Georgia’s SweetWater is really close to joining the 200K club. They did just under 193,000 barrels last year, up 34%. Organic growth was up 19%.

Just about five months after being announced as new VP of Sales at Rogue, beer industry veteran Jim Schembre is no longer in the position.

Why won’t the U.S. extend a small brewer tax break to Europe’s small breweries? A Forbes contributor with the Tax Foundation asked this week.

As sister pub BBD reported this morning, Traveler Beer Co.’s big national push this year can partly explain Boston’s uncertainty in full-year guidance numbers. Its national rollout will even include TV ads. So, how big could it get?

“Depletions grew 13% and 22% from the comparable 13- and 52- week periods in the prior year,” Boston just reported in its Q4 and full year earnings release. YTD depletions through February 14 are estimated to be up 12%.

It’s fair to say that the state of Kansas is a bit behind in the craft beer revolution. The state only holds 20 microbreweries and its largest brewer, Tallgrass Brewery, only produced 15,000 barrels in 2014, per Salina Post report. Some of that could relate to antiquated laws that impede growth.

What’s the IPA of tomorrow? ” I think we’re about to enter a new era of the local lagers,” says Brewers Association economist Bart Watson.

Ninkasi has partnered with Bud house General Distributing of Salt Lake City to deliver its beers throughout Utah. Their brews will be available in 12 and 22-oz. bottles in-stores this week.

A number of bills concerning growlers have made the rounds in Florida this legislative session, but one just made it through a big hurdle: Rep. Chris Sprowls’s House Bill 301 has advanced past its first House committee with little to no opposition, we hear.

Michigan holds one of the most promising craft scenes in the nation: In 2013 the state held 131 breweries and produced about 600,000 barrels of beer. Last year, Michigan accounted for 158 breweries, well on their way to produce more than a million barrels.

Anheuser-Busch has rescinded its filing of opposition to Natty Greene’s Brewing Co.’s trademark for the name “Natty Greene’s,” per STL Today report.

Deal mania continues. Oskar Blues has been in the rumor mill lately as the latest to strike a possible deal, and we’ve heard a variety of unconfirmed possibilities, including private equity. But now the Denver Post has actually put ink to one of them.

The leading global spirits company, Diageo, is launching their take on craft beer in key markets with Thump Keg Brewing Co. The brands’ tie to liquor will be quite apparent as their beer styles will be created “by using the same foundation ingredients as its collaboration partner spirits brands.”

Minnesota’s Summit Brewing is treading that regional brewer model with tons of growth and share in their backyard, with little need for new markets.

The Detroit-based brewery was eyeing a $15 million, 100,000-barrel capacity facility in Austin and a similar one in North Carolina. Both facilities were slated to be up-and-running this year, but “the end of 2016” is now a more realistic timeframe for the two breweries to come online, according to chief Mark Rieth.