People want to go out to bars, restaurants and other on-premise venues to socialize, and the data supports it, NBWA VP of analytics and chief economist Lester Jones shared in a webinar Thursday. 

Jones and Fintech’s Eric Kiser shared the latest trends through Q3 and why the on-premise channel still has “pricing power” with consumers. Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata has highlights for Insiders in the first of 2 parts of her coverage.  

In today’s Brewbound Insider Newsletter and at Brewbound.com, Insiders are also reading about:

• Boston Beer’s Q3 earnings;
• Kirin’s expected Four Roses sale price;
• A PE firm’s ongoing work to buy Alamo;
• Freetail’s taproom closure;
• And Jeopardy’s craft beer clue. 

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

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Consumers wallets are feeling the strain, but it’s not stopping them from spending in on-premise retailers, National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) chief economist and VP of analytics Lester Jones shared during a webinar Thursday.

Jones was joined by Fintech VP of distributor strategy Eric Kiser in a joint presentation on beer category trends through Q3. 

“The narrative for me is that people want to be away from home, they want to be out, they want to be socializing. It's an important narrative, and the data continues to support it,” Jones said.

Retailers are paying attention, and putting their money where the power is, according to Fintech’s database of 281,726 retailer’s wholesaler purchase invoices.

Insiders can dive into on- and off-premise retailer purchase trends here, including which beer segments, suppliers and brands are gaining share.

Japan’s Kirin Holdings is looking to unload bourbon brand Four Roses for $1 billion, as part of a shift toward healthcare.

The owner of Fuji Japanese Whisky and New Belgium Brewing has been testing interest from potential buyers in recent weeks, with bids expected to roll in next month, the Financial Times reported.

The move comes as whiskey sales struggle at home and abroad.

Insiders can read more here.

Boston Beer Company’s Q3 shipments (sales to wholesalers) and depletions (sales to retailers) declined 13.7% and 3%, respectively, the company shared Thursday. 

“As expected, during the third quarter our shipments rebalanced relative to our depletions, which negatively impacted third quarter shipments and revenue,” CFO Diego Reynoso said in a press release.

Boston Beer chairman, founder and CEO Jim Koch also acknowledged continued “pressured” volumes “across the beer industry.” 

Insiders can read more here.

One thing Josh Penney noticed after moving to Brooklyn from Los Angeles late last fall – aside from markedly less sunny weather – was a broader diversity in beer styles across brewery taprooms.

Penney said: “It seemed to be a wider range of things that were really appealing to everybody. Because out on the West Coast, you might have a robust porter, but then you have, like, six different IPAs.”

Penney is the head brewer at Brooklyn-based Threes Brewing, a role he took on last year after leaving LA’s Highland Park Brewing. 

He joins this week’s Brewbound Podcast to share insights gleaned from his bicoastal brewing career. Before the interview, the Brewbound team breaks down Molson Coors’ latest corporate restructuring and dives into the scuttlebutt surrounding that ornery New York Times op-ed about one writer’s personal issues with craft beer.

Listen here or on your preferred podcasting platform.

It's last call for early registration pricing for Brewbound Live. 

Register before today and save $100.

On December 10–11 in L.A., operators across beer and beverage-alcohol will gather to swap hard-earned insights, recalibrate for the future, and connect with partners who understand what’s at stake.

Take a look at just a few of the experts we’ll have on stage this December:

• Leah Wong Ashburn, Owner, President & CEO, Highland Brewing Company
• Nick Firestone, CEO, Firestone Walker
• Rosalie Kennedy, Director of Marketing, Athletic Brewing
• Mike LaRosa, Owner/Brewer, New Trail Brewing
• Jon Halper, Owner & CEO, Top Ten Liquors
• Sophia D’Angelo, Founder & CEO, Boston Experiential Group
• Andrew Hummel, Director Bev-Alc Vertical, CGA
• Kevin George, CMO, Garage Beer

There are also a number of options for additional education, networking and exposure, including 1:1 meetings, the Brewbound Live Pitch Slam, and various sampling opportunities throughout the event.

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Want to share news or tips? ✉️ Submit a press release or reach out to news@brewbound.com.

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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