For the first time in more than a decade the craft beer category failed to grow double-digits, according to new data from market research firm IRI Worldwide. In its latest report, IRI noted that craft dollar sales at U.S. supermarkets grew just 6.9 percent in 2016, to more than $2.28 billion, while volume sales grew at an even slower 4 percent clip.
Anheuser-Busch InBev and Keurig Green Mountain have signed an agreement to enter into a research and development-driven joint venture that will be tasked with inventing an in-home alcohol drink system, the two companies announced today. Specific financial terms of the transaction, including ownership percentages, were not disclosed and the deal is expected to close during the first quarter.
To kick off 2017, we’ve released more than two hours of bonus footage from last month’s Brewbound Session, held at the Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego, Calif. More than 200 beer industry professionals descended upon San Diego for the bi-annul business conference, but only those tuning in from behind their computer monitors were able to see interviews with notable industry figures such as Craft Brew Alliance CEO Andy Thomas, Storied Craft Breweries’ Adam Lambert and Nielsen’s Danny Brager.
We said it one year ago and we’ll say it again: What an exhausting year. Much like the 12 months before it, 2016 brought plenty of headlines about the continued evolution of the beer segment. Dozens of craft brewery owners sold all or parts of their businesses, key executives at many of the country’s top beer companies vacated their positions and taproom culture began to boom at a time when sales for some of the largest and most established players softened. So, with another busy year in the books, let’s take a look back at some of the more noteworthy storylines in 2016.
Popular craft beermaker Trillium Brewing is planning to relocate its original brewing facility in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston to a larger space just a few blocks away, Brewbound has learned. The new space, according to brewery co-owner Jean-Claude Tetreault, will span more than 15,000 sq. ft. and will include a full-scale restaurant as well as outdoor patio seating. The company is also looking into the feasibility of building a roof deck bar, Tetreault added.
After staring deep into his crystal ball, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson has provided a look at how beer style trends might develop in 2017 and, if he’s right, there could be more sessionable offerings on the way. After admitting that predicting future drinking tendencies is “pretty darn hard,” Watson said that, given recent trends, continued growth in the IPA and golden ale categories is likely.
Earlier this month, 200 brewers, distributors, suppliers and investors descended upon San Diego, Calif. for our bi-annual Brewbound Session business conference. It was a jam-packed day of information sharing, and attendees heard numerous thought-provoking discussions with a variety of industry leaders.
Anheuser-Busch InBev is making a number of sizable investments to grow its acquired craft beer brands both domestically and abroad, according to recent reports. The world’s largest beer company is planning a large-scale international expansion for its biggest craft offering, Goose Island, and making significant investments to scale production capabilities for its Blue Point and Karbach Brewing brands in their respective home markets of New York and Texas.
A group of five German craft breweries working with Brooklyn-based import manager Liquid Projects LLC plan to make their U.S. debut next week, launching in Philadelphia, Rhode Island and New York with a trio of wholesalers. Operating under the “Reinheits Boten” moniker, derived from “Reinheitsgebot,” the German beer purity law, the five German breweries include: Distelhäuser, Zoller-Hof, Friedenfelser Brauerei, Riedenburger Brauhaus and Himburgs Braukunst Keller.
Dogfish Head today announced that it would expand distribution into five new states next year, noting that additional market expansions could also be on tap in 2017. The Delaware-based craft brewery said it would add New Mexico, Minnesota, Missouri, Alabama and West Virginia to its distribution footprint next year.
Craft Brew Alliance today announced it has signed a letter of intent to purchase a 24.5 percent stake in Miami upstart Wynwood Brewing Company. The deal, which is valued at less than $30 million, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017.
Pabst Brewing Company has inked its first official U.S. craft partnership, announcing plans today to invest in the marketing, sales and distribution of products from New Holland Brewing. Specific financial terms of deal, which was signed this morning and is slated to begin during the first quarter of next year, were not disclosed.
Schlafly Beer co-founder Dan Kopman will depart the company after 25 years. In an email to Brewbound, Kopman said the decision to leave the brewery was part of previously agreed upon timeline with Sage Capital, the St. Louis-based private equity firm that acquired a majority stake in the company in 2012.
In an effort to establish itself as the country’s top beer curator, Craft Beer Cellar, a popular Massachusetts-based retail franchise, plans to alter how it purchases beer in 2017 by implementing a list of required and banned products from its stores. In a December 1 memo sent to franchisees and obtained by Brewbound, Craft Beer Cellar founders Kate Baker and Suzanne Schalow outlined changes they say will enable store owners to be viewed as “industry leading” retail operators and not just resellers of beer.
