Beer Industry News, Insights, Jobs, & Events
Press Clips: Teamsters’ Contract Wins, Ardagh’s Sale Listing, Source Brewing’s Taproom Closure & More
Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter August 17-19, including headlines from Ardagh, Source Brewing, Andrews Distributing and more.
Halloween Ghouls Arrive: Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA w/ Halloween; Angry Orchard Calls Up Ghost Face
Halloween’s Michael Myers is joining New Belgium’s skeleton mascot on cans of Slasher IPA. Meanwhile, Scream’s Ghost Face killer is lurking on Boston Beer Company’s Angry Orchard. And Neshaminy Creek is bringing its own Slasher Sampler mix pack to the party.
Mission Craft Cocktails Rides The Pickle Wave From Prank To New SKU
Mission Craft Cocktails’ Pickle-Rita, a gag that was supposed to die on April Fools’ Day, is headed to grocery stores in September.
Finances and ‘Productivity’ are Impacting On-Premise Consumption Trends, per NIQ
Health and wellness trends have taken the brunt of the blame for why consumers are drinking less alcohol, but financial strain may just as big of a factor, particularly in the on-premise, according to a new report from NIQ, citing CGA data.
Diageo Cut 1,900+ Jobs in FY26; 90% of Restructuring to Be Completed by September
Diageo CEO Sir Dave Lewis has refused to share publicly the number of jobs the company is cutting as part of its ongoing $1 billion restructuring effort. However, the company’s annual report released Tuesday revealed Diageo cut its workforce by more than 6% in its 2026 fiscal year.
TailGate Brewery’s Business +40% Due to On-Premise Gains; Plays Long Game with Lager Projekt
TailGate Brewery is beating the odds amid a stubbornly down period for craft beer. TailGate’s distribution business – which it bolsters with nine taprooms in Tennessee – has increased 40% year-over-year (YoY) in the first half of 2026, the Nashville-based brewery shared in a recent press release.
Craft’s Positive Vibe Shift, Despite the Numbers
The story of craft in 2026 has followed the increasingly repetitive plotlines of the last couple years: Volume is down a mid-single digit at the midway point, scans haven’t been encouraging and craft is on distributors’ cut lists. While the public-facing numbers aren’t encouraging, the vibe around craft is different in 2026.
YOSHI Is Betting ‘Matchatinis’ Can Repeat Espresso’s Cocktail Success
YOSHI Matcha Liqueur is moving from a two-state test market to national distribution in under a year, testing its thesis that the popularity of espresso martinis and matcha prove there’s demand for green tea-laced cocktails.
Featured Jobs
Top Brand Slowdown & Heat Wave Cause ‘Softer Than Anticipated’ Start to August, per Circana Weekly Scans
The back half of the summer has kicked off with hot weather, but cold bev-alc sales, according to the latest weekly off-premise scans report from market research firm Circana.
Sazerac Acquires Au Vodka, Adds UK’s Top-Selling Vodka RTD to Portfolio
Sazerac has signed a binding agreement to acquire Au Vodka, a top-selling ready-to-drink (RTD) canned vodka brand in the UK. The deal continues the Fireball owner’s two-year buying spree and marks its largest push yet into the UK market.
Bryce McDonald Returns to BevNET CPG Media as VP of Sales
BevNET CPG Media announced today that Bryce McDonald has returned as vice president of sales. He will lead the sales organization and work with partners to develop programs across the company’s media, events, insights and professional resources.
Press Clips: Hi-Wire & Appalachian Mountain’s New Partnership, Big Storm’s Auction & Garage Beer’s Apple Challenger
Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter August 13-14, including headlines from Hi-Wire, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Garage Beer or more.
Insider’s Week in Beer: Extremely Out Of Code Beer
Believe it or not, we have not one, but two developments in old beer archeology that put the can of now a discontinued “below premium” lager brand from my college days that still resides in my fridge to shame. Yes, it seems the Indiana Joneses of the beer world are at it again!
Samuel Adams Boston Brewery Workers Submit Intent to Unionize
Workers at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, submitted an intent to unionize to Boston Beer Company on Thursday.