Brewbound Insiders are getting an update on Boston Beer Company’s “incubator innovation brands,” including Slingers Signature Cocktails, Loma Vista Tequila Soda and a new non-alcoholic brand. 

Insiders are also:

• Learning about Pernod Ricard’s new North America CEO;
• Getting a refresh on the craft distributors Sheehan has offloaded this year;
• Checking out New Glarus’ projections for its 30th year;
• Reading an update on New Jersey’s liquor law reform efforts;
• Diving into the latest CGA report;
• And much more!

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

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Boston Beer Company is adding another non-alcoholic (NA) brand to its portfolio, expanding a ready-to-drink (RTD) offering and discontinuing another. 

The company announced today a series of moves with its “innovation incubator” brands – new-to-world offerings launched in limited test markets before either going wider or being discontinued.

Included in the announcement is the impending arrival of General Admission, a NA offering made from a blend of 40% NA beer and 60% fruit water.

Insiders can read more, including expansion plans for Slingers Signature Cocktails, Boston Beer’s high ABV, single-serve, malt-based RTD, and the sunsetting of another beyond beer brand.

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Sheehan Family Companies is in the process of selling another craft-focused branch. 

Craft Vermont is being sold to Farrell Distributing (a Molson Coors distributor) and Baker Distributing (an Anheuser-Busch house), in a transaction expected to close in February, according to Beer Marketer’s Insights.

The deal amounts to 400,000 cases of beer and non-alcoholic beverages, including craft brands from The Alchemist, Burlington Beer, Boulevard Brewing, CANarchy, Hermit Thrush, Jack’s Abby, Lagunitas, Oxbow Brewing, and Victory Brewing, as well as non-alcoholic producers such as Athletic Brewing, Hoplark and Liquid Death, among others.

Insiders can read more here.

Conor McQuaid will take the helm as CEO of Pernod Ricard North America at the start of the new year. 

McQuaid, a 25-year veteran of the company, will succeed Ann Mukherjee, who has stepped down to focus her time and energy on her family’s well-being, according to a statement. Mukherjee was the first woman and person of color to lead Pernod Ricard’s North American unit.

Insiders can read more, including a statement from Pernod Ricard and the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.

When Tilden, a 750 ml ready-to-serve mocktail debuted at the start of the year, the founders used flask-sized sample bottles to pitch their new product in sales meetings. But as non-alcoholic (NA) cocktails begin to drive the alternative spirits category, Tilden has officially introduced the smaller formats to capture more trial and premium occasions.

Launched in February, Harvard Business School grads Vanessa Royle and Mariah Hilton Wood spent two years developing a NA cocktail intended to help consumers have “meaningful social experiences.” Social is a key word for the brand, as its messaging centers on its beverages being served over ice and garnished before savoring amongst friends.

Insiders can read more about Tilden’s journey, including comments from Royle and Wood.

On-premise sales velocity has been inconsistent as of late, with week-over-week (WoW) growth of +8% in the week ending November 11, followed by a -4% decline in the latest week (ending November 18), according to CGA, a NIQ-powered on-premise market research firm.

The wavering trends have been “driven by fluctuations in ticket count,” rather than check value, according to CGA.

Insiders can read more, including performances for key states.

Connect with hundreds of beer and bev-alc industry leaders in just 7 days at the Brewbound Live 2023 business conference in Marina del Rey, California. Networking is an essential piece of Brewbound Live – we make sure to offer plenty of opportunities throughout the day for you to initiate meaningful conversations, establish new partnerships, and catch up with industry friends.

The evening before our first day of presentations, join us at JuneShine for the Brewbound Live kick-off party. Enjoy booch and business conversations before two days filled with insights.

At the end of Day 1, head over to Firestone Walker for the Brewbound Live official party to deepen your relationships with brewers, investors, retailers, distributors, suppliers, and industry leaders in a more casual setting. To close out the event, we’ll have one last beverage together at the Brewbound Live wrap party, held at the Marina del Rey Marriott. 

View the full agenda.

You’ll have the opportunity to connect with hundreds of attendees including retailers such as Whole Foods, Extra Mile Convenience Stores, Mellow Mushroom, and more; brand leaders from BeatBox, CANarchy, New Belgium, Bell’s, Rhinegeist, Athletic Brewing, Lawson’s Finest Liquids and many others; as well as distributors, suppliers, service providers and experts from across the industry.

Check out the full list of registered companies and start planning your conversations.

Register for Brewbound Live >>