Welcome to Brewbound’s Inside Look at the Beer Business for the week that was … Saturday, September 14, 2024.

Well craft beer, I wish I could say I find this kinda thing off-brand here in 2024 … but I don’t think that Porch Drinking’s roundup of over 30 “Hawk Tuah” themed beers on UNTAPPD surprises anyone anymore.

Plus, I’m sure the additional implied association of “hey, we spit in this!” really helps the brand image – see you at the GABF awards next month.

#FUNFACT: Millennials account for 61% of NA beer consumers in 2024 according to new data from IWSR. That’s up from 45% just one year ago 👀. Gen X is next at 22%, and Gen Z is bringing up the rear at 7%. 

SEPARATE BUT RELATED: FW’s 8ZERO5 NA beer is now rolling out in CA, AZ and NV. Elsewhere at FW:

• 805 Blonde is the No. 1 selling craft beer in CA and NV, and No. 3 in AZ.
• FW is putting big resources into growing CALI SQUEEZE, emphasizing its flavor-forward aspects especially among younger demos. The brand is at about 30K BBL in sales. 
• Also look for a line of flavor-forward MIND HAZE 8% ABV “turbo” radlers in 2025 as well, in lemonade, watermelon and grapefruit varietals.

HEY YOU 🫵: Going to the NBWA Annual Convention in San Diego later this month? Come have a toast!

• Join for a happy hour at THE LOST ABBEY! Enjoy some beers and apps with the Brewbound gang from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, September 29 (conveniently between NFL games and before the NBWA’s opening night party!) – register for the free event here.

Ya know, it’s always fun when craft beer increasingly becomes like a food court, with one central brewing facility in the back. Add MODERN TIMES to the growing list of craft beer brands that … have no actual dedicated brewery.

Parent co. CRAFT O’HANA is moving production of the beer to ALESMITH’s facilities in San Diego, and shutting down the last MODERN TIMES brewing location in Point Loma. 57 folks will be out of a job.

The MODERN TIMES taprooms in North Park and Encinitas will remain in operation.

Basically, I think we’re gonna start needing “This Beer Was Brewed Here” labels instead of “Independent Craft Beer” ones.

Oh boy, maybe don’t tell Poor Dear Pamela this one. It’s listed at a $7.9M pricetag,  although brewery CEO and co-owner Kevin McGee put it as such: 

• “We have some ongoing conversations with a few interested parties. But it's still very early stage and there's nothing definitive yet."

McGee’s family bought the brewery back in 2019.

“We are looking to bring on a new strategic (investment partner), like a family office, to help us [grow] during the next five years in the more mainstream market.”

CEREBRAL BREWING

Community & Events Manager – Denver, CO

BARE BREWS

Sales Representative – Charlotte, NC

ABC DISTRIBUTION

Nice work, team! The main CPI for August was +2.5%, but beer at home was a real go-getter … hitting +3.6%. Although at least this was -0.3% from the July number.

Total bev-alc was +1.9%, with spirits and wine both only at +0.8% YoY. Way to keep it bougie, beer folk. Heck, even Justin started putting a tip jar on top of his basement beer fridge. Nice try, boss 😂.

While still quite healthy, the category has seen growth slow YTD through July 27 to +20% YoY in 2024, vs. +44% YoY at the same calendar marker in 2023 according to NIQ data cited by BWC.

Here are your top 5 biggest shareholders of the market:

• GALLO (HIGH NOON): 28.7%
• A-B (CUTWATER): 12.8%
• SAZERAC (BUZZBALLZ): 11.9%
• BEATBOX: 7.2%
• ATOMIC BRANDS (MONACO): 5%

Those 5 brands account for 65.6% of the market, which now has over 3,000 different items in the category. Sure, why not?

CAMBRIDGE Brewing Co. founder Phil Bannatyne joins the pod to dive into the recent announcement that the MA brewpub is shutting its doors in December and the team’s next steps, as well as the status of the overall brewpub market segment.

