile, this week announced a foray into Florida, signing with Crafty Connoisseurs Distributing for coverage throughout the southeastern region of the state.

Small Brewers Caucus Asks DOJ to Review MegaBrew Deal; Perrin Brewing Enters First Out-of-State Market; Ace Cider up 30 Percent in 2015; BrewDog to Sell 20 Percent of U.S. Operations via Crowdfunding

Craft deal-mania is officially back. Just days after Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing announced it would merge with New York’s Southern Tier to form the family office-backed Artisanal Brewing Ventures, a pair of established breweries — Chicago’s Goose Island and Delaware-based brewpub chain Iron Hill — today announced transactions of their own.

Five local brewers and retailers with an intimate knowledge of the Florida beer scene will join the program. The evening’s first conversation with Cigar City founder Joey Redner and Brew Hub founder Tim Schoen will explore creative growth strategies for craft brewers. A second panel featuring Chris Larue, the merchandising & analytics director at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Cigar City vice president Justin Clark and Coppertail Brewing president Kent Bailey will discuss Florida’s emerging craft beer scene.

Though Boston Beer’s total shipments increased four percent, to 4.2 million barrels in 2015, the company struggled to grow in the fourth quarter as depletions dipped three percent compared to 2014. Net revenues also dipped one percent during the quarter, to $215.1 million, the company said in an earnings announcement. Citing declines across its Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard brands, Boston Beer shipments also decreased 3 percent during the fourth quarter, to 958,000 barrels. Those declines were partially offset by growth across its Coney Island, Twisted Tea, and Traveler brands, the company said.

Illinois’ Destihl Brewery is making a multi-million dollar bet on growing consumer interest in sour beer. Slated to open in early 2017, Destihl plans to build a 47,000 sq. ft. brewing facility in Normal, Illinois that will feature a “highly specialized ‘dual’ 60-barrel and 120-barrel brewhouse” designed to accommodate increased production of the company’s line of kettle-soured beers.