• 📉 Craft Declines Accelerate Entering Colder Months
• 🍸 Luxury Spirits Lag, Holiday Spending May Dip
• 🎙️ Bernstein Analysts on Ozempic’s Impact
• 🏪 Brewbound Live Speaker Announcement

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times. Read your malt certificate of analysis. Read your COA! Read your COA! Read your COA! But why? After all, malt is malt, right? Especially once you have your brewhouse dialed in. Well, there is a lot more to malt than meets the eye, and much of the information on a malt’s COA relates to how well things do or don’t work in the brewhouse. Learn more

Craft declines have accelerated slightly as seasonal buying patterns return to the off-premise, according to Circana in the data firm’s monthly beer report. 

Total craft dollar sales declined -0.8% year-to-date (YTD) through October 8 in Circana-tracked off-premise channels, slightly above the -0.7% decline recorded in Circana’s September report. Craft volume, measured in case sales, remained down -4.9%. YTD. 

In the last four weeks, craft dollar sales declined -2.5% year-over-year (YoY), and volume declined -5.4%. In the previous four-week period (ending September 10), craft dollar sales were down -0.7% YoY, and volume was down -4.5%. 

The only craft beer style to record volume growth YTD was golden ales (dollar sales +4.5%, volume +1.3%). IPAs also recorded dollar sales growth (+4.3%), but declined in volume -0.3%. However, in the last four weeks, IPA was in the green (dollar sales +4.4% YoY, volume +1.4% YoY). 

Insiders can read more, including brand-specific performances across all channels. 

If you were hoping holiday gifts would stock the bar this winter, think again. 

More than two-fifths of consumers (42%) are planning to spend less on alcohol this holiday season, according to a year-end trend report from WSWA’s SipSource, 

The 2023 review also dug into the churn of RTDs at the top since the category kicked off a few years ago: “Five of the top 15 weren’t in the top 15 last year,” according to analyst Danny Brager. 

Insiders can read more info on what brands might move up the ranks, and how de-premiumization may impact RTDs, in the link.

Bernstein Autonomous analysts Nadine Sarwat and Trevor Stirling share what they know so far about Ozempic, Wegovy and other diet/diabetes drugs’ effect on alcoholic beverage consumption. 

Sarwat and Stirling break down why these drugs have entered popular culture conversations, what users are saying about their cravings, comparisons to past diet trends and much more. 

Also, Jess, Zoe and Justin discuss the latest news, including promotions at Rhinegeist, the failed union effort at Creature Comforts and non-alcoholic beer reaching its limit at retail.

Listen here and on all popular podcast platforms. 

The convenience channel is one of the bright spots for beverage-alcohol in 2023, with c-store beer category sales outpacing other channels.

What are the keys to winning in c-stores? Category managers from Circle K and Extra Mile will share insights and trends at the Brewbound Live business conference this December in Marina del Rey, California.

Joining the main stage conversation will be:

• Michelle Abdollah, category manager for alcoholic beverages at Extra Mile Convenience Stores;
• Julie Farmer, category manager for alcoholic beverages at Circle K;
• And David Williams, VP of analytics and insights, Bump Williams Consulting.

Brewbound Live takes place December 6 + 7 at the Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel (4100 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA).

Tickets are available now.

Brewbound Insiders are reading more data insights from Circana’s latest beer report, including how the top 30 craft brands performed across all off-premise channels.

Insiders are also:

• Reading about new spirits innovations from BrewDog;
• Learning of a staff restructuring at JuneShine;
• Seeing the latest delivery to hit Justin’s steps in today’s Beer Mail;
• And so much much!

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

Become a Brewbound Insider today!

Or, be in the know on all food and beverage news from Brewbound, BevNET and NOSH with Insider All Access.