Big Beer

A new generation of leaders is taking the reins at New Ulm, Minnesota-based Schell’s Brewery, as Ted Marti steps down from overseeing operations at the 160-year-old brewery and hands the reins to his sons, according to the Mankato Free Press.

Just ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend, Anheuser-Busch today launched its next hard seltzer, Bud Light Platinum Seltzer, nationwide.

Dogfish Head’s residency at Concrete Beach’s Social Hall in Miami is becoming permanent. Boston Beer senior director of local brands and taprooms, Rob Kreszswick, announced this week that the company would transition Concrete Beach’s Miami location into Dogfish Head Miami. As such, Concrete Beach’s Social Hall would close permanently and beer-to-go and e-commerce sales would cease on Saturday, September 5.

The top selling eight beer brand families have all surpassed $1 billion in sales at multi-outlet chain and convenience stores year-to-date, according to data shared by market research firm IRI, which includes sales data through August 9.

A proposed class-action lawsuit alleges that Anheuser-Busch InBev is deceiving consumers by positioning its Veza Sur brewery in Miami as a craft brewery.

Constellation Brands is going Hard Knocks with its latest NFL sponsorship deal. The Los Angeles Rams and Chargers — the featured teams on this year’s edition of the HBO documentary series — have locked up multi-year partnerships with the maker of Mexican import beers.

Bourbon County Stout — Goose Island’s annual barrel-aged special release — will celebrate a decade this fall as a post-Thanksgiving tradition for beer fans when the brewery will roll out the 2020 offerings on Friday, November 27.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were easy to see in Craft Brew Alliance’s latest earnings report. Shipments of CBA products during the three-month period ending June 30 — in the thick of the pandemic and its shut down of on-premise establishments — declined 10.2%, to 206,900 barrels, down from 230,500 barrels in Q2 2019.

Molson Coors Beverage Company has hired Jennifer Martinez as senior director of corporate affairs. Also, the Breakthru Beverage Group announced that it has acquired the Miller portfolio of brands in southern Nevada, giving the multi-state beer, wine and spirits wholesaler the full Molson Coors portfolio in the state.

As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the on-premise channel continue to be felt worldwide, Molson Coors Beverage Company reported $2.5 billion in net revenue for the second quarter of 2020, a 15.1% decline compared to the same period last year.

The COVID-19 pandemic cut into Anheuser-Busch InBev’s worldwide volumes and revenue during the second quarter of 2020. The world’s largest beer maker reported that its total volume in Q2 declined 17.1% — as beer volume declined 17.2% and non-beer volume declined 15.5% — while revenue declined 17.7%.

The Boston Beer Company has hired marketing executive Don Lane as its new vice president of the Truly Hard Seltzer brand. Boston Beer is investing $85 million to quadruple production at its nearly 90-year-old Cincinnati production brewery, according to a press release.

Revolver Brewing co-founders Rhett Keisler and Grant Wood are stepping down from their roles leading the Granbury, Texas-based craft brewery, according to an announcement from Molson Coors Brewing Company, which acquired the brewery in 2016.

Even amid persistent out-of-stock issues, Boston Beer Company’s Truly Hard Seltzer helped drive the company’s depletions (sales to retailers) growth to 46% in Q2. Boston Beer founder Jim Koch conceded Thursday that those inventory issues will last for the rest of the summer.