As breweries in the craft beer sector continue to flourish, established companies, like the 25-year-old Flying Dog, are doubling down and looking to further capitalize on growth with entirely new brewery ventures. The Frederick, Md. beer company yesterday announced plans to launch Farmworks Brewery, a self-described “unique farm brewery destination” located in Lucketts, Va.
Bell’s Brewery has announced plans to expand its presence in southern California in early 2015 per a partnership with Craft Brewer’s Guild of Los Angeles, a wing of L. Knife and Son’s national craft wholesale network. Beginning Feb. 23, all of Bell’s products will be available throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, depending on their release dates.
Two of the largest beer wholesalers in New York City are working to consolidate, creating one company that will control approximately half of the city’s beer market — but not everyone is happy about it. In a note to suppliers, Manhattan Beer Distributors announced Tuesday that it has entered into a formal agreement with Windmill Distributing (PhoenixBeehive Beverage Distributors), to acquire the company’s beer brand distribution rights.
SweetWater Brewing has announced plans to expand distribution throughout Chicago in early 2015, the first in a slew of new markets the Atlanta brewery plans to launch in the first quarter of the New Year. The brewery has partnered with Lakeshore Beverage for coverage in the area, which, beginning in the spring, will distribute draft and packaged offerings — including flagships 420 Extra Pale Ale and SweetWater IPA — throughout the city.
Three Texas craft breweries have filed a lawsuit against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in hopes of repealing a 2013 law that made it illegal for brewers to sell their own territorial distribution rights. Prior to the law’s passage, brewers “could negotiate payment from distributors for the exclusive rights to deliver their beverages in a certain area.”
In an effort to establish itself as a longstanding, multi-generational craft brewery, Founders Brewing today announced it would sell a minority interest to Mahou San Miguel, Spain’s largest brewer. The Michigan-based craft beer company announced Wednesday it would sell a 30 percent stake to the international beer company. CEO and co-founder Mike Stevens described the decision to sell a minority interest as one that would enable Founders to “ensure a legacy.”
Jack’s Abby, one of Massachusetts’ fastest growing craft breweries, is set to embark on a major expansion that will more than triple its brewing capacity. The Framingham-based company today announced its development plans, which will boost annual production capabilities and enable the brewery to expand distribution throughout New England.
Founders Brewing today announced it has sold a 30 percent stake to Mahou San Miguel Brewery, a Spanish Brewing Company founded in Madrid in 1890. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. A full press release with more details is below. Official story to follow.
Following a seven-month rebranding effort, Twisted Pine Brewing will enter 2015 with new year-round offerings, a shift in style for its flagship beer, and completely redesigned packaging, the company has announced. In moving forward with a new look and updated lineup, the company, out of Boulder, Colo., has also retired four established products.
Sun King Brewing has severed relationships with three wholesalers outside of Central Indiana, cutting back to Indianapolis and Bloomington from a footprint that had spread across the state. The decision to pull out from those territories stems from a state law that caps production for small brewers at 30,000 barrels per year, a figure Sun King projects to brush against this year.
During last week’s Brewbound Session in San Diego, Calif., Boulevard Brewing founder John McDonald confessed to the audience that, after 25 years in the beer business, he’d become somewhat disengaged. “I was a little bit a part of the problem to keep going and growing,” he admitted.
Twenty by ’20 no doubt has a nice ring to it. In these parts, those figures are self-explanatory. In case you’ve had your head buried in the mash for a while, the mirroring numbers refer to the goal, as oft repeated by the Brewers Association, for craft to own 20 percent of the overall beer market by the year 2020. At last week’s Brewbound Session, Craft Brew Alliance CEO Andy Thomas implored the industry, to think about the future, as he does, in terms of barrels.
Delta Airlines has added seven craft beer offerings to its in-flight drink menu. Effective now, Delta customers can enjoy offerings from Ballast Point, Blue Point, Brooklyn Brewery, Lagunitas, Newburyport Brewing, Stone, SweetWater, as well as Boston Beer.
In an effort to recognize the business initiatives of brewers across the U.S., Brewbound announced the first-ever recipients of the Brewbound Awards at its full-day conference held on Dec. 4 in San Diego, Calif.
