Happy Oktoberfest, everyone 🍻! Beer’s favorite annual celebration (sorry, Arbor Day) kicks off today in Germany, and probably also wherever you see anyone in ill-fitting lederhosen. My enthusiasm may have gotten the best of me at the bottle shop last weekend in preparation … but I argue this is totally normal to have in your fridge.

Brewers Association (BA) staff economist Matt Gacioch examined the Federal Reserve’s half-point rate cut on Wednesday and the potential impact for small businesses, including craft breweries. Major media outlets have described the rate cut as “jumbo-sized.”

Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails Hard Tea is now available nationwide, following a six-month test period in select markets.

Several new high ABV offerings are on their way to convenience store doors in 2025. The Brewbound team discusses the latest slate of offerings from Molson Coors that trades on three of their established brands: Blue Moon Extra, Topo Chico Max and Simply Spiked Bold.

Beer industry trends have been largely discouraging lately, but one retailer – albeit a mostly private label one – is bucking them. “We are crushing it in beer right now,” Aldi director of buying for adult beverages Arlin Zajmi told Brewbound.

In 2023, U.S. craft spirits faced the first dip in sales, volume and share in recent history, according to data from the 2024 Craft Spirits Data Project, shared by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street.

The Coca-Cola Company is expanding its reach in bev-alc with another ready-to-drink canned cocktail (RTD).

The No. 1 tap handle in the nation is “open,” meaning there are more empty draft lines than those with a brand of beer flowing through them. Beverage-alcohol producers should view this as an opportunity to make a splash in bars and restaurants across the country. The Brewbound Live business conference will explore the opportunities in the on-premise channel.

While “it might feel like we’re hearing more about brewery closures” since the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still plenty of craft breweries opening across the country, according to Brewers Association staff economist Matt Gacioch.

Amid challenging industry headwinds, two New York-based craft breweries are merging, Brewbound has learned.

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.

San Diego-headquartered JuneShine is adding another product line to its expanding portfolio, but the latest addition is outside of the beverage-alcohol realm. The maker of hard kombucha, spirits-based canned cocktails and light lagers will expand its repertoire with non-alcoholic (NA) kombucha under the JuneShine brand.

Molson Coors Beverage Company is bringing an innovation portfolio of 8% ABV offerings strictly for the convenience channel as part of its above premium strategy for 2025.