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Norwood, Massachusetts-based Castle Island Brewing Company has acquired the intellectual property (IP) of Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC).

The deal closed Tuesday, three days before CBC was set to cease operations. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Carved out of the deal is CBC’s Kendall Square pub, which will close December 20 as planned.

In August, CBC founder Phil Bannatyne announced plans to wind down operations after 35 years, permanently close the brewpub and retire. (Hear more from Bannatyne on the decision on the Brewbound Podcast.)

Brewbound Insiders can go deeper into the story, including distribution alignment, production numbers and 2025 projections.

Oregon’s Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services has submitted its final report to Gov. Tina Kotek, including recommendations for reallocated resources and updated data collection. 

Not included in the recommendations: A specific tax increase for wine, beer and hard cider. 

The task force, consisting of 16 voting members, was created through House Bill 3610 in the 2023 legislative session to study alcohol addiction and prevention, Oregon’s distribution of resources for treatment, existing funding for programs, the “cost of alcohol addiction to the state,” and the “benefits and drawbacks of imposing taxes on beer and wine.”

The task force is chaired by Rep. Tawna Sanchez, who has been vocal in her desire to increase bev-alc taxes, including proposing a +3,000% increase for beer, from $2.60 per barrel to $72.60 per barrel, in 2021 (H.B. 3296), and a +1,200% increase, to $33.60 per barrel, proposed in 2023 (H.B. 3312).

However, throughout the task force meetings over the past year, Sanchez said the proposals were meant to “get the alcohol industry to come to the table and have a discussion."

Insiders can read Sanchez's comments from the final report here, as well as comments from the Oregon Beverage Alliance (OBA) and final recommendations from the task force.

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The Brewers Association (BA) has named Bart Watson as the trade group’s next president and CEO. 

Watson will succeed Bob Pease, who is retiring from the organization, effective January 3. Watson’s first day in the new role will be January 6. 

Watson said in the announcement: “I am honored to be chosen to lead the Brewers Association, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by the leaders before me.

“Craft has been going through a difficult period and I am committed to finding ways to help our members navigate those challenges. Our members are incredibly innovative and adaptable entrepreneurs, and I’m ready to work with them and for them to support their businesses and bring excitement back to the category.”

Watson has served as chief economist of the BA since 2013. He was promoted in April to VP of strategy and later was named as VP of strategy and membership in a staff reorganization last month. 

Insiders can read more about the BA’s recent moves.