Justin Kendall provides daily coverage of the beer industry on Brewbound.com, conducts live-streamed interviews during Brewbound’s events and co-produces the Brewbound podcast. Kendall is a nearly 20-year career journalist who led alt-weekly newspapers in Kansas City, Missouri, and Des Moines, Iowa.
Incoming Brewers Association CEO Bart Watson and staff economist Matt Gacioch offered a data-filled, crystal ball look at opportunities and challenges for craft brewers heading into 2025. The duo offered predictions for 10 areas of the beer business in the new year during a webinar Thursday.
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.
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.
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.
Global spirits giant Suntory Holdings revealed today the creation of a new business unit, Suntory RTD Company North America, focused on malt-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) offerings with the first release expected to hit U.S. retailers in mid-January 2025.
A second straight year of production declines appears likely, with the full-year craft volume number likely to be “weaker than the midyear estimate” of down -2%, the Brewers Association (BA) shared in the trade organization’s 2024 Year in Beer recap.
Molson Coors measures Blue Moon against the total industry, not just craft, CEO Gavin Hattersley explained Tuesday during the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer and Retail Conference. “We don’t measure it on craft because craft’s really struggling at the moment. And so we’re measuring success with Blue Moon on the total industry,” Hattersley said. “And on… Read more »
Draft beer considerably outperforms package in on-premise outlets that offer both options, according to a report released today by Draftline Technologies and CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.
Molson Coors has acquired Cruz Blanca, the Chicago-based, Mexican-inspired beer brand, Brewbound has confirmed.
President-elect Donald Trump promised to impose 25% tariffs on all imported goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on products from China beginning January 20, his first day in office.
The Brewers Association (BA) has restructured its leadership team and eliminated six positions, the trade organization representing small and independent craft breweries announced Thursday afternoon.
Boston Beer Company will increase investment across its entire portfolio in 2025, the company shared with its distributor partners in nearly 30 in-person meetings held across the country over the last two months. The investment will be made in both traditional and digital media, in addition to “new dynamic partnerships.”
Alison Payne will take over as Heineken USA’s (HUSA) chief marketing officer, effective January 2025.
Monster Beverage Company reported that it has “restructured” the senior management of its alcohol brands division, following the appointment of Ray LaRue as president, the company shared within its Q3 2024 financial results. Nevertheless, the company said it remains “positive for the prospects of alcohol products within our broader portfolio.”
