Data

Ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) remain one of the hottest segments in bev-alc, seemingly avoiding the quick rise and fall of the former new kid in town, hard seltzer (for now). Even the previously formidable flavored malt beverage (FMB) segment is starting to see the impact of consumers moving away to the more premium, typically spirits-based offerings.

Craft outperformed the overall beer category in convenience stores to close the summer selling season. In the four-week period ending September 7, dollar sales of craft beer increased 1.5% in c-stores, compared with total beer’s 1.9% decline in the channel, according to the latest monthly report from market research firm Circana.

Bev-alc remained in decline in the latest week (data ending September 14), recording “predicted post-holiday results,” according to the most recent weekly report from market research firm Circana and EVP of BevAl Scott Scanlon.

This year’s lackluster Labor Day was not exclusive to the off-premise, according to the latest report from CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ. Sales velocity at bars and restaurants declined 10% on Labor Day (Monday, September 1) compared to the holiday in 2024 (Monday, September 2).

Check out these news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter (September 17-19).

Bev-alc sales declined in the two-week period (L2W) ending September 6, although cider, as well as wine and spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) continue to buck the trends, according to analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

Bev-alc scans returned to typical 2025 patterns post-Labor Day, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm Circana and EVP of BevAl, Scott Scanlon.

The beverage-alcohol landscape doesn’t slow down, even when categories do. In this latest quarterly installment of 3 Up, 3 Down, 3 Tier Beverages takes a data-driven look at what’s gaining momentum – and what’s losing ground – across beer, wine, spirits, and non-alc (NA), with NIQ off-premise data through August 9, 2025.

Draft beer remains the dominating sales driver for taprooms, but breweries may need to expand their menus (and hours) if they want consumers to keep coming back, according to a new report from the Brewers Association (BA), citing taproom point-of-sale data from Arryved.

The return of professional football didn’t result in a boost to on-premise beer trends, contrary to years past. Opening weekend of the 2025 NFL season (September 4-7) led to high-single-digit declines in both draft beer (-7.3%) and packaged products (-8.3%) compared to 2024 opening weekend (September 5-8), according to on-premise tech and insights firm BeerBoard.

If going out seemed expensive in July, dining and drinking budgets were likely stretched further in August. The consumer price index (CPI) for alcohol away from home (+3.8% year-over-year [YoY]) and food away from home (+3.9% YoY) far outpaced overall inflation (+2.9%) in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) most recent monthly report.

Crane Brewing (Raytown, Missouri), has closed after 11 years. In its early days, the brewery built its name on the homebrew and beer fest circuit with namesake Michael Crane’s sour ales and magenta-hued beet beer.

Affordability is the biggest headwind facing the bev-alc industry, according to survey results released Monday from investment banking firm Jefferies.

Labor Day weekend provided a needed boost in sales for the bev-alc industry, but was yet another occasion where 2025 trends fell below 2024 comps, according to the latest weekly scans report from Circana and the market research firm’s EVP of BevAl, Scott Scanlon.