3 Up, 3 Down with 3 Tier Beverages is a quarterly insights series available to Brewbound Insiders, via the Chicago-headquartered, bev-alc-focused consulting and data firm.
In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, Mark Anthony Brands president David Barnett details how the bev-alc company is “doing better than most” in today’s challenged marketplace. He spoke about the company’s highlights with Brewbound editor Justin Kendall, in a conversation recorded at the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA’s) Annual Convention in Las Vegas.
Boston Beer’s transformation from a craft brewer to an adult beverage company, which began in earnest about a decade ago, is looking like an even better bet as traditional beer’s declines outpace those of the beyond beer segment.
At its simplest translation, the Hawaiian word aloha means both hello and goodbye – opposites in English.
In a similar vein, the idea of market retrenchment in craft beer can sometimes indicate a brewery in decline. But for Kihei, Hawaii-based Maui Brewing, it’s the opposite. The brewery is preparing to slice its mainland footprint in half because the growth in western states far outweighs any possible upside in other markets.
THC seltzers, local sports partnerships and growing Boulevard’s new No. 1 brand are among the highlights of Duvel USA’s 2026 distribution convention, featuring skits mimicking popular movies and TV shows. The big news coming out of the meeting is Boulevard’s addition of THC-infused seltzers under its Quirk line.
New Belgium Brewing is investing $20 million in Bell’s Brewery’s Kalamazoo production facility and Eccentric Cafe taproom, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business reported.
Moderating alcohol trends – among other challenges – have claimed the life of Spindrift Spiked, the hard seltzer offering from the non-alcoholic (NA) fruited sparkling water maker.
Could Mark Anthony Brands be shuttering its first-ever owned production facility for White Claw, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Cayman Jack? The future of Mark Anthony Brewing’s production facility in Hillside, New Jersey, is unclear as the company has filed notice that 143 workers will be affected by job cuts this fall.
Boston Beer Company is winding down its own-premise operations in Los Angeles. The company plans to close its Truly LA and Angel City taprooms at the end of their respective leases, according to an internal memo sent today by founder and future-CEO Jim Koch, and confirmed by Brewbound.
Mark Anthony Brands (MAB) is rolling into summer with a focused plan behind White Claw, which boasts an even more dominant position in the hard seltzer segment. Now in its ninth year, White Claw now holds around 70% share of hard seltzer dollar sales, and a 50% share of “total beverage-alcohol seltzer,” which is primarily White Claw and Gallo’s High Noon, MAB president David Barnett said.
Crystal Light Vodka Refreshers are rolling out to 10 states this month. A collaboration between Kraft Heinz and Harpoon maker Barrel One Collective, the 3.8% ABV vodka-based seltzer has 77 calories per 12 oz. serving, making it “the lowest-calorie ready-to-drink [RTD] cocktail on the market,” according to a press release.
Mark Anthony Brands is narrowing its focus in 2025, with a “dramatically” simplified portfolio, Mark Anthony Brands president David Barnett shared Monday during Day 2 of Beer Business Daily’s Beer, Wine and Spirits Summit in Palm Beach, Florida.
Spindrift is in advanced talks to be acquired by a private equity firm for north of $650 million, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Boston Beer Company’s Q3 financials were described by one analyst, Bernstein’s Nadine Sarwat, as “a messy set of results.” The company’s portfolio – including Samuel Adams, Dogfish Head, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Sun Cruiser and Hard MTN Dew – reported a -1.9% year-over-year (YoY) decline in shipments (sales to wholesalers) and -3% decline in depletions (sales to retailers) in the quarter.
Duvel USA-owned Boulevard’s beyond beer offshoot Quirk is tea-ing up a 2025 innovation slate that touches on hot trends in the fourth category. Quirk Hard Tea (4% ABV) will roll out in early 2025 with a standalone lemonade tea offering and a variety pack, executives announced to wholesalers during Duvel USA’s virtual wholesaler summit last week.
