Outgoing NBWA chair Rebecca Maisel’s last address in the role came with a call for maintaining distributor independence from “undue supplier influence” in business decisions. The call comes as Anheuser-Busch InBev is reportedly attempting the forced sale of around 10 of its distributors. 

In today’s Brewbound Insiders Newsletter and at Brewbound.com, Insiders are reading highlights of Maisel’s speech that kicked off the NBWA Annual Convention this week. 

Insiders are also reading about:

• Jim Koch and Sam Calagione’s nostalgia trip at GABF;
• Manna Beverages’ auction for its now-shuttered CA facilities;
• The latest scans’ “burnt up” green shoots;
• CGA’s Brewbound-exclusive on-premise update;
• Intoxicating hemp beverages’ revenue generation for states;
• And Boston Beer’s Social Pop hard soda.

Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content.

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Outgoing NBWA chair Rebecca Maisel stressed the importance of distributor independence from “undue supplier influence” in making business decisions, during her opening remarks at the trade group’s 88th annual convention in Las Vegas.

Maisel’s remarks come as Anheuser-Busch InBev is reportedly attempting to terminate as many as 10 of its distributors for what is believed to be selling outdated products, namely Busch Light Peach. 

During her speech, Maisel, in her 11th and final year on the NBWA board, called the ability to make independent business decisions “critical” – “from the brands and suppliers we choose to partner with, to how we price our products to the trade, to the way we go to market.” She pointed to distributor-supplier partnerships being “the lifeblood of our businesses” and built on “respect.” 

“But is it deeply disappointing when that respect isn’t returned,” said Maisel, who is Gulf Distributing VP of legal and governmental affairs.

Insiders can read more from Day 1 of the NBWA’s Annual Convention and additional remarks from Maisel on challenges and opportunities in the market and legislative wins for distributors.

To open a conversation about craft beer in 2025 during last week's media beer brunch, Boston Beer founder and CEO Jim Koch and Dogfish Head co-founder Sam Calagione went back about 15 years to revisit a beer they collaborated on nearly a decade before they joined their companies.

Called Savor Flowers, it was an ale brewed with the experimental hop that would become Mosaic, dried flowers and rosewater as its liquid base. Intended to be a 1-time-only release, the breweries revived Savor Flowers for the event.

Insiders can read more about Savor Flowers, the upcoming 2025 Utopias release, a special 30th anniversary version of Dogfish Head’s World Wide Stout and Boston Beer’s partnership with Moor’s Brewing.

A week after California drinks manufacturer Manna Beverages shuttered operations and terminated the entire on-site staff, the company’s West Sacramento and Anaheim production facilities are up for sale.

Insiders can read more about the auction and the size of each site.

Bev-alc off-premise sales were up slightly WoW in the latest report from market research firm Circana. 

However, those gains were unable to stop an acceleration in YoY declines, as even the “patches of green shoots” previously seen in the industry “have burnt up in the sea of red this week across all categories,” according to Circana EVP of BevAl, Scott Scanlon. 

Those declines would be even steeper if not for continued growth from spirits (dollar sales +1.2%, volume +9.1%), as losses across beer and wine both continued to outpace total category declines.

Insiders can dive into segment and brand performances here.

The latest Brewbound-exclusive CGA by NIQ report captures an on-premise landscape in flux – one where value and versatility are driving growth, even as premium tiers feel the squeeze. 

Beer’s share of on-premise dollar sales slipped slightly (-0.5 percentage points), ceding ground to spirits and RTDs, yet draft formats and imports held firm thanks to resilient rate-of-sale growth. Notably, Irish imports surged +14.8% in value, and stout emerged as the only beer style to post volume gains (+7.6% YoY).

Meanwhile, the NA category continues to defy gravity, notching +30.7% volume growth and +35% value growth thanks to double-digit rate-of-sale lifts and wider distribution across key markets.

Insiders can view the full report here.

THC seltzers, local sports partnerships and growing Boulevard’s new No. 1 brand are among the highlights of Duvel USA’s 2026 distribution convention. 

The big news coming out of the meeting is Boulevard’s addition of THC-infused seltzers under its Quirk line.  

Berry Jane will launch with 2 SKUs – 5 and 10 mg – in 12 oz. can 4-pack cartons this month.

Insiders can go deeper into Boulevard’s 2026 plans, including THC drinks, Space Camper overtaking Unfiltered Wheat, a big play for light beer share in its home market and strategy for owning sports with local college and pro partnerships.

The deadline to apply for the Brewbound Live Pitch Slam, the leading business pitch competition for emerging beer, beyond beer, and adult beverage brands, is Wednesday, October 15. The competition will take place during Brewbound Live 2025, held in Marina del Rey, December 10 & 11.

This year, the Pitch Slam gets a high-impact makeover: a new 1-day format, a tighter slate of finalists, and an intentional spotlight on innovation.

The Brewbound Live Pitch Slam is open to early-stage adult beverage brands across beer, hard seltzer, hard cider, hard kombucha, RTD cocktails, THC-infused beverages and more. Whether you’re pre-launch with a product ready to sample or already in market for less than two years, we’re looking for disruptive brands with innovative concepts and the potential to scale. All applicants should be focused on the U.S. market and capable of providing packaged samples.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Space is limited. Apply Now >>

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Interested in other beverage coverage? 👀 Check out the BevNET Daily Briefing covering the broader beverage industry, including energy drinks, cannabis and other non-alcoholic beverages. Want to stick to the hard stuff? Subscribe to our Spirits Newsletter (published every 2 weeks). 

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