Ninkasi Brewing has announced plans to expand its Canadian presence next week by launching new distribution throughout the western province of Alberta. Beginning Wednesday, per an agreement with Canadian wholesaler Copper & Theory Artisan Beer Supply Co., Ninkasi products — including Total Domination IPA, Believer Double Red, and Oatis Oatmeal Stout — will be made available in the province on draft and in bottles.
Brooklyn Magazine took the media spotlight off brewers and bartenders last week and placed it squarely on the tie that binds them: beer reps. More specifically, reporter Meredith Heil wrote about what it’s like to live — as the headline indicates — “a day in the life” of Krista Kilberg, a former banker turned beer rep for Union Beer Distributors in New York City.
The preliminary agenda for Brewbound Session San Diego is now available. The full-day conference, which will be held on Dec. 4 at the Paradise Point Resort & Spa, will feature a wide array of speakers and topics, including conversations on merger & acquisition activity in craft beer, current consumer trends, and, as always, insight into distribution and retail strategies for craft brewers.
Boulevard Brewing held a ceremonial groundbreaking this morning for its $12 million expansion project. As Brewbound first reported in April, the project, dubbed “Cellar Five,” will ultimately boost the company’s fermentation capacity by 40 percent to more than 300,000 barrels. Cellar Five will enable the company to stay ahead of growing demand and increased sales, according to a news release.
Brewbound will travel to Stratford, Conn. next Tuesday, Nov. 18, to host Brew Talks, an educational and networking meetup for beer industry professionals. The event, which will be hosted at Two Roads Brewing, will feature a special conversation with Two Roads Brewing founder, Brad Hittle.
Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) today announced that it will begin shipping offerings from its Kona Brewing line to Canada. CBA has signed a wholesale agreement with Beerthirst for distribution throughout the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Kona will make its debut in British Columbia later this month and roll out in Alberta on December 1, the company said in a press statement.
Green Flash Brewing announced Monday it would acquire Alpine Beer Company, a small San Diego-area craft brewery known for its highly coveted hop-forward offerings. Although specific terms of the deal were not disclosed, Green Flash co-founder Mike Hinkley told Brewbound that the Alpine’s founders, Pat and Val McIlhenney, received cash and equity in Green Flash Brewing as part of the transaction.
When Stone Brewing turned to crowdfunding by launching an Indiegogo campaign to help finance its German expansion this past summer, the company also triggered a maelstrom of anger, with people appalled that a profitable brewery would turn to its fans to ask for a handout. The squall of vitriol, though, was a mere sunshower when compared with the cash that rained down on the brewery.
Brewbound is excited to announce that David Walker, the co-founder of Firestone Walker Brewing Company, will be speaking at the Dec. 4 Brewbound Session. Walker will explain the strategic decisions that have helped Firestone grow into a top-20 craft brewery, discuss his vision of the future, and examine how the company will navigate a crowded an increasingly competitive craft landscape going forward.
In a follow-up earnings call on Thursday, Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) executives expounded on third quarter results and discussed the increasingly competitive craft beer landscape.Total CBA depletion volumes grew 6 percent compared to the third quarter in 2013. Year-to-date depletion totals are now up 8 percent.
Brewbound is pleased to announce Craft Brew Alliance CEO Andy Thomas will speak at the upcoming Brewbound Session, which will be held in San Diego on Thursday, Dec. 4. Thomas will share his vision of a mature craft beer category. In his presentation, Thomas will address the important questions that, ultimately, will determine how much craft is able to grow.
Southern Tier Brewing is strengthening its executive roster. The company yesterday announced it hired Brendan Smith as its new vice president of sales and marketing. The move comes nearly two months after a recent capital infusion from private equity firm Ulysses Management LLC. Smith most recently held the role of senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Smithfield Foods, a global food processor with $13 billion in annual sales.
When the National Beer Wholesalers Association tapped Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill to speak at its annual conference this past summer, the network of distributors knew they were getting someone highly qualified to dole out wisdom on the topics of “leadership, decision-making, operating in uncertain environments and how to become the ‘best of the best.’” That’s how the network pitched his appearance in a July press release, anyway.
10 Barrel co-founder Jeremy Cox said the decision to sell was driven largely by his company’s rapid growth and the need for a more mature infrastructure. “We had some challenges growing the business,” he said “About three months ago, we realized we needed to find a strategic partner to help us with that.”
