Brewbound Insiders are diving into the latest scan data from market research firm Circana, covering the first 11 months of the year and the latest four weeks. 

The trend of slowed sales declines for craft beer hit a snag in the latest period and continues to lag the overall beer category.

Insiders are getting the full report. They’re also:

• Reviewing details of the first of two reports that will help inform the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ alcohol consumption recommendations;
• Finding out who will lead the California Craft Brewers Association;
• Seeing who will fill the two at-large board seats for the Brewers Association;
• Learning why wine is expected to win Christmas;
• And following up on the return of Peace Tree Brewing’s flagship to retail. 

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.

Craft beer ended its four-month streak of off-premise dollar sales improvement during the four-week period (L4W) that ended December 1, according to market research firm Circana. 

In the period, craft dollar sales declined -2.5%, an acceleration from the previous L4W (through November 3), in which sales declined -1.9% year-over-year (YoY) in multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C), according to Circana’s most recent report.

Volume, measured in case sales, declined -1.8% YoY in the L4W, an improvement over the prior four weeks (-3.4%).

In the four-week period ending October 6, dollar sales declined -3.6% and volume declined -5.4%, which were marked improvements over the four-week periods ending September 9 (dollars -5%, volume -6.6%) and August 11 (dollars -6.5%, volume -7.8%).

As it did in Circana’s last report, craft still trails the overall beer category, which is up +1.1% in dollar sales and down -0.9% in volume in the L4W.

Insiders can read more about top 30 craft brands’ performance and variations by channel. 

The Brewers Association has tapped Bart Watson to lead the trade group for small and independent brewers, following the planned retirement of Bob Pease. The Brewbound team breaks down the choice and the challenges ahead for Watson in his new role, as well as the larger industry after last week’s release of the “Year in Beer” report. 

Plus, Jess, Zoe and Justin share highlights of the Brewbound LIve business conference and the underlying theme of “focus,” the primer on intoxicating hemp and a new long-time partnership between Dogfish Head and the Grateful Dead. They also discuss the winner of the 2024 Brewbound Pitch Slam competition, Hurray’s Girl Beer. 

The show wraps up with an interview with Brewbound’s 2024 Person of the Year, Highland Brewing president Leah Wong Ashburn, who shares details of a new beer release that will help North Carolina hospitality workers in the wake of Hurricane Helene. 

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.

Moderate drinking is better than not drinking for certain health issues, according to the first of two major reports that will inform the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ alcohol consumption recommendations.

Headlines have already proclaimed the study a win for the bev-alc industry, but that doesn't mean anyone (specifically women) should be taking a victory lap. 

The study “concluded with moderate certainty that consuming a moderate amount of alcohol is associated with a higher risk of female breast cancer compared to never consuming alcohol,” according to a press release.  

Insiders can dive into the findings here. 

California Craft Brewers Association Picks Kelsey McQuaid-Craig as Next Executive Director 

The California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) has appointed Kelsey McQuaid-Craig as the state trade group’s new executive director. 

McQuaid-Craig succeeds Lori Ajax, who announced plans to exit the role at the end of the year.

Insiders can read more about the move. 

List your company in BevNET’s 2025 Supplier & Services Guide—an essential resource for thousands of food, beverage, and craft beer brands. Published in the Jan/Feb issue of BevNET Magazine and promoted digitally, your listing will reach 30,000+ industry professionals via BevNET, Nosh, Brewbound, and our newsletters.

Early bird pricing ends today, Dec. 19. Final deadline: Jan. 9. Learn more.