During last week’s Beer Marketer’s Insights conference in New York City, a pair of top-10 craft brewery founders took the stage to discuss category growth, brewery expansion plans and category trends, among other top-of-mind issues. Deschutes Brewery founder Gary Fish and Brooklyn Brewery founder Steve Hindy joined the conversation, moderated by Beer Marketer’s Insights president Benj Steinman.
The Coca-Cola Company today announced it has signed a definitive agreement with Reyes Holdings, granting the wholesaler the distribution rights for Coke products in the Chicago area. In today’s statement, Coke confirmed that Reyes, via its newly established “Great Lakes Coca-Cola Distribution L.L.C.” arm, would “dedicate all of the company’s sales and distribution activities on servicing the Coca-Cola brands.”
When Two Roads Brewing was negotiating the acquisition of its facility in Stratford, Conn., the company didn’t have a dollar to its name. On top of that, the brewery had already ordered the equipment to fill out the space it now inhabits. Though the company had an anchor investor, founder Brad Hittle said it was up to him and his team to offer personal guarantees on everything they needed, something he admits was dumb now with the benefit of hindsight.
Ohio legislators are making a last minute push behind a bill that, if passed, would nearly double the legal ABV limit for beer sold in the state, according to WCPO Cincinnati. As written, House Bill 391 would allow for the sale of beer that clocks in at 21 percent ABV in the state, up from the currently imposed cap of 12 percent.
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s recent acquisition of 10 Barrel Brewing may have been just the next step in the beer behemoth’s effort to augment its foothold in the craft side of the business, but the path won’t be completely clear until it resolves issues within the acquisition’s existing distribution network. In many markets, the 10 Barrel brand is already sold through A-B InBev wholesalers. But in areas like Boise, Idaho (Hayden Beverage Co.), Pendleton, Ore.
Brewbound is pleased to announce that Green Flash Brewing co-founders Lisa and Mike Hinkley will speak at the upcoming Brewbound Session, being held in San Diego on Thursday, Dec. 4. In a conversation with Brewbound editor Chris Furnari, the Hinkley’s will discuss Green Flash’s national distribution strategy and explain the impetus for expanding the company’s brewing operations to the east coast.
The Craft New York Act, which will officially take effect in 29 days, will ease licensing requirements and reduce fees for New York-based craft brewers, winemakers, cider producers and distillers that are looking to increase production. Additionally, the new law will enable manufacturers to conduct on-premise tastings with less stringent food requirements.
Regulators in Massachusetts are investigating whether brewers and distributors in the state are offering up cash and other incentives to retailers in exchange for guaranteed product placement, an illegal practice known in the beer industry as ‘pay-to-play.’ As reported this morning by The Boston Globe, the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) has issued subpoenas to a number of businesses in the state.
It was Halloween, and Bear Republic CEO Richard Norgrove was flying to Boston to deliver grim news to Atlantic Imports, the company’s distributor in the Massachusetts market: he was going to stop shipping beer to the Bay State, its fifth largest market, beginning Jan. 1, 2015. It was no trick, though: the California drought is taking its toll on the top-50 craft brewer, forcing it to pull distribution.
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.
