Dear Client:  Vermont’s relatively new RTD bill is already giving way to a couple of firsts for prominent craft producers in the state. Recall, Vermont, a control state, passed a bill last summer to allow the sale of spirits-based RTDs in the state’s grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations.  And with this expanded availability/options … Continue reading “Lawson’s Distribution Arm to Carry New Barr Hill RTD, Following Passage of RTD Bill in VT”

Dear Client:  Boston Beer announced today that it will test a new malt-based cocktail line this month, called Slingers Signature Cocktails. The new line is clearly a convenience play for the company, as it packs “full-flavor,” a high ABV (8%), and comes in a large single packaging (24-oz. can) at an “affordable” price (carrying an … Continue reading “Boston Beer Testing Malt-Based Cocktail Line, Slingers”

Dear Client:  Bell’s Brewery has added five states to its distribution footprint – Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington – bringing the Michigan-based brewer to near nationwide distribution with 49 states under its belt.  Distribution partners in the new states include Columbia, Craig Stein Beverage, Crown, Hayden Beverage, TEC Distributing, General Distributing Co., Wasatch Distributing … Continue reading “Bell’s Adds AK, ID, OR, UT and WA, Nearing National Footprint”

Dear Client:  Oregon-based Deschutes Brewing is doubling down on its non-alcoholic portfolio through a new strategic partnership with Sustainable Beverage Technologies (SBT).  Deschutes is investing in SBT’s patented BrewVo technology at its brewery in Bend, Oregon “to produce and package non-alcoholic beverages at scale,” per company release. The brewery “expects to be producing non-alcoholic beer … Continue reading “Deschutes Invests in Non-Alc with Sustainable Beverage Technologies Partnership”

Dear Client:  Tilray-owned Sweetwater Brewing Company’s portfolio of craft beers –including SweetWater, Green Flash Brewing and Alpine Beer – is now available in Nevada through distribution with beer,wine and spirits wholesaler, Breakthru Beverage.  Tiray Brands president of U.S. Beer, Ty Gilmore, called Nevada “a key market in our strategic expansion plan across the West,” per … Continue reading “SweetWater Family of Craft Brands Expands into Nevada”

Dear Client:  Renovations and equipment upgrades at Stone Brewing Co.’s Escondido, California and Richmond, Virginia (RVA) breweries are officially underway, as the SoCal-based craft brewer prepares to brew Sapporo beer before the end of the year.  Stone is investing over $15 million to expand production in Escondido, Chief Operations Officer Sean Monahan told CBD. “This … Continue reading “Stone Brewing Gearing Up for ’23 Sapporo Production”

Dear Client:  Around this time last year, one of the biggest cideries in the U.S., 2 Towns Ciderhouse, threw its hat into the canned cocktail ring, with the creation of sister brand, Craftwell Cocktails. The line of premium wine-based cocktails, which launched in its home state of Oregon, has one year later already become “the … Continue reading “2 Towns Rides its Hot Canned Cocktail Line into Colorado”

Dear Client:  Another large craft brewer is trying its hand at craft cocktails. Top 50 craft brewer, Alaskan Brewing, revealed last week that it has quietly been building a new distilling arm over the past few years, dubbed Alaskan Distilling Company, and it is now set to debut some of the fruits of that labor. … Continue reading “Alaskan Brewing Debuts a Trio of Canned Cocktails Under New Distilling Arm”

Dear Client:  In true Dogfish Head fashion, co-founder Sam Calagione got started making his own spirits 21 years ago by MacGyvering “a tiny little pot still in the corner of our restaurant” to make in-house cocktails.  “So as we’ve been growing this canned cocktail business, don’t call it a comeback,” the musically inclined Sam said. … Continue reading “Dogfish Head Ready to Hit the Gas on Canned Cocktails”

Dear Client:  As the West Coast goes, largely, so goes craft.  So we were curious how new regional craft VP Brad Nadal looks at his post leading Anheuser-Busch’s western craft breweries, Golden Road, 10 Barrel, Elysian and Four Peaks. Brad’s priorities? Those include being relevant, going deeper, and amplifying existing advantages – and white space.  … Continue reading “A-B Western Craft Moves: New Spirits RTD Plays and More”

Dear Client:  A recent bill introduced in Indiana could shake up the route to market for lower ABV spirits, opening the door for these types of products to flow through beer wholesalers in the state. You see, in Indiana – the state prohibits wholesalers from having beer and spirits in the same house. Indiana beer … Continue reading “Indiana Intros Bill to Give Beer Wholesalers a Shot at Spirits-Based RTDs”

Dear Client:  If you’ve missed our recent headlines on just how hot the non-alc category is right now, take Lagunitas’ Hoppy Refresher hop water performance in 2023 as a prime example: “It’s currently the highest velocity non-alcoholic [beer] product at both Target and Whole Foods,” Lagunitas CMO Paige Guzman told CBD.  The brand, launched in … Continue reading “Lagunitas’ Big Bet on Hoppy Refresher “Paying Off in Spades””

Dear Client:  “I feel like Goose has been having a really good couple years, a little bit under the radar,” said Goose Island chief and new A-B regional craft VP, Todd Ahsmann. Last year “may have been one of our best,” he says. He’s got the numbers to back it up: 23 straight months of … Continue reading “2022 One of Goose Island’s “Best Years,” Thanks to Beer Hug”

Dear Client:  Petaluma, CA-based Lagunitas Brewing Company is reopening its Chicago taproom April 13 after a multiple-year closure spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic, the company told CBD.  The Chicago TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary – which is situated within the 300,000-square-foot brewery in Douglas Park – has been closed since March of 2020 (in 2021 Lagunitas … Continue reading “Lagunitas Brewing Reopening Chicago Taproom”

Dear Client:  Breaking news: New Belgium has just announced an agreement to buy Constellation’s 260,000 square foot production facility in Daleville, Virginia — and co-pack some STZ brands, to boot. The deal should close in early May. Note, “this agreement pertains to the facility itself and will include offers for continued employment by New Belgium … Continue reading “New Belgium Acquiring a Constellation Facility in Virginia; Will Co-pack Fresca Mixed and More”