The beer sampling began early (8 A.M.) at the December 5 Brewbound Session in San Diego, when a panel of judges tasted products and heard elevator pitches from 10 different startup craft brewery owners. Sponsored by Craft Brew Alliance, the first installment of the Startup Brewery Challenge gave the companies the opportunity to showcase their brands and business plans.
Small and independent craft brewers contributed $33.9 billion to the U.S. economy in 2012, according to an economic report commissioned by the Brewers Association. “With a strong presence across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, craft breweries are a vibrant and flourishing economic force at the local, state and national level,” Bart Watson,… Read more »
Beer drinkers everywhere raised a glass last week, toasting to 80 years since the repeal of Prohibition. The 21st Amendment no doubt holds a place in the hearts of every beer drinker, but for Banko Beverage of Allentown, PA, 1933 also means it has eight decades of business in the Keystone State under its belt.
Stevens Point Brewery will invest $1.5 million in equipment and infrastructure upgrades to meet growing demand for both its beers and ciders, a company official confirmed to Brewbound today. “This is not a sexy expansion,” said Joe Martino, a Stevens Point operating partner, who added that any changes in production capacity as a result of… Read more »
Craft beer is insanely popular, yes, but unlike most things in vogue, it isn’t always easy to find. Since craft breweries produce far less beer than their macro-counterparts, a given brewery’s distribution is often very limited.
SanTan Brewing Co. today announced the hiring of Wendy Weathers, who has been named the company’s new national business development manager. Weathers, who most recently served as the national sales director for Oskar Blues, will be spearheading the Arizona-based brewery’s southwestern expansion efforts.
Total Beverage Solution today announced it has acquired the trademark and product recipes of Celis beers from CraftBev International. “We are currently considering a number of options for brewing, and we plan to reintroduce the brand to market by mid-2014,” said Dave Pardus, Total Beverage Solution CEO in a press release.
It’s only Tuesday, but we’re guessing you already need a beer. Good news — today is National Lager Day! Two breweries that have become synonymous with the lager style are celebrating in different ways.
D.G. Yuengling Brewery will officially return to the Massachusetts market in the first quarter of 2014 with seven wholesalers, a company official confirmed to Brewbound today. Yuengling COO, Dave Cassinelli said the company has signed agreements with L. Knife & Son Inc., Seaboard Products, Craft Brewers Guild of Boston, ABI House of Quality, Girardi, Williams… Read more »
Victory Brewing Co. today announced it will expand its distribution footprint in the U.S. and internationally this winter, offering its year-round brands to six new territories. Beginning this month, Brasserie Purveyors will begin importing the Victory brand on Grand Cayman Island, while Great Brands AB and Vertical Drinks will distribute Victory products in Sweden and… Read more »
While innovation of beer styles has proven to be an effective method of differentiation (just ask Wynkoop), the intentions and business models shared at the Brewbound Session affirmed that brewery executives with large-scale ambitions recognize their roles as not just liquid vendors, but also as message diplomats and entertainment hubs.
7G Distributing, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Anheuser-Busch InBev wholesaler announced that, effective Jan. 1, it will acquire Davenport, Iowa based Vanguard Distributing. “It was a footprint that’s adjacent to our territory and that made it very attractive. We expect to achieve a number of synergies,” 7G Owner Joe Lee told The Gazette.
For a craft brewery to succeed today, it must produce high quality, consistent and well-differentiated beers, according to Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head, who gave the keynote address at today’s Brewbound Session in San Diego, CA.
The agreements mark the first commercial movement from a potentially disruptive contract brewer with an ambitious model — one that has the flexibility to work with both emerging and well-established breweries.
