Mark Anthony Brands just announced the acquisition of the Finnish Long Drink. Brewbound Insiders are getting the initial details of the deal. 

Insiders are also getting the lowdown on New Belgium’s craft portfolio share gains in Q1 off-premise scan data, per CEO Shaun Belongie’s recent LinkedIn post. Brewbound editor Justin Kendall dug into more details for a peek at New Belgium and Bell’s strong start to 2026.

In addition to that story, Insiders are also learning about these news pieces on Brewbound.com and in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter:

• A jury ordered Boston Beer to pay $175.5 million to Ardagh Metal Packaging USA;
• Beer outpaced other bev-alc category in CPI increases in March;
• 7-Eleven’s planned closure of 600+ stores;
• And the glorious return of Busch Light Apple (Bapple, to those in the know).

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

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Start your CBC week with the Brewbound team and industry peers at Love City Brewing.

We are excited to host a networking happy hour next week, from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, at Love City’s Callowhill taproom, a short walk from the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The event offers an opportunity for brewers, leaders, suppliers and other industry professionals to connect ahead of a busy week of educational sessions and visits to the trade show.

During the gathering, Brewers of Pennsylvania executive director Hannah Ison will share insights from the guild’s efforts to support and advocate for Keystone State craft brewers this year.

Learn more

Mark Anthony Brands announced it has struck a deal to acquire the Finnish Long Drink, the popular gin-based RTD. The company expects the transaction to close in the coming weeks.

The deal marks a major jump forward for Mark Anthony’s spirits-based portfolio, which is dwarfed in size by its malt-based offerings, including White Claw, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Cayman Jack. 

Check out this developing story

New Belgium Brewing’s portfolio is craft’s top share gainer through Q1, CEO Shaun Belongie shared in a recent LinkedIn post.

The Kirin-owned New Belgium craft portfolio, which includes offerings from New Belgium and Bell’s Brewery, snagged share by growing volume 3.2% YTD, outperforming the overall craft segment, which declined 3.7% through Q1.

Belongie wrote: “In fact, New Belgium has gained 2x+ as much share as the next closest craft supplier this year. With those share gains, now $1 out of every $8 spent on craft beer in the U.S. is spent on buying a New Belgium or Bell’s beer.”

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A jury entered a $175.5 million verdict in favor of Ardagh Metal Packaging USA against Boston Beer Company for allegedly failing “to purchase contractual minimum volumes of certain aluminum beverage can containers from 2021 to 2025,” according to an 8K filed by Boston Beer Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

As of Friday, a judgment in the case had not been entered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

Boston Beer head of communications Dave DeCecco told Brewbound that the company plans to appeal. 

Keep reading

Beer recorded the largest YoY price increases across all bev-alc categories in March, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.

The CPI for beer at home increased 1.9% YoY last month, outpacing inflation for spirits (+0.8%) and wine (-1.3%) at home. Beer was also the only bev-alc category to record a CPI increase MoM (+0.5%, not seasonally adjusted), while spirits (-0.2%) and wine (-0.3%) declined.

Dive deeper

We are less than 1 week out from Brewbound’s networking happy hour at Love City Brewing, presented by ArentFox Schiff. RSVP here to kick off CBC week with us from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 in Philadelphia.

Who were the top 50 craft brewers last year? The Brewers Association will reveal its list of the 50 largest small and independent craft brewers by volume in 2025. Coverage starts Tuesday.  

This week’s episode of the Brewbound Podcast features Masahiro “Masa” Kitano, founder of L.A.-based Ikasu Brewing, winner of the 2025 Brewbound Pitch Slam. The interview, plus a recap of the latest industry news, will land in podcast feeds midweek.

Plus, how did Q1 shake out for the beer industry? NBWA chief economist and VP of analytics Lester Jones will break down on- and off-premise data from invoice tech firm Fintech on Thursday. Look for a recap on Friday. 

As we all grapple with the unceasing rise of prices for just about everything, Insider’s Week in Beer newsletter writer Sean McNulty ponders his life choices, as recent study by on-premise POS firm Toast revealed that his NYC home claims the most expensive pints in the country ($9.16). Boston’s not far behind at $8.69, and Philly is on the up faster than any other market. 

Sean also recaps the week’s headlines in data, bankruptcy and wholesaler consolidation. He ends on a high note with deep appreciation for Matt Cortland, an Irish fellow whose hunt for a well-priced pint of Guinness led to him to build the Guinndex, an AI-assisted log of Guinness costs throughout Ireland. 

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Molson Coors-aligned Baker Distributing acquired fellow VT blue/silver network house Calmont Beverage last month, according to a memo to suppliers obtained by Brewbound.

The sale has brought VT’s bev-alc distributor count to 3, only 2 of which sell beer: Baker, and Anheuser-Busch InBev-aligned Farrell Distributing.

Suppliers in Calmont’s book were given consent waivers to transfer to Baker. However, several suppliers have told Brewbound they were refused representation with Baker, leaving them without an avenue to sell in VT.

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