Beyond Beer

In the latest edition of A Round With, a Brewbound Insider-exclusive Q&A series, we caught up with New York Cider Association executiveScott to discuss the New York cider industry’s recent milestones, and what he’s setting his sights on next.

As major spirits groups struggle with slow sales, Pernod Ricard is next to cut jobs.

WhistlePig Whiskey and Liquid Death, two beverage disruptors known for their viral marketing stunts and unusual collaborations, have teamed up to kill typical summer drinking trends.

Mark Anthony Brands is in the early stages of transitioning Mike’s Hard 6-pack bottles to cans.

Michigan-based beverage-alcohol platform Benchmark Beverages has taken a minority investment in Blake’s Beverage Co. and the two companies have launched a commercial partnership. Benchmark (Dark Horse, Roak, Brew Detroit, Great America) and Blake’s Beverage Co. (Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders, Avid Cider) aim to “accelerate growth and shake up the beyond-beer category with fresh innovation and national scale,” according to a press release.

Mark Anthony Brands (MAB) is rolling into summer with a focused plan behind White Claw, which boasts an even more dominant position in the hard seltzer segment. Now in its ninth year, White Claw now holds around 70% share of hard seltzer dollar sales, and a 50% share of “total beverage-alcohol seltzer,” which is primarily White Claw and Gallo’s High Noon, MAB president David Barnett said.

Tilray Brands beverage division president Ty Gilmore is departing from the company, in one of several leadership changes, the craft beverage and cannabis firm announced today. Tilray chief growth officer Prinz Pinakatt is taking over the beverage division, effective immediately.

Despite rising regulatory hurdles nationwide, optimism still exists for intoxicating hemp beverages, as evidenced by smaller investment funds’ desire to back brands in the nascent category.

Blake Lively’s Betty Booze is expanding with a new vodka-based ready-to-drink cocktail line.

While former RNDC suppliers plot their next move, what will be the impact of the distributor’s exit on independent spirits and ready-to-drink (RTD) brands in California, and beyond?

Soft consumer spending on bev-alc and tariff uncertainty weighed on whiskey giant Brown-Forman’s fourth quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings and outlook for next year, triggering shares to plunge 15% Thursday morning.

Nearly a quarter of consumers (23.3%) have stopped drinking, or are taking a break from bev-alc, according to a recent survey by Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).

Legislation in progress across several states aims to bring beverages infused with intoxicating hemp into regulatory frameworks akin to alcohol’s three-tier system.

The country’s second-largest distributor, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) has been shedding suppliers at an alarming rate, with another major national loss announced today. Following Brown-Forman’s exit from RNDC in California this month, the whiskey giant will now follow suit in other states.