The craft brewery that led the Black is Beautiful charitable beer initiative is seeking a new equity partner to buy out one of its co-founders and take a majority stake in the business.

Weathered Souls Brewing Company co-founder Mike Holt is seeking an exit from the San Antonio craft brewery that he helped found with Marcus Baskerville in 2016.  

Brewbound Insiders can read more about Holt’s decision and Weathered Soul’s recent moves.

Asheville, North Carolina-based Green Man Brewing and Boone-based Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s (AMB) announced a joint venture today in which Green Man will produce AMB’s beers for distribution. 

In May, AMB co-founders Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber struck a deal to reacquire the business from Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B). Much of AMB’s packaged beer for distribution had been produced at A-B facilities, leading to the duo needing to form a contract brewing partnership.

Green Man co-owner Dennis Thies told Brewbound that both companies will remain independent of each other with no equity exchanged.

Brewbound Insiders can go deeper into the partnership.

Despite some ebbs and flows, on-premise sales velocity over the last 12 weeks (ending August 26) has remained flat versus the same period in 2022, according to CGA, a NIQ-powered on-premise market research firm.

In the latest week, on-premise sales velocity declined -4% week-over-week, driven by a -2% decline in check value and -1% decline in ticket count. 

The week was down -1% year-over-year (YoY), with a -2% YoY decline in ticket count and flat check value. 

Insiders can dive into the performances of key states here.

On this week’s Brewbound Podcast, Justin and Zoe chatted with leadership at Mass. Bay Brewing Company to discuss its partnership with Dunkin’, the release of Dunkin’ Spiked hard teas and hard coffees and how the companies plan to sustain the initial hype of the launch.

Plus, lookout for coverage of what large beer companies – including Molson Coors, Constellation Brands and Boston Beer – are saying this week at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference.

Last week, Brewbound dove into Firestone Walker’s 2024 business plans, including a renewed focus on its top brand, 805, and innovation plans for Cali Squeeze, Mind Haze and more.

Brewbound editor Justin Kendall also dove into the trajectory of Exile Brewing’s Swarm NIL Beer and chatted with Dogfish Head co-founder Sam Calagione to talk about the brewery’s 2023 performance. 

Last week also brought about people moves at Summit Brewing and BrewDog. 

And the news that Russian River will distribute STS Pils and Velvet Glow Helles lager in cans for the first time, starting this fall. 

Plus: 3 Tier Beverages consultant Mary Mills and Beer Institute VP of research Danelle Kosmal joined Justin and Zoe for a Brewbound Data Club to discuss pre-Labor Day beer trends.

Brewbound Insiders are reading more about Mike Holt’s planned exit from Weathered Souls, including the latest business moves from the San Antonio craft brewery. 

Plus:

• More details on Green Man and Appalachian Mountain’s partnership;
• News of another Sheehan deal; 
• And on-premise performance numbers for key states.

Become a Brewbound Insider today.

Leaders from Dogfish Head, Buffalo Wild Wings and Tamarron Consulting will explore national draft trends and the opportunities during Brewbound’s Brew Talks meetup in Denver on Thursday, September 21.

Brew Talks will take place from noon to 3 p.m. MT at Cervantes Masterpiece (2637 Welton St., Denver, CO, 80205) prior to the start of the first session of the Great American Beer Festival. Tickets are available now, and include two beer tickets and light appetizers.

On-premise draft has historically been an important piece of business for craft brewers, accounting for 30% of distributed draft and serving as a brand building theater. However, draft has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson shared during the trade group’s midyear survey. Watson estimated that 2023 distributed draft volume is 2 million barrels below historic trends.

Panelists will discuss the challenges facing draft beer and strategies for improving draft trends. They include:

• Dogfish Head co-founder Sam Calagione
• Buffalo Wild Wings director of beverage strategy & innovation Jason Murphy
• Tamarron Consulting co-founder and president Lori Scheiffler. 

Additional conversations will be shared in the coming weeks. Speakers include Hops & Pie owner and chief beer buyer Drew Watson, Ska Brewing president and co-founder David Thibodeau, Holidaily Brewing founder Karen Hertz and Colorado Brewers Guild executive director Shawnee Adelson. More speakers will be announced soon.

Tickets are available now.

The Brewbound Live business conference returns December 6-7 in Marina del Rey. Speakers and conversations to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Registration and the discounted room block is now open. Find out more details here.