NIQ: THC Beverages Hit $239M in Mainstream Retail as Half of Adults Interested in Trying
THC beverages reached $239 million in the 52 weeks ending April 4 2026, up 135% versus the prior year, and despite a looming ban, there’s thirst for more.
Beyond Beer
Read the latest beyond beer news relating to companies involved with RTD cocktails, hard cider, hard seltzer, hard kombucha, spirits, cannabis, and non-alcoholic products. Take a comprehensive look at developments in these evolving sectors, offering valuable insights into the innovations, trends, and market forces shaping the world of beer and beyond.
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Jim Koch: Boston Beer ‘Over the Hump’ and Important to Distributors & Retailers; Sun Cruiser Gains; No Twisted Tea Reset
Boston Beer Company has “gotten over the hump as a supplier” and become an “important” part of its wholesalers’ and retailers’ businesses, founder, chairman and CEO Jim Koch told analysts during the company’s Q1 2026 earnings report Thursday evening.
Stateside’s Super Lyte Depletes 120K Cases in 5 Weeks, Targets 1.5M This Year
Super Lyte, a vodka-infused, sports-drink inspired refresher, from the makers of Surfside, has depleted 120,000 cases in its first five weeks in the market, with a forecast to hit 1.5 million cases this year.
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2025 GABF Awards: 273 Breweries and Cideries Awarded; Allagash & Heirloom Cider Win Big
The Brewers Association (BA) awarded 347 medals to 273 breweries and cideries Saturday during the trade group’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver.
States of Confusion: Hemp, Cannabis Regulations in Conflict
As one joint is lit, another one is extinguished. I think that’s how the saying goes.
Tilray Beverage Revenue ‘Flat’ at $55.7M in Q1; Overall Net Revenue +5%, to ‘Record’ $209.5M
Tilray Brands’ 2026 first quarter – covering the all-important summer selling season – was “flat” due to the cannabis and craft beer platform’s Project 420 cost-savings initiative, Tilray chairman and CEO Irwin Simon shared Thursday during a call with investors and analysts.
Ohio Governor Temporarily Bans Intoxicating Hemp Through Executive Order
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced an executive order to ban all intoxicating hemp products in the state, effective Tuesday October 14.
Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr.’s Super Beverage Team Up
From the screen to the cooler, actors Tom Holland and Robert Downey, Jr. are bringing their respective beverage startups together for a limited edition collaboration: BERO Coffee Draught and Happy Eternal Hoptimist ground coffee.
US Spirits Exports Decline 9% Amid Trade Tensions
Following a record-high for U.S. spirits exports in 2024, exports fell 9% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, driven by ongoing trade tensions, according to a new report released today by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).
Workforce Cut, Cognac Business For Sale as Uncle Nearest Navigates Receivership
The court-appointed receiver for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey says the embattled whiskey company still holds “significant value,” but will need to clarify incomplete financial records and its capitalization table, and shed non-core assets before evaluating future offers for investment.
Brewbound Podcast: How Surfside Will Ride The Wave This Fall
How does an ready-to-drink (RTD) brand that was built on the beach translate to other seasons? Surfside, Stateside Vodka’s hard iced tea and lemonade canned cocktail brand, is betting big on sports this fall.
Sazerac Acquires Western Son Vodka & Distillery, Expanding Texas Footprint
Sazerac is acquiring Texas-based Western Son Vodka and Distillery, the company announced today.
InvestBev’s Accelerator Bets on RTDs, Rum and Culture in New Cohort
Spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) is one of the more fragmented segments in bev-alc, but independent brands with discipline and an eye for the right occasion can still break through, according to Gustavo Aguirre, vice president of brand innovation at private equity firm InvestBev.
1868 Hard Cider Leans into ‘Newstalgia’ to Bring Young LDAs Back to Martinelli’s
In its 157-year history, Martinelli’s has become a staple in many U.S. households; from its squat 10 oz. apple juices that fit conveniently into kids’ lunch boxes, to its green sparkling cider bottles that allow consumers of all ages to toast and celebrate without booze.
Sazerac Partners with Andrews Distributing on New RTD Brands
Sazerac Company has partnered with Molson Coors-aligned wholesaler Andrews Distributing on three new ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in Texas, adding a regional portfolio to the spirit company’s expanding RTD business.
Spirits RTDs: Growth Cools As On-Premise, Unique Flavors Heat Up
Growth is slowing down for spirits-based RTDs, but gains in the on-premise and emerging flavor categories hint at opportunities, according to bev-alc consulting and data firm 3 Tier Beverages.
Rhinegeist VP of Sales: Gen Z Consumers Are Craft Curious, But ‘They Just Don’t Understand It’
Ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) remain one of the hottest segments in bev-alc, seemingly avoiding the quick rise and fall of the former new kid in town, hard seltzer (for now). Even the previously formidable flavored malt beverage (FMB) segment is starting to see the impact of consumers moving away to the more premium, typically spirits-based offerings.