Explore the world of craft beer, from performance reports and innovation tactics to the state of the industry and breaking news.
Anyone looking for an answer to when craft’s current era of compounding hurdles and declines will come to an end received a reality check Wednesday during Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson’s state of the industry address, held at the start of Day 2 of the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Indianapolis.
Around 10,000 industry members are expected to make the trip to Indianapolis for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America (April 28 to May 1). The gathering takes place against a backdrop of growing headwinds for craft breweries and an overhaul of CBC’s host organization, the Brewers Association.
Craft’s rolling four-week losses improved to start 2025, according to the most recent report from market research firm Circana. The segment’s off-premise dollar sales declined -3.1% and volume, measured in case sales, declined -4.6% in the four-week period ending January 26 (L4W) at multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C). That marked an improvement over the prior four-week period (through December 29, 2024), when craft dollars declined -5.1% and volume declined -6.5%.
Calicraft Brewing is on pace to grow 80% in 2025, after 30% growth in 2024. The Walnut Creek, California-based craft brewery has been able to buck national craft trends by cleaning up production, making key hires and refocusing its portfolio. Now, the company plans to expand that growth into ready-to-drink cocktails, launching in 2026.
Constellation Brands’ Modelo Especial’s dollar sales in California are larger than its next 3 competitors in the Golden State combined YTD through July 4, according to data from Fintech, presented in a webinar by NBWA chief economist and VP of analytics Lester Jones and Fintech VP of distributor strategy Eric Kiser.
Jack McAuliffe, who is credited with helping start the modern craft beer movement by co-founding New Albion Brewing (Sonoma, CA) in 1976, died Tuesday at age 80 at his home in Arkansas, his daughter Renee DeLuca shared.
Barrel One Collective is getting a new leader, a little more than six months after the founding of the New England-centric parent company of 15 brands, including Harpoon and Smuttynose. Nathaniel Davis will take the reins as CEO from Harpoon founder Dan Kenary, who will transition to the role of president after an eight-week sabbatical.
Outlaw Light Beer is aiming to be a disruptor in what its CEO believes is a stale light beer segment. Ari Opsahl, CEO of Outlaw’s parent company, Tivioli Brewing, is a former Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) executive. He believes Outlaw has provided light beer drinkers “an alternative at the price point that they were accustomed to” paying.
Ales for ALS is proof that collaboration and cause beers can still have a major impact. The Smith Family, owners of Loftus Ranches and an owner of Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), launched the Ales for ALS program more than a decade ago, inspired by personal experiences with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Hendler Family Brewing (HFB) and Sloop Brewing have forged a strategic partnership in which the Framingham, Massachusetts-based brewery platform will take over production, sales and marketing for the Hopewell Junction, New York-based craft brewery’s portfolio, including flagship Juice Bomb IPA (6.5% ABV).
Here’s a collection of news items initially reported in the Insider version of the Brewbound Newsletter between July 9-July 11. Become an Insider today to get earlier access to what’s going on in the industry.
Garage Beer – an “internet darling” turned mainstream lager brand, with the backing of Jason and Travis Kelce – is on pace to ship around 4 million case equivalents (around 300,000 barrels of beer) by the end of 2025.
When Topa Topa Brewing CEO Jack Dyer and brewmaster Casey Harris started the Ventura, California, brewery in 2015, they knew they were in it for the long haul, committing to a business that was anchored in quality beer “with a purpose.”
Palmetto Brewing shut down last week after 32 years and bid farewell to patrons and staff with a heartfelt thank you on social media.
Founders Brewing Company is rolling into its new three-year business cycle with upgrades to its facilities, plans to invest in its core brands and efforts to build future offerings in and outside of traditional beer. Mahou is investing around $3 million to upgrade its Grand Rapids, Michigan-based brewery.
Half a decade after wading into distilling, Massachusetts-based Trillium Brewing is diving into the ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail segment.
Craft beer dollar (-9.4%) and case sales (-10.9%) straddled double-digit declines in the grocery channel for the four-week period (L4W) ending June 15, according to the most recent monthly report from market research firm Circana.
