Lucky Hawkeyes! Wonder if they’ll get The Abyss? Meanwhile, here’s a job that a lot of craft breweries won’t cop to having: “Expansion Manager.”

We don’t really care that it’s a repost. Sometimes, you’ve gotta do what you can to get through to the end of “Humpday.”

As craft brewers continue chipping away at a U.S. beer landscape primarily dominated by two international mega-brewers, a few rapidly expanding craft beer companies are beginning to consider national distribution models. But building out that national footprint isn’t as simple as just flipping a switch.

As new craft beer brands launch and existing ones continue to develop their products, brands and footprints, Tom Fox said that understanding data can help brewers to expose untapped markets, to stay objective, fact-based and solution-oriented, and to separate themselves from the less-informed majority.

Various identities were showcased at the Brewbound Session in Boston at the Revere Hotel on Thursday, providing about 150 attendees — brewers, distributors and investors — with an up-close look into the inherent differences of brands within the same industry.

When asked to explain the secret to craft brewing innovation, Jim Koch, head of the country’s largest craft brewery, had a rather simple response at yesterday’s Brewbound Session, held in Boston. “I get bored easily,” he said.

Craft Brew Alliance — which markets the Kona Brewing, Redhook Brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewing and Omission beer brands — has partnered with Buffalo Wild Wings to create a new, draft-only beer called Game Changer. Brewed as a new label under the Redhook brand, Game Changer is a 4.6 percent ABV pale ale that will begin… Read more »

Some breweries view contract brewing as taboo. Brew Hub wants to celebrate its partnerships with breweries through marketing efforts, heavily branded taprooms within each brewery, and the message that each client has formed a top-class partnership.

New Belgium Brewing isn’t quite ready to break ground at its new Asheville, N.C. brewery location, so it has continued expanding operations at its home base. The country’s third largest craft brewery announced today that it is nearing completion on a 140,000 barrel expansion project at its Fort Collins, Colo. brewery location.

Brew Hub LLC today announced the signing of a lease in Lakeland, Fla., for its first brewery site, with construction expected to begin in May. The company, which plans spending about $100 million to build five contract breweries over the next five years, signed a 50,400 square-foot industrial lease in Lakeland, a city about 35 miles east of Tampa and about 55 miles southwest of Orlando.

Although there are currently many investors and speculators who have trained their sights on the craft brewing industry, there have been relatively few completed transactions. That’s why Brewbound is delighted to announce that the president of Long Trail Brewing, Daniel W. Fulham, will be participating in a discussion on the craft beer investment space during… Read more »

As part of its commitment to providing beer industry professionals with real guidance on succeeding in the retail environment, Brewbound.com is pleased to announce that it will feature a panel focusing on ‘on-premise’ sales.

A key member of Stone Brewing Co. has stepped down after 16 years with the company. Arlan Arnsten, who served as Stone’s senior vice president of sales, announced Thursday that he was leaving the company “to pursue interests outside of the craft beer industry.” Coinciding with his departure, Arnsten announced the promotion of Jason Armstrong to director of national sales, a new position at Stone.

Wirtz Beverage Group announced plans yesterday to expand its beer, wine and spirits wholesale business into the state of Missouri. The Chicago-based wholesaler has formed a joint venture with convenience distributing giant McClane Co. to purchase a minority stake in St. Louis-based Missouri Beverage Co.