Party punch maker BeatBox stands to sell to Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) for about $700 million, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. The anonymously sourced story reported that talks are in process, but could still “fall apart.” 

Brewbound Insiders are reading context around the rumored sale, including scan data and A-B’s beyond beer acquisition track record, plus finding out what Wall Street thinks of it. 

In addition, Insiders are reading the following stories on Brewbound.com and in the full Brewbound Insider Newsletter:

• Tilray CEO Irwin Simon’s take on consumers’ price sensitivity;
• An NA spirit’s latest fund raise;
• Untappd’s foray into the non-craft beer world;
• The NBWA’s Lester Jones on craft brewers’ real estate conundrum;
• And the pub that pours more Guinness pints than any other in the U.S. 

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BeatBox, the cross-category party punch producer, is reportedly discussing an acquisition with Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B), according to a story by the Wall Street Journal.

Citing unnamed “people familiar with the matter,” the WSJ estimated the deal at $700 million, but couched that negotiations could “fall apart.” 

BeatBox, which boasts a mostly wine- and malt-based portfolio that checks in at 11.1% ABV,  would give A-B a soaringly popular entrant in the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail space with differentiated packaging. BeatBox’s rainbow-hued 500 mL TetraPaks stand out amidst a sea of cans – and have spawned several copycats. 

Insiders can read more about BeatBox’s scan performance and some of A-B’s beyond beer acquisition track record.

Tilray Brands CEO Irwin Simon’s visits to college campuses and venues across the U.S. “suggest there's more price sensitivity” influencing the decline in consumption.

Simon shared the observation Tuesday during the global cannabis and craft beer firm’s annual stockholder meeting covering FY2025 for the period ending May 31, 2025.

Insiders can read more from Simon on how Tilray will address that sensitivity and the company’s FY25 performance. 

Aplós has closed a $5 million funding round, the adult non-alc (ANA) spirits company announced today.

The raise follows a breakout year of triple-digit growth across wholesale and retail channels. New funding will help scale production, expand its hospitality and retail footprint, and accelerate innovation across both spirits and RTD formats.

Insiders can read more here.

Monster Brewing’s 2026 innovation slate will include a pair of lagers and the company’s first spirits-based RTD offering. 

CEO Hilton Schlosberg teased the new products but offered few details during the company’s Q3 earnings call earlier this month. But VP of sales operations Renold Aparicio clued Brewbound in on what’s on the way.

Just Vibe Hard Refresher, a 4.5% ABV vodka-based RTD, will mark Monster’s first spirits-based offering, Aparicio wrote. Just Vibe will launch as a 12 oz. can variety 8-pack with four flavors – Wild Berry, Grapefruit, Pineapple and Lemon Lime – in select markets. 

As for the company’s beer portfolio, Monster’s new mystery lagers include Stunt Double Strong Lager and BFC Tex-Mex Cerveza. 

Stunt Double is a standalone, 8% ABV lager that will launch nationwide in 2 SKUs, 12 oz. can 12-packs and 19.2 oz. single-serve cans in Q1, Aparicio shared. The beer will carry the tagline: “Pure. Liquid. Courage.” with a 1970s stuntman feel. 

Insiders can read more about what’s coming from Monster, including spring and summer craft seasonals.

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