Another year, another GABF goes down in the books. The event has come a long way since its inaugural year back in 1982, which saw only 22 breweries participating. And at this year’s media luncheon we got the skinny on just how massive the event has become.

Earlier this week, Saint Louis Brewery chief Dan Kopman announced to partners that Schlafly has “reached an agreement with the ‘just right’ network for Chicago.

CBA wrapped another high production value meeting with smartly dressed execs and even surprise firework streamers at the end (your editor about fell out of the chair).

Boston Beer founder Jim Koch again invoked his joke about Adam looking at a pregnant Eve (“how big’s this thing gonna get?”) reference to craft at a comfortably full Boston NBWA meeting yesterday. The joke is a few years old but it’s never been more relevant.

We’d heard a lot of rumors about SweetWater taking on TSG Consumer Partners in the last few weeks. Now we know it’s true. “We are happy to announce that SweetWater Brewing Company has hooked up with a new minority partner to join the SweetWater family – TSG Consumer Partners,” SweetWater confirmed in a statement to CBD.

After a two-year hiatus, Dogfish Head re-entered parts of Indiana last December. Now they’ve announced a more thorough rollout with expectations to become statewide, per company statement.

Inclement weather has taken its toll on barley crops and craft brewers are especially likely to see repercussions from the weak season, per report by Reuters. Some freezing temperatures and precipitation experienced in North America has wreaked havoc on crops.

Northern United Brewing Co. out of Dexter, Michigan, has announced it will open its fourth Jolly Pumpkin location in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood early next year, per report by Crain’s Detroit.

Lots of interesting insights from a heavy-hitting distributor panel yesterday at Brooklyns distributor meeting. It included Ben E. Keith VP sales and ops, Flint Prewitt; L. Knife’s corporate brand manager in Brooklyn, Robert Hodson; and Premium (a Reyes house) of D.C.’s VP marketing, Jessica Muskey.

It’s that time year again, chock full of craft distributor meetings, accordioned-up before NBWA and GABF. In fact, we’ve been to three of the top 15 craft breweries for their second-tier pow-wows over the last week alone. Of course, trends emerge. Grab a beer, it’s a long one.

The Beer Institute is claiming victory over the FDA spent grains issue. Recall that the agency was looking at regulatory requirements surrounding the common brewer practice of donating spent grain to the likes of cows and cattle, as part of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Q1 is critical for Sierra’s success next year. As East sales director Tommy Gannon put it, they’re “front loaded” for next year.

“As you can see, we’ve been pretty darn busy lately,” Boulevard VP sales Steve Mills told CBD when we came knocking for details about their recent market announcements, including North Jersey, Philly and Florida.

We reported earlier this year that a Whole Foods in Houston was seeking an experienced brewmaster. Now the Houston Chronicle has the whole enchilada on the venture that’s set to open in November. “Whole Foods Market Brewing Co.” will operate as a separate entity than the grocer, and presumably feature takeaway growler sales.

Pennsylvania-based, top 30 craft brewer Victory Brewing Co. has just announced it will hit its 35th state of distribution this month: Nevada. Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada will take it there.