Is private equity investment in the craft beer business something that brewers should fear? Will the involvement of more sophisticated forms of investment capital necessarily lead to the downfall of the craft beer movement? Seasoned investor Craig Farlie weighs in.
A report from research firm Consumer Edge Insight indicates the ballooning preference of consumers for heavier beers. That’s shown not through a lineup of even more craft beer style holidays, like IPA Day, but through a decline in consumers’ taste for light beer, long the best-selling premium style.
While it’s risky to paint anyone with too broad a brush, it’s fair to say that, regardless of gut size or facial hair, most of the 50 or so beer bloggers attending the Boston Beer Bloggers Conference shared two traits: an unwavering, public love affair with craft beer that compels them to put thousands of words to the screen, and a mild-at-best effort to get paid for those words.
It’s almost impossible to believe, but in its 33-year history, Sierra Nevada Brewing has never produced what has become standard issue for many older craft brewers, the seasonal-variety 12-pack. “Other than our specialty ‘Beer Camp’ pack, it is the last significant segment that we haven’t approached,” said Joe Whitney, Sierra’s director of Sales and Marketing.
Any craft brewer can tell you, it’s difficult to keep wholesalers and retailers happy when you’re having trouble keeping beer on the shelves. Most brewers will claim that it’s a good problem to have and, for the majority of brick and mortar operations, the solution is simple: buy more fermentation tanks. But when you’re a… Read more »
Fresh off last week’s debut in Kansas, Stone Brewing today announced plans to enter its 40th state, Alabama, on August 27. The San Diego-based craft brewery has selected International Wines Inc. as its statewide wholesaler.
Oskar Blues Brewery is on pace for its ninth straight year of double-digit growth. The Colorado-headquartered craft brewery today announced that company-wide depletions increased 38 percent through the first six months of 2013. The impressive first half numbers were led by 40-percent growth of its flagship offering, Dale’s Pale Ale, which currently makes up 58… Read more »
The Brewers Association (BA) — the trade group representing small and independent breweries — today reported strong mid-year numbers for America’s craft brewers. U.S craft brewers continued their incredible growth through the first half of 2013, boasting 15 percent dollar sales growth and 13 percent volume growth over the same time period last year.
Here is something that was no doubt inspired by a few too many: craft beer labels that have been computer-animated. Tumblr account beerlabelsinmotion has been active for about two months now — but how long will it be until someone figures out how to actually put this on a beer label?
It’s a period of transition, a period of discovery. Craft beer is available and abundant, like most consumer goods in Las Vegas, but the realization of its marketability and demand — in a city that thrives on its marketability and ability to fulfill any desire — has only just begun.
Here’s a script that won’t be worked into any new Entourage episodes anytime soon — but it is a sobering reality for anyone hoping to launch a new craft beer company. Adrian Grenier — (Entourage character name: Vincent Chase) — starts a beer company (Churchkey Can Co.) with partner Justin Hawkins, garners some early media… Read more »
The Brew Talks West Coast tour began Tuesday night just north of San Diego, which Chad Heath, the director of Southern California sales for Stone Brewing Co., calls “the Napa for beer.”
Lakefront Brewery announced today that it has obtained an option to purchase 9.3 acres of land in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, putting it on the growing list of craft breweries looking to open a second production facility. “I have looked all over the city, sized everything up and this is heads and tails above all the… Read more »
With capacity constraints now in the rearview mirrors at many top-50 craft breweries, there’s a bit of land grab occurring amongst the country’s largest producers. In the last month, breweries like Dogfish Head, New Belgium and Victory Brewing have announced plans to expand their distribution footprints. All three breweries also recently added new capacity, enabling… Read more »
