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Other Half Brewing (Brooklyn, NY) is used to large growth targets, posting double-digit volume growth nearly every year since its inception in 2014, according to data from the Brewers Association (BA). 

In 2025, the craft brewery is aiming for more slow and controlled growth, co-founder and chief commercial officer Andrew Burman shared with Brewbound.

Burman said: “We used to be able to rely on a line around the block of 500 people every Saturday – it made life a lot easier. Now it's focusing on how do we make every little thing a little bit better. There's a lot more internal focus than it once was.”

Last year, Other Half produced 39,431 barrels of beer, an 11% increase from 35,500 barrels in 2023, according to the BA. This year, the brewery is still around 40,000 barrels, targeting single-digit growth. The company plans to add another 2,000 barrels to its output over the next few years as it maximizes its facilities’ capacity. 

The recent momentum changes are mainly due to larger macroeconomic factors out of craft breweries’ control, so Other Half is focused on what they can influence, such as tightening up its internal operations and trimming SKUs.

“We still do a great amount of individual beers, but it's trying to focus the innovation into stuff that is replicable,” Burman said, referring to a beer brand’s ability to be extended into other offshoots. 

“Like how do you make a single beer into a series so that it actually can fill up a portfolio slot? Because a single beer is nice, but if you can make 30 barrels of it once a year, what does that really matter? You need to move some volume.”

Insiders can read more, including details on how Other Half is tackling beyond beer innovation and communications with consumers, such as social and e-mail marketing. Plus, what recent trend is giving Burman hope for craft’s future.

Sazerac and Red Tree Beverages, Coca Cola’s bev-alc subsidiary, are embarking on a new partnership.

Fresca Mixed, a spirits-based RTD line launched by The Coca-Cola Company and Constellation Brands, as well as Minute Maid Spiked, are moving to Sazerac, Red Tree Beverages announced Tuesday. With the transition, Sazerac will take over a yet-to-launch malt version of Fresca Mixed.

Red Tree said the new partnership blends the subsidiary’s “proven expertise in brand building and marketing with Sazerac’s production excellence, established sales network, distribution management and enduring brand stewardship.”

Sazerac will also acquire the Minute Maid Spiked portfolio, the line of multi-serve wine cocktails under the juice brand Red Tree launched in spring 2024. The cocktails were produced by LeVecke Corporation, a CA-based wine and spirits co-packer, and was distributed by RNDC, along with a network of other wine and spirits wholesalers.

Insiders can read more about Coca-Cola’s bev-alc partnerships and Sazerac’s RTD efforts. 

🌴 CA's Antigua Brewing Abruptly Closes Taproom

Antigua Brewing Company (San Luis Obispo, CA) has closed its sole taproom after nearly 4 years in operation, the SLO Tribune reported. 

The shuttering has been characterized as an abrupt move. Visitors reportedly found a note on the front door last week reading: “Closed. Thanks for the memories! Don’t worry, you can still find our delicious beer at your favorite spots throughout SLO County.” 

🚚 MA’s Navigation Brewing Shutters Lowell Taproom

Navigation Brewing has closed its 10-year-old taproom in Lowell, MA, and will centralize operations at its facility in nearby Chelmsford. 

The brewery wrote on Facebook: “While it’s definitely sad news, the big positive is that we’re still in business and moving forward strong. Our Chelmsford location gives us the chance to build out the same vibe you’ve always loved – but with more space, more comfort, and more opportunity for great beer.”

❌ VT’s Simple Roots Brewing to Cease Operations

Simple Roots Brewing (Burlington, VT) will shut down next month, the brewery’s co-founders announced on social media last week. 

Husband-and-wife co-founders Dan Ukolowicz and Kara Pawlusiak wrote: “We are incredibly grateful to have been part of the Vermont brewing community, but more importantly the New North End and to have served you for nine wonderful years,” 

Insiders can read more about all 3 breweries here.

🗻 Westbound & Down Pulls In $1.2M in Crowdfund, Plans New Denver Tasting Room

Westbound & Down Brewing (Idaho Springs, CO) closed its first round of a crowdraise at more than $1.2 million, the company shared today. 

As one round closes, the company is opening a second round to open a new Northwest Denver tasting room by early 2027. The 4,000 sq. ft. Wheat Ridge neighborhood space will offer 18 taps, pizzas, sandwiches and pub fare, as well as a 1,600 sq. ft. rooftop patio, with its own 18 draft lines.

Westbound & Down has set a goal of quadrupling production by 2028. Westbound & Down CEO and director of brewing operations Jake Gardner discussed those plans with Brewbound earlier this year.

The decade-old craft brewery operates 4 Colorado locations.

💰 Mother Road Closes $1.4M Equity Crowdfunding Campaign

Mother Road Brewing (Flagstaff, AZ) has closed its equity crowdfunding campaign, raising nearly $1.4 million from 1,423 investors. 

$1 million of that was raised in a StartEngine campaign that ran from June 2024 to January 2025. A 2nd campaign raising the remaining $356,552 in funds closed August 29. 

The investments will be used to help Mother Road expand its distribution presence in NV and NM, as well as add seasonal staff members and update equipment to improve production efficiency. 

Just before the raise closed, Mother Road announced it had been selected by the AZ250 Committee and AZ Secretary of State’s office as the exclusive brewer of the state’s Semiquincentennial beer, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country. The beer, Arizona Lager, will be available packaged and on draft throughout AZ in 2026. 

Boston Beer Company is willing to fail fast with new 4th category products in order to find its next big brand, founder and CEO Jim Koch shared during last week’s Barclays’ Global Consumer Staples Conference. 

Koch admitted the company has had “a lot of failures,” joking that he hoped the audience had never heard of discontinued offerings Loma Vista, a tequila-based RTD launched in 2022, or General Admission, a 40% non-alcoholic beer and 60% fruit water released in 2024.

Koch said: “If we do 10 of those and one becomes a 10-million-case, $250-million brand, I’m good with that. We’re kind of built around regular failure as a company.”

Insiders can read more of Koch’s thoughts, including how the company is recouping costs in the business, how Twisted Tea’s pricing got out of whack in some markets and the three Hs troubling the bev-alc industry. 

Brewbound Live, our annual business conference for beverage-alcohol professionals returns to Marina del Rey, California, on December 10 and 11.

Tickets are available now for the 2-day gathering of founders, entrepreneurs, c-suite executives, retailers, distributors and suppliers from across the industry. The event will include on-stage conversations with industry leaders, networking and pre-arranged one-to-one conversations with retailers and distributors.

Several speakers and one-to-one participants have been announced, with more on the way. 

Register for Brewbound Live 2025 >>

Brewbound Live is presented by Powered by Sorse, Fast Track Packaging, Strike Visuals, John I. Haas, Can-One, and Tripleseat Software LLC. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for those seeking to elevate their presence beyond participation.

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