Brewbound Insiders are taking a closer look at Anheuser-Busch InBev’s soft-but-not-too-soft Q3, which included low-single-digit volume declines in the U.S. Senior reporter Zoe Licata covered today’s earnings call, featuring bright spots for Michelob Ultra, Busch Light and Cutwater Spirits. 

In today’s Brewbound Insider Newsletter and at Brewbound.com, Insiders are also reading about:

• The intoxicating hemp industry’s’ existential threat;
• A dispensary’s lawsuit against a retailer, wholesaler and brewer;
• Craft-centric chain Hopcat’s new PE owner;
• Another Boston Beer c-suite move;
• And New England Brewing Co.’s first 12-packs.

Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content.

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Bars, restaurants and social gathering spaces are beer’s “moneyball” opportunity, National Beer Wholesalers Association VP of analytics and chief economist Lester Jones shares during the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.

Jones is the first of 2 interviews this week. Adam and Amanda Kroener, the founders of spirits-based cocktail brand Carbliss, also join this week’s podcast to share their slow approach to brand building and goal of becoming a national brand. 

First, Jones explains why the on-premise channel remains the key to unlocking wins for brewers.

Jones says: “We can go looking for home runs all day long, but at some point, you’ve got to have the base hitters. You gotta have the guys when they step up to the plate, you’re gonna move the game forward.”

Then, the Kroeners discuss their methodical approach to brand building and why it has worked for the family-owned and run Midwestern-based canned cocktail brand. They also dish on Carbliss’ entry into warm weather markets such as Florida and being one of the most successful brands that people have never heard of. 

Before the interviews, Justin, Jess and Zoe recap the latest industry news, including Brooklyn Brewery outsourcing sales to U.S. Beverage, BeatBox’s forthcoming Chillitas line, Surfside’s lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch InBev over Skimmers hard tea and George Clooney joining the non-alcoholic beer game.

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform. 

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Hemp beverage manufacturers are rallying grassroots support to defeat calls for the U.S. Congress to ban intoxicating hemp products – a potentially existential threat to the nascent industry.

Even as major retailers like Target and Circle K open their shelves to hemp-derived THC drinks, as allowed under the 2018 Farm Bill, the industry is facing a challenge from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), who are advocating to criminalize sales of all intoxicating hemp products. Those efforts gained momentum this week when attorneys general from 37 states and 2 U.S. territories signed a letter to Congress backing the ban.

While industry organizations have been doing their own lobbying over the past week, several hemp THC beverage brands have jumped into the fray with campaigns calling for supporters to pressure lawmakers to reject the measure.

Insiders can read more.

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (A-B) U.S. volume declines accelerated in Q3, but the beer giant’s business continued to outperform category trends, the company reported today.

A-B’s Q3 U.S. depletions (sales to retailers) declined 2.5% YoY, while shipments (sales to wholesalers) fell 2.7%. Meanwhile, beer category volume has been trending down about 4%. 

Insiders can read more, including Q3 and YTD financials for the company’s total enterprise.

The founders of BeatBox are hoping 2026 will bring them their 2nd hit brand aimed at a new generation of consumers.

BeatBox parent company Future Proof will launch Chillitas in February, a new-to-world, FMB outside of the company’s flagship party punch brand. 

Chillitas will target 2nd-generation Latino consumers, who make up 20% of the U.S. population and are expected to grow to 33% by 2030, BeatBox co-founder and chief marketing and experience officer Brad Schultz and SVP of global marketing Zech Francis told Brewbound.

Insiders can read more about Chillatas and the strategy behind it.

This year’s Brewbound Live 2025 speakers represent every side of the bev-alc business, from independent innovators to established names reshaping their portfolios for the future.

Recently added speakers to the event (December 10 & 11 in L.A.) include:

• JuneShine - Whitney Stevenson, President and Chief Commercial Officer
• Garage Beer - Kevin George, CMO
• Rupee Beer - Van Sharma, Co-founder

In a panel discussion, the trio will tackle strategies for connecting with consumers, including clever marketing, celebrity partnerships and differentiated products.

More speakers are being added weekly, bringing perspectives from retail, investment and operations to round out the full picture of where beer and bev-alc are headed next.

View the Speaker Lineup »

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Want to share news or tips? ✉️ Submit a press release or reach out to news@brewbound.com.

Interested in other beverage coverage? 👀 Check out the BevNET Daily Briefing covering the broader beverage industry, including energy drinks, cannabis and other non-alcoholic beverages. Want to stick to the hard stuff? Subscribe to our Spirits Newsletter (published every 2 weeks). 

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