Beyond Beer

Massachusetts-based hard seltzer brand Willie’s Superbrew was midway through a call with the supermarket chain Harris Teeter when the buyer interjected…

Global cannabis firm Tilray generated $513 million in net revenue — a 27% increase year-over-year — during the company’s 2021 fiscal year, which ended May 31, the company reported last week.

Shipyard Brewing has appointed David Phillips as chief operating officer; Joe Heaton will depart the Beer Institute after serving as senior director of federal affairs for the national trade organization; and Constellation Brands has appointed Liz Lopez as VP of public affairs to lead on issues related to cannabis policy in the U.S.

Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis made waves this month when he announced he was joining Veritas Fine Cannabis as an equity stakeholder and team member. The craft beer pioneer told Brewbound the cannabis industry piqued his interest several years ago, but it wasn’t until a friend from childhood who is now an investment banker introduced him to the Veritas team that he was ready to jump.

The beer category didn’t see fireworks in off-premise retail sales this July 4, market research firm NielsenIQ reported. “For the biggest beer holiday of the year, the category had lackluster performance in the off-premise channels this year, with dollar sales down -5.1% compared to last year, and up +7% compared to 2019, which was driven in great part by beyond beer segments,” NielsenIQ vice president of beverage alcohol practice Danelle Kosmal wrote.

Boston Beer Company adjusted its full-year forecast for shipments and depletions growth after a significant slowdown in the hard seltzer segment in the second quarter. The company previously projected full-year growth of 40-50% in shipments (sales to wholesalers) and depletions (sales to retailers), but has trimmed that projection to 25-40%. Its depletions increased 24% during Q2, decelerating by half from Q1’s growth of 48%, according to remarks from founder and chairman Jim Koch in the quarterly earnings release. “To be totally honest, we’re surprised at the sharpness and the suddenness of the change in trajectory,” Koch said during a conference call with investors and analysts.

Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, which Coke launched this year in partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company, is now available in 17 markets worldwide with plans to be in 28 markets by the end of the year.

8th Wonder Brewery and Distillery in Houston released a Delta 8 THC non-alcoholic seltzer last week, advertised as the first Delta 8 seltzer product in Texas — a state that has been debating the legality of Delta 8 products in recent months.

Non-alcoholic craft brand Athletic Brewing has signed a lease for a new facility in Milford, Connecticut, that could triple its capacity. “Once complete, we’ll have over 150,000 barrels capacity on each coast, with the potential to triple in the new facility over time,” CEO and co-founder Bill Shufelt told Brewbound.

Stone Brewing Company’s entry into the $4.5 billion hard seltzer segment — Buenavida Hard Seltzer — is now available in Southern California.

Beverage alcohol sales at some convenience stores have begun to decelerate as the on-premise channel reopens, Goldman Sachs analyst Bonnie Herzog reported in her Q2 “Beverage Bytes” survey of c-store retailers. Half of survey respondents reported no impact to alcohol sales during the July 4 holiday weekend. Meanwhile, 33% reported a moderate negative impact, and 17% reported a significant moderate impact.

Over two years after cannabis industry investment firm SOL Global took a minority stake in Jones Soda, the Seattle-based craft soda maker is finally preparing to launch infused edibles and beverages.

Boston Beer Company and Beam Suntory today announced a joint venture to extend two of the companies’ most popular brands — Truly Hard Seltzer and Sauza tequila — across categories.