Then the BREWBOUND trio dive into all things Cali:

• The MODERN TIMES situation
• ANDERSON VALLEY being up for sale
• FW’s plans for the year ahead

Listen Here!

• CA governor Gavin Newsom is proposing legislation to ban all use of THC and all “intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids” from food and drink products in the state.
• MC set a “strategic partnership” with Australian NA RTD cocktail brand NAKED LIFE to the U.S., starting in March with 5 SKUs. 
• Justin has the rest of MC’s 2025 plans outlined for ya here, including for ZOA, HAPPY THURSDAY and its premium portfolio emphasis.
• St. Louis brewery URBAN CHESTNUT has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, following two lawsuits from investors over unpaid loans back in June.
• SAPPORO-STONE is allegedly rolling out an anti-union effort at its VA brewery according to Vine Pair’s Dave Infante, after employees started a union drive last month to gain better pay, scheduling and working conditions.

The discounted room block for BREWBOUND LIVE at the Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel on Dec 11 & 12 is now open! If you’re on the breakfast buffet line ahead of Zoe and take the last box of FROOT LOOPS, that is a scorn you do not want to feel my friend, so think twice.

 Also – register now here!

PITCH AWAY!: Applications to compete in this year’s Pitch Slam competition are also now open through September 30 here.

NEW SPEAKER, WHO DIS? Here are the latest industry speaker additions to the lineup!

• Rebecca Maisel, GULF DISTRIBUTING SVP legal and government affairs;
• Lauren Doll-Sheeder, DOLL DISTRIBUTING managing partner;
• Jennifer Grant, MARKSTEIN Sales general manager and VP;
• Zech Francis, BEATBOX Beverages SVP of global marketing;
• Rebecca Dye Yonushonis, NEW BELGIUM BREWING CMO;
• Lindsay Kunkle, FORESIGHT FACTORY director, head of U.S. Consultancy.

They join previously confirmed speakers:

• Mary Mills, consultant for 3 Tier Beverages;
• Arthur Moye, owner and CEO of FULL CIRCLE Brewing;
• Kaleigh Theriault, director of thought leadership, beverage alcohol vertical at NIQ;
• Brian “BK” Krueger, VP of business development and portfolio strategies at Bump Williams Consulting;
• Natalie Cilurzo, RUSSIAN RIVER co-owner;
• Peter Skrbek, CEO Deschutes Brewery;
• Lester Jones, NBWA chief economist and VP of analytics; 
• Jennifer Hauke, DRAFTLINE TECHNOLOGIES founder and president; 
• Rebecca Maisel, GULF DISTRIBUTING SVP of legal and government affairs 

PLUS - RETAILER ONE-TO-ONES: Beer and other bev-alcohol brands can participate in meetings with leaders from WHOLE FOODS, EXTRAMILE CONVENIENCE and other businesses, who will be available for private, pre-scheduled meetings. Brands will be selected at each retailer’s discretion. REGISTER HERE.

This week’s beer is going out to Milwaukee’s BROKEN BAT BREWING for instituting a No Phone Fridays promo (a far better idea than its No Shirt Tuesdays promo).

Taproom patrons attending on said Fridays get a free beer from the brewery if they choose to lock their phones away safely at the bar when they come in, and they really seemed to enjoy it once their cold sweats and twitching ceased.

The brewery did it once a month this summer, and sales were nearly double the amount of any other Friday. Plus, we’re all now at least one step back from entering The Matrix as a species.

Needless to say, BROKEN BAT is extending the monthly event through the end of the year, and is very open to continuing it well into 2025 – so good on ya BROKEN BAT! I mean, you can always totally impress your date by checking in your beers when you leave the taproom.

Slainté!  

OH BTW: Based on the end of the IOWA STATE 🏈 game last weekend, I’m thinking Justin drank the lager and the double IPA. Congrats on the big win, boss.

-Sean McNulty 

(you can always reach me here on LinkedIn)