☘️ INSIDER’S Week in Beer: Gen Z Splits The G
This week’s beer goes out to GUINNESS! I assure you that the actual shortage of the good stuff in Britain as Christmas approaches is entirely unrelated to my trip there earlier this month (if it was one of my London trips when I was in my 30s – maybe).
Diageo Reportedly Exploring Selling Formerly Diddy-Backed Cîroc Vodka
Diageo is reportedly exploring a sale of Cîroc Vodka, the brand once transformed by the support of disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is now in prison facing federal charges of sex trafficking among other crimes.
California Craft Brewers Association Picks Kelsey McQuaid-Craig as Next Executive Director
The California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) has appointed Kelsey McQuaid-Craig as the state trade group’s new executive director. McQuaid-Craig succeeds Lori Ajax, who announced plans to exit the role at the end of the year.
Brewbound Podcast: Brewers Association Picks a New CEO, A Brewbound Live Recap & the 2024 Person of the Year
The Brewbound team breaks down the choice of Bart Watson as the Brewers Association’s next president and CEO, recaps the 2024 Brewbound Live business conference and catches up with the outlet’s 2024 Person of the Year, Highland Brewing president Leah Wong Ashburn.
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Oregon Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services Submits Final Report and Recommendations; No Conclusion on Tax Increases
Oregon’s Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services has submitted its final report to Gov. Tina Kotek, including recommendations for reallocated resources and updated data collection.
Castle Island Acquires Cambridge Brewing’s Intellectual Property
Norwood, Massachusetts-based Castle Island Brewing Company has acquired the intellectual property (IP) of Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC). The deal closed Tuesday, three days before Cambridge Brewing was set to cease operations.
Brewers Association Taps Bart Watson as Next CEO
The Brewers Association (BA) has named Bart Watson as the trade group’s next president and CEO. Watson will succeed Bob Pease, who is retiring from the organization, effective January 3. Watson’s first day in the new role will be January 6.
Patco Brands, Producer of Rancho La Gloria, Invests in California Bottler
Patco Brands, the manufacturer of one of the leading wine-based ready-to-drink products and other private label brands, has made a strategic investment in Farfield, California-based Frank-Lin Distillers Products, the companies announced Monday.
Consumers Starting to Explore RTDs in the On-Premise
One-quarter of consumers who have visited the on-premise in the past three months have ordered a ready-to-drink cocktail (RTD) during that time, according to CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.
INSIDER’S Week in Beer: 🙌 Oktoberfest Stays Undefeated
This week’s beer goes out to Oktoberfest beers for kicking pumpkin beers’ a**es during this fall seasonal uh, season. Lester Jones shared this nice chart here from the folks at FINTECH in a webinar last week illustrating the dominance (well done on the Beerfest addition there – who says data nerds don’t have fun?).
CPI for Beer at Home and Away Outpaces Total Alcohol
After one month on par with the increase in overall inflation, the consumer price index (CPI) for beer at home rose faster than inflation for all items year-over-year (YoY) in November 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
A Drink With … Sovereign Brands Founder Brett Berish
If brands can be founders’ children, then Brett Berish has taken a very hands-on approach to fatherhood becoming the focal point for his spirits company Sovereign Brands.
Kroger, Albertsons Terminate Megamerger Agreement
The Kroger Company and Albertsons Companies this week terminated the proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement that was initially announced more than two years ago, after a federal judge sided with the Federal Trade Commission suing to block the deal and Washington and Oregon state courts put permanent injunctions in place to halt the transaction.
Hurray’s Girl Beer Wins 2024 Brewbound Pitch Slam Competition
Los Angeles-based Hurray’s Girl Beer won the 16th edition of the Brewbound Live Pitch Slam.