Craft brewers have been living in turmoil for a few years now. Slowing growth, increasing competition, a pandemic, shifting consumer focuses, a consolidating middle tier, shrinking retail shelf space, supply chain turmoil, inflation, layoffs, increased minimum wage, skyrocketing rents have all taken a toll. So craft brewers continue to try to figure it out.

The Lost Abbey will vacate its original San Marcos, California, space and embark on its next journey via either contract brewing or forming an alternating proprietorship.

The end of 2022 delivered a soft finish for the world’s largest beer manufacturer. In the U.S., Anheuser-Busch InBev’s depletions (sales-to-retailers) and shipments (sales-to-wholesalers) declined -7.6% and -8.6%, respectively.

D.G. Yuengling & Son beer is now rolling out in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma as part of the Pennsylvania brewery’s joint venture with Molson Coors for westward expansion.

Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) owned Platform Beer Co. has ceased operations in Ohio, according to a Cleveland.com story citing “several sources.” However, the Platform brand will live on as three IPAs, according to a Platform spokesperson.

In a heavy Boston Beer Company news week, I wouldn’t blame you if you missed out on some of this week’s headlines. Chief among them: I believe we have our first craft-on-craft deal of the year.

Both sales velocity and check value at bars and restaurants nationwide increased by nearly double-digits in early February, according to CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NielsenIQ. Leading up to the Super Bowl, which took place on February 12, on-premise velocity in the host city and state of Phoenix, Arizona, increased +35% compared to the previous week.

The Brewers Association (BA) generated $23,395,125 in total revenue in 2022, surpassing the $20 million mark for the first time since 2019, the trade group representing small and independent brewers shared this week.

Boston Beer Company’s top priorities in 2023 are sustaining double-digit growth for Twisted Tea and stemming the losses for Truly Hard Seltzer, executives shared during the company’s Q4 and full-year earnings report. Leadership laid out their 2023 plans to investors. Here are some of the highlights of Thursday’s call with investors and analysts.

For the full fiscal year, Boston Beer shipped 8.2 million barrels to wholesalers, marking a -3.8% decline compared to 2021. Depletions (shipments to retailers) also declined by -5%.

Fast-growing non-alcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing’s valuation is at just under $500 million, according to a Forbes profile released today.

Boston Beer is hitting the reset button with Truly Hard Seltzer in an effort to reverse the brand’s negative trends. Ahead of today’s Q4 and full-year earnings report, Boston Beer announced it would release new packaging, a new advertising campaign and communicate “clearer messaging” for Truly this spring as the company looks to grow Truly’s share and hold the No. 2 position in the segment behind White Claw.

Price increases and easy comps carried off-premise beer dollar sales up +7%, to nearly $2.9 billion, year-to-date through January 29 in multi-outlet and convenience stores tracked by market research firm IRI. Although dollar sales climbed, volume (measured in case sales) was slightly down -0.3% through the first month of 2023.

Employees at Anheuser-Busch (A-B) InBev-owned Widmer Brothers Brewing have voted to join Teamsters Local 162, the union announced. Stony Creek Brewery has been approved by its hometown of Branford, Connecticut to construct a new tank farm, which would expand the company’s brewing capacity from 48,000 barrels, to 100,000 barrels.