🔐 What You're Missing |
| | U.S. beer shipments hit a 14-year low in 2025, as the industry was unable to escape volume losses in all 12 months of the year, the Beer Institute (BI) reported Friday.
In Today’s Top Story, Brewbound editor Justin Kendall has details from the report for Brewbound Insiders, including national and state shipment data, import figures and commentary from BI chief economist Andrew Heritage. In the Brewbound Insider Newsletter and on Brewbound.com, Insiders are also reading about: - A new craft bev-alc platform formed in OR;
- Reports of an intended sale of BrewDog;
- And an update on tax reporting guidelines for Brewers Association members.
Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content. Become a Brewbound Insider today! Or, be in the know on all food and beverage news from Brewbound, BevNET and NOSH with Insider All Access. |
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📰 Today's Top Story |
| | | Domestic shipments declined 5.9% in 2025, a loss of more than 8.68 million barrels of beer, according to domestic tax paid shipment data shared by the Beer Institute (BI) Friday. As it stands, 2025 was a historically bad year for U.S. beer shipments with the 139 million barrels a new low total for barrels shipped in the last 14 years. Since 2021, around 30 million barrels have been lost and an additional 11 million barrels shed since 2012 when U.S. brewers shipped around 180 million barrels. Go deeper into the numbers |
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📝 Brewbound Headlines |
| | | The latest joining of craft brewing forces occurred in Bend, OR last week.
Crux Fermentation Project, Cascade Lakes Brewing, Silver Moon Brewing, GoodLife Brewing and Tumalo Cider Co. – all companies with operations in Bend – have formed the Oregon Beverage Collective (OBC). “Almost all brewing” will transition to Crux Fermentation's production facility,” OBC shared in a statement to Brewbound. The collective plans to “maintain as much of our teams as possible,” noting that “this collective isn’t about reducing staff – it’s about creating a larger, stronger group with more room to grow.” Read more from the collective
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| | | Scottish craft brewery BrewDog is exploring a sale, Sky News reported over the weekend. The craft brewery’s board has reportedly hired restructuring firm AlixPartners to gauge interest from prospective buyers “with a quickfire deadline for indicative offers.” Keep reading |
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🔮 On Tap This Week |
| | Molson Coors will report its full-year 2025 and Q4 earnings this Wednesday. In lieu of a typical earnings call, the company will share its results during the Consumer Analyst Group of NY Conference Wednesday afternoon. Look for coverage Thursday morning. This week’s Brewbound Podcast features a conversation on the legal landscape in 2026, specifically middle-tier consolidation, ArentFox Schiff partner Nichole Shustack and senior associate Isabelle Cunningham. They dig into what bev-alc companies need to know when their distributor sells and if this offers a rare opportunity for leverage. They also cover how intoxicating hemp beverage brands are navigating distributor relationships and contracts. Look for the episode midweek. |
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⏮️ Last Week in Beer |
| | Beer industry members are embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), from suppliers to trade associations, Insider’s Week in Beer newsletter writer Sean McNulty explored in Saturday’s edition.
The latest updates include the launch of the Brewers Association’s (BA) AI assistant – a cartoon dog that will answer questions for members on various topics – and the less cute news that Heineken will cut about 6,000 positions over the next 2 years, due in part to “productivity savings” from AI adoption. Insiders can catch up on other headlines from the week, including how Angry Orchard helped singles celebrate Valentine’s Day. Check it out here |
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👀 ICYMI |
| | How did a drink that was concocted for the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games find relevance in the U.S. today? Finnish Long Drink co-founder and CEO Evan Burns explained on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast how the gin-based RTD brand has connected with modern consumers through sampling, storytelling and authentic celebrity partnerships. Burns shared that first-time Long Drink consumers often get “Long Drink Face” – a range of emotions that start with confusion for what the product is, to surprise after they try it, to ultimately delight. That starts a domino effect with the newfound fan turning their friends and spouses on to the product, Burns said. Burns also discussed how a celebrity partnership with actor Miles Teller led to other celebrities organically signing on with the brand, how the Long Drink leverages social media and why you won’t see 30 different flavors of the RTD. Listen here |
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👋 That's all for today's Brewbound Newsletter |
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