Across oversaturated retail shelves, bev-alc brands are under pressure to stand out.

In premium spirits and canned cocktails, brands have learned that calling out unique ingredients and connecting to audiences through their own cultural stories is key to positioning. They’re also balancing bolder looks with conveying brand values, health benefits and taste without over-messaging. Many have gone back to the drawing board, honing their brand prepositions and packaging.

Well craft beer, I wish I could say I find this kinda thing off-brand here in 2024 … but I don’t think that Porch Drinking’s roundup of over 30 “Hawk Tuah” themed beers on UNTAPPD surprises anyone anymore.

California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) executive director Lori Ajax will vacate the position at the end of 2024, the trade association representing California’s craft brewing industry shared Wednesday.

Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC) founder Phil Bannatyne joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the recent announcement that the Massachusetts brewpub will shut its doors in December after 35 years in business.

Brewbound’s annual Best Of Awards are accepting nominations for 2024! The awards celebrate beverage-alcohol companies for their achievements and impact throughout the last year and serve as an appreciation of notable industry members, trend setters, breakout brands, change agents and up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Draft beer reclaimed the volume lost during last year’s National Football League (NFL) opening weekend (September 5-8), according to on-premise data firm BeerBoard.

Molson Coors chief commercial officer Michelle St. Jacques laid out the company’s 2025 strategy in the U.S. as part of its “next chapter” as she opened the 2024 distributor convention in San Antonio Tuesday afternoon. Although the core remains a top priority, Molson Coors will put a large focus on its above premium portfolio.

Beer inflation eased slightly in August, but still remains above other bev-alc categories and the total industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.

Spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) products will face a challenge to maintain double-digit growth rates in 2025, including a decluttering of items at retail in order for the segment to remain healthy, according to Bump Williams Consulting’s (BWC) monthly report.

Boston Beer Company founder Jim Koch tackled several industry issues during a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Conference last week. Koch hit on issues from beer growth and headwinds to opportunities in the on-premise channel and early returns on the company’s new premium vodka-based hard tea brand Sun Cruiser.

Bev-Alc marketplace Flaviar has acquired industry fulfillment service provider, Speakeasy Co., bolstering its B2B capabilities as it aims to become a multi-billion-dollar global bev-alc e-commerce player. Terms of the cash and stock deal were not disclosed.

Duvel Moortgat-owned Firestone Walker is staying in the beer category in 2025, and believes beer can still speak to consumer needs – even the consumers who “don’t know they like beer yet.”

Russian River Brewing co-owner Natalie Cilurzo will share how the Sonoma County craft brewery created an annual event celebrating its Pliny the Younger triple IPA release in her opening keynote address to the 2024 Brewbound Live business conference on December 11.

Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC) could change hands again for the second time in nearly five years, according to a BizQuest listing that offers the Boonville, California-based craft brewery for sale.