| | | | |
| WEEKLY BRIEFING (LITE EDITION) |
|
| 🔐 What You're Missing | | | If you had a dollar for every time a bev-alc company launched a hard soda brand in 2026, you could probably buy a can of Home Slice, a hard orange soda that will be available next month in 19.2 oz cans.
The brand is 1 of 2 new offerings this year from hard tea maker Jiant, along with Hop Tea, a yerba mate-based hopped NA tea. In Today’s Top Story, Insiders are getting details on both launches, including how Home Slice will be a separate brand from Jiant, and how both offerings fill gaps in the company’s portfolio. Plus, they’re learning about a capital raise closing soon, and how it’s helping fund other main initiatives for Jiant’s 2026. In today’s Brewbound Insiders Newsletter and on Brewbound.com, Insiders are also reading about: - A licensing deal between Tilray and Carlsberg;
- 2025 and 2026 salaries and bonuses for top Boston Beer execs;
- Craft brewery closings in MA, NY, NJ and RI;
- And Sun Cruiser’s response to the blueberry lemonade trend.
Insiders 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. |
| | | | Sponsored message | From formulation and stability to scaling for production, this free guide breaks down how to scale a cannabis beverage.
Learn more
|
| 📰 Today's Top Story | | | | Next month, the leaders behind hard tea maker Jiant will launch a new brand – Home Slice – a 10% ABV hard orange soda.
The “full flavor, full octane” offering will be available in 19.2 oz. single-serve cans, starting at Southern CA and CO retailers such as Kroger. Hop Tea is Jiant’s other big launch for 2026, filling another gap in Jiant’s portfolio. Released last month, the yerba mate-based NA tea is made with botanicals, real fruit and hops. Dive deeper into Jiant’s plans
|
| | 📝 Brewbound Headlines | | | | Tilray Brands has signed a multi-year licensing deal with the Carlsberg Group to produce, market, sell and distribute the Danish brewer’s portfolio – including Carlsberg, Carlsberg Elephant,1664 and Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc – in the U.S. The partnership has an initial 5-year term, beginning January 1, 2027, with an automatic 5-year renewal based on performance. Tilray will leverage its network of brewing facilities, producing Carlsberg’s brand at 2 of Tilray’s 7 facilities – 1 West Coast and 1 East Coast. Keep reading |
| | | | | Boston Beer Company’s top executives are receiving 3% raises, plus bonuses for 2025 performance, according to an 8-K filed Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchanges Commission. The 8K also detailed salary bumps and added compensation for the company’s top-5 “named executive officers” (NEOs), with one notable exception: Boston Beer founder, CEO and chairman Jim Koch. Go deeper into Boston Beer’s 2026 salary data |
| | ❌ Openings & Closings | | | | 🛢️ Barrel House Z’s Closes Amid ‘Untenable Cash Flow Situation’
Barrel House Z ceased operations earlier this month after 9 years, the Weymouth, MA-based craft brewery announced last week. Founder Russ Heissner cited increasing costs, an unstable market and waning consumer demand for craft beer as reasons for the brewery’s closure. The brewery’s last day was February 7. He wrote in a Facebook post: “We struggled mightily in the face of a shrinking market, rising costs to operate, and a substantial debt service that was taken on in the aftermath of COVID[-19]. Less cash income [plus] rising expenses do not make for a solid business, and we found ourselves in an untenable cash flow situation.” ➕ LA's Angel City, NY’s Triphammer Bierwerks and Rebel Sailor Brewing, RI’s Crafted Hope and NJ’s Grin Brewing also announced closures this month. Get all the details |
| | 👀 ICYMI | | | After years of whiplash across global supply chains, Q1 2026 presents a different challenge: stability on the surface, uncertainty underneath. In Agrowgate’s latest Supply Chain Snapshot, macro indicators suggest improved crop yields, moderating inflationary pressure and stable logistics conditions – but pricing signals across key inputs tell a more nuanced story of elevated aluminum markets, shifting freight dynamics and softening paper demand. Insiders can view the full version here Not an Insider? Sign up to read this and many more reports from our expert data partners. |
| | 📅 Save the Date | | | Taste Radio is hosting its first meetup of the year TODAY Wednesday, February 18 (5:00–7:30 PM ET) in Miami, featuring live podcast recordings and industry networking across food, beverage, beer, and beyond. Brewers, distributors, and bev-alc operators are invited to connect with peers in a relaxed setting. Spots are limited — RSVP now |
| | 💼 Now Hiring | | | | | | 👋 That's all for today's Brewbound Newsletter | |
| |
| | | |
|
