Amid challenging industry headwinds, two New York-based craft breweries are merging, Brewbound has learned.

Across oversaturated retail shelves, bev-alc brands are under pressure to stand out.

In premium spirits and canned cocktails, brands have learned that calling out unique ingredients and connecting to audiences through their own cultural stories is key to positioning. They’re also balancing bolder looks with conveying brand values, health benefits and taste without over-messaging. Many have gone back to the drawing board, honing their brand prepositions and packaging.

Well craft beer, I wish I could say I find this kinda thing off-brand here in 2024 … but I don’t think that Porch Drinking’s roundup of over 30 “Hawk Tuah” themed beers on UNTAPPD surprises anyone anymore.

San Diego-headquartered JuneShine is adding another product line to its expanding portfolio, but the latest addition is outside of the beverage-alcohol realm. The maker of hard kombucha, spirits-based canned cocktails and light lagers will expand its repertoire with non-alcoholic (NA) kombucha under the JuneShine brand.

Molson Coors Beverage Company is bringing an innovation portfolio of 8% ABV offerings strictly for the convenience channel as part of its above premium strategy for 2025.

We talked with Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig’s chief blender, about how the company culture fosters experimentation, where she finds inspiration, and even what opportunities Dry January brings.

Despite industry scan trends, Firestone Walker believes “the American craft beer industry is as strong as ever.” The Duvel-owned California craft brewery is focused on its core beer brands in 2025, and believes those brands can satisfy both classic craft beer consumers and new drinkers, leadership detailed Monday in a virtual presentation for wholesale partners.

California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) executive director Lori Ajax will vacate the position at the end of 2024, the trade association representing California’s craft brewing industry shared Wednesday.

Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC) founder Phil Bannatyne joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the recent announcement that the Massachusetts brewpub will shut its doors in December after 35 years in business.

Brewbound’s annual Best Of Awards are accepting nominations for 2024! The awards celebrate beverage-alcohol companies for their achievements and impact throughout the last year and serve as an appreciation of notable industry members, trend setters, breakout brands, change agents and up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Draft beer reclaimed the volume lost during last year’s National Football League (NFL) opening weekend (September 5-8), according to on-premise data firm BeerBoard.

Molson Coors chief commercial officer Michelle St. Jacques laid out the company’s 2025 strategy in the U.S. as part of its “next chapter” as she opened the 2024 distributor convention in San Antonio Tuesday afternoon. Although the core remains a top priority, Molson Coors will put a large focus on its above premium portfolio.

Beer inflation eased slightly in August, but still remains above other bev-alc categories and the total industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.

Spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) products will face a challenge to maintain double-digit growth rates in 2025, including a decluttering of items at retail in order for the segment to remain healthy, according to Bump Williams Consulting’s (BWC) monthly report.