Allagash Brewing has added various new offerings to its lineup in the past 2 years – many of which strayed from its “historic lane” of Belgian-inspired beers – but its golden goose and volume driver remains Allagash White, leadership shared this week in a virtual press briefing. 

Allagash White helped improve the craft brewery’s volume trends from down 10% in Q1, to down 2% through September, with the company now outpacing overall beer and craft trends. 

In today’s Brewbound Insider Newsletter and on Brewbound.com, Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata compiled highlights from Monday’s call for Brewbound Insiders, including what’s driving Allagash White’s continued gains, other strong 2025 performances across Allagash’s portfolio and what’s on deck for 2026. 

Insiders are also reading about:

• Failed efforts to remove a hemp ban from the Senate’s spending package;
• Duvel’s stout-heavy plans for Boulevard and Brewery Ommegang;
• Not-so-scary Halloween scans from Circana;
• The BI’s continued outcry against allowances for hemp beverages;
• And the 45th anniversary of Sierra Nevada.

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30 years after Allagash Brewing’s (Portland, ME) founding, the craft brewery’s flagship beer Allagash White remains the primary driver of its overall volume and growth, leadership shared Monday in a press briefing. 

Allagash White accounts for more than 80% of the brewery’s volume and “continues to remain relevant” and “continues to grow,” founder Rob Tod said. The offering was a “huge driver” in the craft brewery improving trends this year after a “really tough first quarter."

Looking ahead to its 2026 lineup, Allagash plans to be “methodical” and “targeted” with innovation, and be “really focused on finding proven winners in an efficient way,” Fruchtman said. 

Insiders can read more about Allagash’s 2025 performance and 2026 lineup.

A last-ditch effort to remove language prohibiting virtually all THC beverages failed in Congress, placing the intoxicating hemp industry’s fate in the House’s hands.

The Senate voted to advance the spending package on Monday night, and it could be approved by the House as early as Wednesday.

Insiders can read more, including Mindset Capital CEO and Uncle Arnie’s investor Aaron Edelheit on who prohibition will affect.

Stouts will be a big part of Duvel USA’s strategy for both Boulevard Brewing and Brewery Ommegang in 2026 and into the future. 

Duvel USA chief commercial officer Bobby Dykstra told Brewbound: “It is with purpose that we've gone down this stout path. Once you cut through some of the negative trends in beer and beverage-alcohol, you start seeing some green shoots, and one of them is in stouts and roasty flavors sometimes combined with high ABV, sometimes not.” 

Insiders can read more about the stout strategies for both Boulevard and Brewery Ommegang, including in the on-premise channel.

Halloween is officially logged in bev-alc scan data and there’s no reason to be afraid, Circana EVP of BevAl Scott Scanlon wrote. During the week ending November 2, total bev-alc dollar sales declined 2.3% YoY, but increased 4% WoW. 

Total bev-alc dollars reached $1.367 billion during the week, and volume declined 4.1%. The spirits and RTD categories delivered the biggest treats. Spirits dollar sales increased 7%, to $260.7 million, and volume increased 14.8%. RTDs increased dollar sales 8%, to $214.3 million, and volume increased 1.8%. 

Insiders can read more, including brand-level performance in beer and RTDs.

Craft brewery owners dreaming of selling their businesses in multi-million dollar deals are doing just that – dreaming, industry leaders said last week during a panel discussion about exiting the business at the Mass Brewers Guild annual conference.

Barrel One Collective CEO Nathaniel Davis said: “The biggest mistake that I see is people are still in a dream world about what it could have been, or what it could still be, and expecting somebody to come in and realize that vision on your behalf somehow magically and pay you for the value that they're about to create.”

Davis was joined by Rory Fazendeiro, partner at Massachusetts law firm Bowditch. 

Fazendeiro added: “There's a lot of different ways and creative ways to structure a deal, and it's not always going to equal immediate cash in your pocket and then flying off to the islands.”

Insiders can read more about how founders/owners can prepare for a sale and revisit craft’s blockbuster deals of yore.

The countdown is on. 

In less than 30 days, Brewbound Live (Dec. 10-11 in L.A.) becomes the meeting place for brewers and professionals across beer and beyond. Brewbound Live brings together the full beverage-alcohol ecosystem, expect a mix of innovators and operators who know how to adapt, collaborate, and build smarter for what’s ahead.

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