Because the Brewbound group will get able to embark on one other highway journey subsequent week, Zoe and Jess are wrapping up their very own current journeys.
Zoe ventured to Maine for the New England Craft Brew Summit in Portland, and he or she picked up various nuggets from that journey. Notably, Brewers Affiliation chief economist Bart Watson supplied an early learn on 2022 manufacturing numbers. To date: Quantity is up +0.6% for the 12 months. This, after all, may change as extra information rolls in, however it’s nicely under earlier predictions of +5%.
“My prediction is we’re going to see very, very slight development when all is alleged and performed,” Watson mentioned.
We’ll maintain you posted as this develops, however we’ll possible have the total image by the Craft Brewers Convention in Might.
Watson additionally supplied strategies on connecting with new shoppers and an replace on his 2023 predictions. Learn all of it right here.
In the meantime, Bump Williams of Bump Williams Consulting supplied some information on New England craft beer outpacing nationwide developments. Williams additionally confused why value issues, pointing to gross sales will increase of malt liquor. Observe the hyperlink for extra.
And in case you missed Jess’ protection of Constellation Manufacturers’ Gold Community Summit, comply with this hyperlink to listen to about their technique to make Modelo Especial the top-selling beer model within the U.S., the corporate’s large guess on Michelob Extremely challenger Modelo Oro and plans to launch a non-alcoholic model of Corona.
As I discussed, our complete group is hitting the highway. First up, Sacramento for the California Craft Brewers Affiliation Summit (March 20-22). We’ll be recording dwell podcasts on the expo ground t and far more, so see us there.
Then, we’re heading to Nashville for Brew Talks throughout the Craft Brewers Convention. We’ll kick issues off on Sunday, Might 7, at Nashville Underground. Be a part of us for beers, networking, and conversations with Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione, Athletic Brewing’s Invoice Shufelt, Better Good Imperial Brewing Firm’s Colleen Quinn, Monday Night time Brewing’s Jeff Heck and far more. Get your tickets right here.
In different information …
The Shopper Value Index (CPI) for beer at dwelling in February continued to outpace total inflation. The CPI for beer at dwelling was up +7% in comparison with February 2022, outpacing the index for all gadgets (+6%), beer away from dwelling (+5.3%) and complete beverage alcohol (+4.9%). Now why Bump is warning about value hikes.
Via the primary two months of 2023, these value hikes aren’t serving to {dollars} or quantity. Circana, the market analysis agency previously generally known as IRI (and previously previously generally known as IRI Worldwide) reported that off-premise greenback gross sales for the beer class are -4%, whereas quantity declined -8.6%.
Hit the hyperlink for extra in regards to the efficiency of New Belgium’s Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA (now the No. 1 craft beer within the comfort channel), Voodoo Ranger Juice Power (now the No. 5 craft beer model in multi-outlet and comfort shops) and Voodoo Ranger Fruit Power IPA (which cracked the highest 30 best-selling craft beer manufacturers). Plus, non-alc beer maker Athletic Brewing is holding onto a spot among the many prime 25 beer class distributors.
Final week was a tense one for Citadel Island founder Adam Romanow. His Massachusetts craft brewery discovered itself on the mercy of the Silicon Valley Financial institution collapse. Romanow detailed how the corporate’s financial institution accounts had been frozen for 72 hours. Fortunately, federal intervention led to Citadel Island being made complete. Learn all in regards to the ordeal within the hyperlink.
How do you outline beer? That’s not some existential query however the crux of Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary Grupo Modelo’s lawsuit towards Constellation Manufacturers. This all stems from the launch of Corona Onerous Seltzer, which Grupo Modelo argued fell outdoors of the sub-licensing settlement the 2 corporations reached when A-B divested itself of Mexican beer manufacturers Corona and Modelo to fulfill regulators in 2013. Finally, a jury sided with Constellation’s view that onerous seltzers fall within the beer bucket. Extra right here.
Ball, the world’s largest aluminum can maker, is in talks to shut one other can manufacturing plant – which might make three within the final six months. The plant in query is in Wallkill, New York, which opened in 1972. Ball is in talks with workers and union reps there about shutting down the plant and transferring the amount to different services. Latest closures embody Phoenix, Arizona (This fall 2022), and St. Paul, Minnesota (Q1 2023). Extra within the hyperlink.
Though there isn’t a can crunch presently, cans stay dear, Octopi Brewing founder and president Isaac Showaki shared on this week’s Brewbound Podcast. Showaki shares the place he sees the trendlines stepping into beverage, fills us in on the state of contract brewing and far more. Pay attention free right here.
Some Oregon lawmakers are as soon as once more pushing laws from public well being advocates that may elevate taxes on beer and cider produced within the state from $2.60 per 31-gallon barrel to $33.60 per barrel by 2028. That might be the second-highest fee within the nation, simply behind Tennessee. Oregon Brewers Guild govt director Christina LaRue informed Jess that she doesn’t foresee the invoice having the votes to cross.
New Belgium is launching Wild Nectar Onerous Juice in 4 states: Colorado, North Carolina, Illinois and Pennsylvania. What’s Wild Nectar? A 5% ABV gluten-free laborious juice that’s “barely candy and calmly carbonated.” Drinkers are inspired to show the can the wrong way up to distribute the pulp evenly. Control this one.
That’s a wrap on this week. See lots of you on the highway subsequent week. Thanks once more for your whole assist!
