I hope all of you reading this in Colorado today are enjoying that extra cup of coffee to help your brain remember where you left your shirt, and also find that little something extra in the tank that’s needed to get through the final day of pouring today at GABF in Denver. It should also help perfect that smile and nod when Jess says, “Hey buddy, how about you fill that glass all the way up like a real pour?” when she visits your booth.
Well, it’s about time Gen X gets the respect we deserve around here! According to consumer insights firm NUMERATOR – we’ve overtaken the Boomers in spending power!
It’s time for one of golf’s greatest traditions, as the sport of the people (who have a lot of money) tees off all weekend with the biennial Ryder Cup. The PGA is actually making all food & drink free of charge this weekend (don’t tell Justin – I told him hot dogs were on me for his birthday). Although the … $750 tickets for the weekend sadly do not cover booze.
Well, I’m not saying the beer biz is desperate, but it seems pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers have a legitimate competitor in the 2025 Seasonal Creep Award competition (trust me, you don’t wanna know what the award is). GREAT LAKES made an announcement for their Christmas Ale on … September 10.
I finally have some good news! I’ve found the cause behind the negative beer sales trends this year – apparently, it’s baseball players. Yes, it seems the days of players charging the field with beers in hand or knocking down 9+ beers on a team flight (while thinking you drank 70) are over …
Despite what shelves look like at retail this week – it’s still a little early for Oktoberfest chatter, so let’s keep this weekend’s conversation to overpaid NFL players spitting on each other in true opening week fashion. But … who could resist a little preparatory pretzel talk when it involves good ol’ Shocktop!
While Taylor Swift’s New Heights pod episode this week may have had no sponsor ad reads or presenting sponsors 👀 . . . you can’t keep GARAGE BEER in a corner!
Some folks say NFL players have a tough time filling out their schedules once they’re retired, especially once training camp season begins without them. JJ Watt is showing that’s not a problem. He put his retired status to full use last week, easily completing the 9/9/9 challenge at a Brewers game.
As the heat index crosses the 100-degree mark here on the Jersey Shore … what better topic to get excited about than refreshing 14% ABV barrel aged stouts!
It’s always great when someone pours a fresh can of gasoline on the perennial kids in taprooms bonfire that seems to eternally burn in the craft beer world … thanks, NY Times.
It’s about time we start this newsletter with some good news, no? Move over Spirit Halloween stores – we’ve found a new use for former brewery space! So, how do y’all feel about, uh, “growing fish” instead of making beer?
This week’s beer goes out to Gen Z. Look, I know I’ve been a bit hard on you folks lately … so you certainly deserve a nice cold bottle of beer (you know how those aluminum tariffs are these days). Although, let me know if you need help opening it … as the youngins on the NBA Champion OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER had no issues bouncing the PACERS out of town, but they were subsequently thwarted by the French.
Man, you know it’s bad when beer consumption is down in Belgium of all places. Data indicates the 2024 number was -2.1%, following a 2023 where it was -6%. Guessing that imported STELLA from Newark, NJ just isn’t moving as many units as one would hope … but maybe they should send over a few cases of BUSCH LIGHT’s newest foray into flavortown along with it – move over #BLAPPLE – it’s #BLIMEtime!
Well, it seems the Gen Z: Bar Noobs report is becoming a weekly thing. After last week’s bewilderment at the idea of using cash instead of credit cards as a way to control how much one spends at a bar in a given evening … it seems this week our relatively new LDA patrons need to be instructed how “ordering at the bar” works in the U.K.