After months of waiting, Stone Brewing finally broke its silenced yesterday, announcing that it would build a second U.S. brewing facility in Richmond, Va. While the announcement was a big win for the city, it was a loss for another in the state. Norfolk, just two hours north of Richmond, was among the three remaining cities with a shot at landing the country’s tenth largest craft brewery.
Last week, we traveled to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo. to ask attendees how market segmentation was impacting the retail landscape. Many noted that growing interest in small local brands is making it tougher to compete while others were more optimistic about the potential growth of shelf space. Hear those responses in our latest video segment.
we’re excited to announce that the penultimate Brew Talks event of 2014 will be held outside of the brewhouse, and inside the headquarters of one of the country’s most trafficked websites. On October 21, Brewbound will travel to Austin, Texas to host Brew Talks at the offices of popular entertainment website, theCHIVE.com.
The suspense is over. After months of speculation, Stone Brewing Co. has formally announced its intent to build a new brewery in Richmond, Va. Pending local approvals, the country’s tenth largest craft brewer said it will build an east coast brewing facility in Richmond’s Greater Fulton Community. The San Diego brewery has signed a formal letter of intent with the city and plans to invest $74 million to construct a production brewery, packaging hall, restaurant and retail store.
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that legalizes the sale of packaged beer at certified farmers’ markets, a right previously afforded only to winemakers in the state. The bill, AB 2004, enables craft brewers not only to exhibit and sell products at farmers markets, but also gives brewers the ability to sell beer and wine during private events on their own premises. The new law takes effect on January 1.
Dogfish Head today announced significant changes to its executive leadership team, including the departure of longtime vice president of sales, Adam Lambert, who will leave the company to pursue a new opportunity within craft beer. The Delaware-based craft brewery also announced it would promote current chief operating officer, Nick Benz, to the role of CEO.
Exactly how hard is it to medal at the Great American Beer Festival? According to Brewers Association economist Bart Watson, you’ve got a better shot at getting into any university in the country. While that statistical comparison certainly highlights the competitive nature of the craft landscape, it’s not the crux of the Watson’s latest analysis.
With a multiple expansion initiatives already underway, Bell’s Brewery said it plans to hire more than 100 people in an effort to fill both full- and part-time positions at its brewery and retail locations.
There’s now a steady stream of private equity money flowing into craft — but will the floodgates open fully? How will the influx of investment capital impact the competitive landscape? We traveled to the 2014 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo. to ask attendees for their thoughts.
A new report from Bart Watson, the BA’s staff economist, found that an influx of female drinkers, greater engagement in the Hispanic market, and geographic diversity of brewery locations have played pivotal roles in shaping a more well-rounded craft consumer base.
Rogue Ales & Spirits has hired Jim Schembre, the former Monarch Beverage and World Class Beer general manager, as its new vice president of sales. Schembre, who has served on Rogue’s Board of Directors for the last eight years, will immediately replace outgoing Rogue VP Steve Irwin.
Having finalized agreements with seven wholesalers in the state, Boulevard Brewing will expand its distribution throughout South Carolina by the end of the month, the company announced today. The brewery, which was acquired by Belgium-based Duvel Moortgat in 2013, has inked deals with Lee Distributing, Comer Distributing, Greenco Beverage Co., Beverage South, H&S Wholesalers, Better Brands, and Crown Beverages, per company statement.
Oskar Blues will continue its ‘aggressive’ expansion efforts next month when it launches new distribution in Missouri via a wholesale arrangement with Major Brands Inc. The Longmont, Colo.-based craft brewery — which also owns and operates a secondary production facility in Brevard, NC — yesterday announced it will broaden its footprint, launching draft and can packages on November 10 with a string of market blitz initiatives and kick-off events.
The most popular hop of tomorrow won’t go under trellis today. That is to say, to innovate in the hops market is to play long odds. The Simcoe hop, for instance, was nearly torn completely out of the ground and discarded as a failed experiment. Perrault Farms just couldn’t sell the aromatic hop during the early aughts.
