Beyond Beer

Read the latest beyond beer news relating to companies involved with RTD cocktails, hard cider, hard seltzer, hard kombucha, spirits, cannabis, and non-alcoholic products. Take a comprehensive look at developments in these evolving sectors, offering valuable insights into the innovations, trends, and market forces shaping the world of beer and beyond.

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Featured Beyond Beer Content

Ryan Burk Joins Blake’s Beverage as VP of Quality & Innovation

Ryan Burk Joins Blake’s Beverage as VP of Quality & Innovation

Former Angry Orchard head cider maker Ryan Burk has joined Blake’s Beverage Company as VP of quality and innovation. Burk has been advising Blake’s and its portfolio of brands – Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders and AVID Cider Co. – for a couple years, including through the launch of its most recent innovations.

Allagash Launches First Adult Non-Alc Offering with Hop Water

Allagash Launches First Adult Non-Alc Offering with Hop Water

Allagash Brewing is launching its first non-alcoholic (NA) offering this week with the release of Allagash Hop Water. Hop Water will exclusively be sold in 12 oz. can 6-packs at the brewery’s tasting room in Portland, Maine, starting later this week.

Bump Williams Consulting: FMB, Spirits-Based RTD Volume Gains Slowing; Imports Remain ‘Beacon of Consistent Volume’ Growth

Bump Williams Consulting: FMB, Spirits-Based RTD Volume Gains Slowing; Imports Remain ‘Beacon of Consistent Volume’ Growth

The once-booming flavored malt beverage (FMB) segment is “showing some concerning declarations over recent weeks,” Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) founder Bump Williams noted in a recent report. FMB volume gains dropped by half – from +2.2%, to +1.1% – from the four-week period to the one-week period ending May 18, according to NIQ retail measurement data cited by BWC.

Additional Content

Canelo RTD Steps Into the Ring, Backed By Spirit of Gallo

Canelo RTD Steps Into the Ring, Backed By Spirit of Gallo

The company behind leading ready-to-drink cocktail High Noon is bringing out a new contender: VMC, a tequila-based canned cocktail born from a partnership between world champion boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, Spirit of Gallo, and Casa Lumbre is set to release next month, the company announced today.

Beam Suntory: Sales Up in H1 2023; Slowdown in U.S.

Beam Suntory: Sales Up in H1 2023; Slowdown in U.S.

Beam Suntory reported a 10% rise in net sales for the first half of 2023, driven by ready-to-drink (RTD) brands and the company’s premiumization strategy, but nevertheless did face performance struggles in North America.

Does Blue Run and Molson Coors Deal Signal More Spirits M&A?

Does Blue Run and Molson Coors Deal Signal More Spirits M&A?

Molson Coors made headlines this week when it announced that it agreed to purchase Kentucky-based distillery Blue Run Spirits, marking the beer giant’s first spirits acquisition and the formal launch of its Coors Spirits Co. business.

Molson Coors Set to Acquire Blue Run in First Spirits Acquisition

Molson Coors Set to Acquire Blue Run in First Spirits Acquisition

Molson Coors has agreed to purchase Kentucky-based distillery Blue Run Spirits, marking the beer giant’s first spirits acquisition and the formal launch of its Coors Spirits Co. business. The amount was not disclosed.

NIQ: RTDs Reach $10B, Spirits and FMBs Drive Growth

NIQ: RTDs Reach $10B, Spirits and FMBs Drive Growth

Ready-to-drink and serve products have surpassed $10 billion dollar sales in off-premise channels in the latest 52 weeks ending July 8, representing a 7% increase compared to the previous period, according to an NIQ report released on Wednesday.

Boston Beer Focused on Maintaining Twisted Tea Growth, Stabilizing Truly

Boston Beer Focused on Maintaining Twisted Tea Growth, Stabilizing Truly

Boston Beer’s shipments declined again in Q2 – down -4.5%, to 2.3 million barrels. However, the company is still confident in its projections and its “strategic priorities remained unchanged,” founder Jim Koch said Thursday during the company’s call with investors.

Brewbound Podcast: DISCUS CEO on Spirits’ Cold Box Expansion Opportunities

Brewbound Podcast: DISCUS CEO on Spirits’ Cold Box Expansion Opportunities

Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. president and CEO Chris Swonger joins to break down the opportunities canned cocktails are creating for beverage-alcohol companies. Swonger also pushes back against the beer industry’s stance against expanded market access and lower excise taxes for these products.

As Major Brands Waver, Gay Water Aims for Authenticity

As Major Brands Waver, Gay Water Aims for Authenticity

Growing up, Spencer Hoddeson said he mostly heard the term “gay” in a negative context. Now, he wants to destigmatize the word and create representation in spaces that traditionally don’t have LGBTQ-owned products, one Gay Water at a time.

How BuzzBallz Has Kept The Party Rolling

How BuzzBallz Has Kept The Party Rolling

In a new ad campaign, Workaholics actor Blake Anderson takes on a question likely popping up on college campuses around the county: why does ready-to-drink cocktail BuzzBallz come in a round, tennis ball-sized bottle?