Brewbound Insiders are diving into midyear beer performance data across the on- and off-premise from National Beer Wholesalers Association chief economist Lester Jones and Fintech VP of distributor strategy Eric Kiser.

Insiders are also:

• Reading about Southern Glazer’s planned acquisition of a New England distributor;
• Learning about breweries joining forces in Wisconsin and Minnesota;
• Checking out which industry vet has joined non-alc beer maker RationAle;
• And getting details on calls for increased spirits excise taxes in Nebraska.

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

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HPA’s hyper focus on hop quality has also paid off, with this year’s oil content coming in equal or above the 5-year average. It should be a great year of true-to-type flavors and aromas in beer. Contact HAAS and their distribution partners to get your hands on some new crop 2024 Aussie hops today. Learn more

Three years post-pandemic, the beer industry’s performance is still “erratic,” National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) chief economist and VP of analytics Lester Jones said during a webinar on Tuesday.

Jones and Fintech VP of distributor strategy Eric Kiser delivered a midyear update on the beer category using broad economic figures and Fintech’s cache of invoice data from 233,000 retailers and 5,178 distributors. The nearly 1 million invoices Fintech processes each week represent about one-third of all retailer alcohol transactions.

The volume of beer and malt beverages moving throughout the industry remained fairly stable from 2010 through early 2020, with a “long run trend” of -0.3% and shifts “consistently” between +1.5% to -1.5%. 

All that changed with the pantry-loading spike of March 2020 when the on-premise shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and volume swings are now nearly 10 times the size of what they were in the prior decade. Since 2020, shifts in volume moving through the industry can range between +10% and -10%.

Insiders can read more about suppliers’ share of on-premise kegs, how many new beer-selling retailers there are and which class of trade they belong to, and which non-alcoholic and craft brands are gaining share.

Almost Friday Media, the comedy meme account turned digital media empire that has long celebrated the vaunted opening of a beer at the closing of the workweek, had a drinker base long before it had a beer brand. 

The media network reaches more than 800 million accounts across more than 30 channels on seven different media platforms, and launched its eponymous light lager Friday Beers late last year.

Almost Friday co-founder and CEO Jack Barrett and Corestone Capital founder and CEO Will McDonough joined the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the beer, its fans and the strategy behind it.

Plus, the Brewbound team discusses global hop production and inventory, regulatory changes for THC-infused drinks in Iowa and a makeover for Cigar City’s Jai Alai IPA.

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has plans to acquire Horizon Beverage Group, Southern Glazer’s announced today. 

The deal includes all of Norton, Massachusetts-based Horizon Beverage’s Massachusetts and Rhode Island operations and beer, wine and spirits portfolio, adding two states to the largest bev-alc distributor’s footprint, for a total of 46 states, plus Washington, D.C., Canada, the Caribbean and Central and South America, according to a press release. 

Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. The deal will close “upon regulatory approval,” according to the release.

Insiders can read more, including comments from Southern Glazer’s and Horizon leadership, and a refresher on Southern Glazer’s recent lawsuit troubles.

The Brewbound Live Pitch Slam returns to the Brewbound Live business conference on December 11 + 12 in Marina del Rey, California. The annual competition provides an opportunity for startups in beer and beverage-alcohol to pitch their product, generate industry awareness, and open the door for new partnerships.

How It Works:

Emerging beer category brands will provide attendees a look into the future of the industry. The competition kicks off on Day 1 of Brewbound Live with 12 semifinalists presenting rapid fire pitches to a panel of expert judges. Six brands will advance to the final round, taking place on Day 2. The judges will then decide who takes home the winning title and a Brewbound advertising package valued at $10,000.

Who’s Watching:

Brewbound Live attendees watch in-person while industry experts tune into the free livestream on Brewbound.com. Pitching in the competition allows you to reach thousands of investors, retailers, suppliers, service providers, and fellow brewery leaders looking to see what’s next in the world of beer. Past winners include Sunboy, Funkytown Brewery, Lunar Hard Seltzer, Crowns & Hops, Willie’s Superbrew, Novo Brazil, Border X Brewing, and Wynwood Brewing Company. Check out a past competition to see what it takes to win.

Beyond the Pitch:

Following their on-stage presentations at the Brewbound Live Pitch Slam, participants have the opportunity to form connections with industry decision makers. The competition opens the door for deeper, more meaningful conversations that extend beyond introductions.

How to Apply:

Startups producing beer, non-alc beer, cider, hard seltzer, hard kombucha, hard tea, hard coffee, and other malt/wine-based alcoholic beverages are invited to apply now. There is no cost to participate in the competition. The application deadline is September 30.

Apply to Participate in the Brewbound Live Pitch Slam >>

To extend your presence beyond attending, view our Brewbound Live sponsorship opportunities.