Following Firestone Walker’s annual business planning meeting earlier this week, our notebooks were overflowing with brewery stats. 

Just how big is Firestone Walker in its home state of California? The Paso Robles, California-headquartered craft brewery holds a 20% share of craft in California, Nick Firestone, chief operating officer, shared. 

Around 75% of Firestone Walker’s volume is in the Golden State.

The next two biggest markets? Arizona and Nevada.

Brewbound editor Justin Kendall shared more from his notebook with Brewbound Insiders.

Become an Insider to get these insights and more, including Brewbound's previous coverage of Firestone Walker's ABP for 2024:

Firestone Walker’s 2024 Plan: Unleash 805

Firestone Walker Leadership Shares Innovation Plans for Cali Squeeze, Mind Haze and the F Brand

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Beer trends continue to improve in the off-premise, according to market research firm Circana’s monthly beer report.

Beer dollar sales in Circana-tracked channels (multi-outlet plus convenience) are up +3.1% year-to-date (YTD), through August 13, while volume (case sales) is down -2.3%. In the last four weeks, beer posted a slightly improved performance, with a +3.4% year-over-year (YoY) increase in dollar sales and -1.5% decrease in volume.

Craft trends have also improved slightly, although trends for the last four weeks are down versus the previous four-week period:

• Craft dollar sales are down -0.6% YTD, while volume is down -4.9%;
• In the last four weeks, craft dollar sales were up +0.2% YoY and volume was down -3.8%. 

While the last four weeks is an improvement over YTD trends, they are below the four-week numbers posted in Circana’s previous monthly beer report, ending July 16: craft dollar sales +1.2% YoY, volume -2.9%.

Brewbound Insiders can read the full data dive, including Bud Light and Modelo performance numbers and the latest week’s scan data from Circana’s Scott Scanlon.

Brewbound Insiders are getting all the data details from Circana’s latest monthly beer report.

Plus:

• Details on non-alc offerings from White Claw and Boston Beer;
• More stats from Firestone Walker’s distributor webinar;
• And an overview of bev-alc performances pre-Labor Day in the latest Data Club with 3 Tier Beverage’s Mary Mills and the Beer Institute’s Danelle Kosmal.

Become a Brewbound Insider today.

Brewbound’s Brew Talks Denver meetup will (unofficially) kick off the Great American Beer Festival weekend with conversations with industry leaders and networking on Thursday, September 21, from noon to 3 p.m. MT at Cervantes Masterpiece.

The conversation will discuss the challenges facing draft beer and strategies for improving draft trends.

Panelists include:

• Dogfish Head co-founder Sam Calagione
• Buffalo Wild Wings director of beverage strategy & innovation Jason Murphy
• Tamarron Consulting co-founder and president Lori Scheiffler. 

Additional speakers and talks will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Tickets are available now.

The Brewbound Live business conference returns December 6-7 in Marina del Rey. Speakers and conversations to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Registration and the discounted room block is now open. Find out more details here.