Gonna open this weekend’s newsletter with an invitation to the Brewers Association to join me for a pint in NYC (you’re buying – uhh, Justin insists), as the BA just published a report that asserts that the price of a pint on-premise has tracked below the rate of inflation for the past 3 years. It also cites an average pint price of $6.85 as of the end of 2023. So, come to NYC and let’s have a couple of craft pints to toast to that – just make sure you bring more than $20.

An estimated 1.884 billion hectoliters (hl), or 1.58 billion barrels, of beer were produced worldwide in 2023, a -0.9% decline year-over-year (YoY), according to global hop supplier BarthHaas in its annual report.

At-the-brewery pint prices have not kept pace with inflation, according to a recent report from Brewers Association staff economist Matt Gacioch.

Short’s Brewing is celebrating two decades in Bellaire, Michigan this year. The craft brewery makes a range of beers, from its flagship Local’s Light, to Bloody Beer, a Bloody Mary-inspired beer, and produced nearly 44,000 barrels of beer in 2023, according to the Brewers Association.

Global hop acreage declined -3.3% in 2023 versus 2022, the second consecutive year of decline and a “significantly sharper” reduction versus the -0.3% year-over-year (YoY) decline recorded in 2022, global hop supplier BarthHaas reported this week.

With crossover products gaining shelf space, more guidance is emerging from trade associations and states to steer how brands, retailers and regulators define and treat these offerings.

Long-time Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bob Pease will retire on June 30, 2025, after 32 years at the trade organization representing small and independent craft brewers, Pease and the BA announced last week.

Flavor remains at the forefront of bev-alc purchasing decisions, according to data from the Brewers Association’s (BA) annual Harris Poll, shared by chief economist and VP of strategy Bart Watson and staff economist Matt Gacioch last week.

Similar to the off-premise, the non-alcoholic (NA) beer segment is outperforming the broader beer category in bars, restaurants and other venues, according to CGA, an NIQ-owned on-premise market research firm.

Fast-growing whiskey company Uncle Nearest has launched a unique trade mentorship program, leveraging a brand advocacy strategy its creator said is centered on investing in bartenders and building long-term relationships.

Ever since Diageo’s acquisition of Casamigos made George Clooney an overnight billionaire, there’s been a race to the shelf from celebrity-backed brands. But with the wider spirits downturn, how have these business models evolved and where do they have an edge, if at all?

It’s time to book your room for Brewbound Live! Our two-day event for beer and beverage-alcohol professionals heads to Marina del Rey, California, on December 11 + 12. Register now to stay just steps from the action and save on your stay at the Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel.

Recent research about the health impacts of alcohol has been circulating in mainstream media, amid a broader conversation about consumption as the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) works toward publishing its 2025-2030 guidelines.

Some say there’s no such thing as bad publicity … but I feel rather confident in saying this wasn’t a July 4 holiday product placement spend from Coors.