Big Brewers and US craft brewing: the romance is over

USA | The announcement that AB-InBev will close Elysian’s production brewery in Seattle, effective 31 December, led to a lively debate over AB-InBev’s motives. Some observers speculated that it was the decision by a group of 30 workers at the facility to join the Teamsters union in August 2023, which mightily displeased its owner. When the workers decided to go on strike in October over protracted contract negotiations, AB-InBev retaliated by shuttering the brewery. The insinuation does not stand up to reason. Thousands of AB-InBev’s workers in the US are unionised.

Sapporo-Stone axes global export business

USA | What has become of Stone, whose founder, Greg Koch, several years ago built a brewery in Berlin to preach German punters the gospel of craft beer? Both Koch and the Berlin brewery are gone. In fact, as of January 2025, Stone from San Diego will be a domestic business only. Various websites reported in November that, come January, the craft beer pioneer will be pulling out of all 50 of its export markets and its gargoyle logo will disappear from foreign stores.

Athletic’s non-alcoholic beers outsell competition in America

USA | Considering that Heineken said in 2019 it would invest USD 50 million each year on marketing Heineken 0.0, it is a big victory for US craft brewer Athletic that this year it overtook Heineken 0.0 as the best-selling non-alcoholic beer in America. Not enough, at the supermarket chain Wholefoods it has become the top-selling beer overall.

Prohibition 2.0? Review of dietary guidelines riles alcohol industry

USA | The US Dietary Guidelines 2025-2030 are being updated, and the alcohol industry fears that this edition could bring the first change in alcohol guidance since their inception in 1980 if it touts that there are “no safe levels”.

USA | What a blow to Wisconsin’s brewing heritage. Molson Coors announced on 8 November that it will close the Leinenkugel’s brewery in Chippewa Falls on 17 January 2025, as well as Leinenkugel’s 10th Street brewery in Milwaukee. Beer production will now be consolidated at Molson Coors’s macro brewery in Milwaukee. A total of 90 jobs will be lost.

Molson Coors takes controlling stake in Zoa Energy brand

USA | Molson Coors will now control marketing and retail operations for the better-for-you energy drinks brand, which was co-founded by the actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Financial terms of the deal, which was announced on 7 November, were not disclosed. As part of the rationale for the deal, Molson Coors highlighted that better-for-you energy drinks sales continue to outpace the broader category.

Coca-Cola’s alcohol strategy: It’s a long game

USA | It has been a while since we have heard comments from The Coca-Cola Company on its beverage alcohol strategy, and it could be a while before we will find out about their ultimate plans.

USA | Craft brewery valuations must be at rock bottom. Tilray’s latest SEC filing (10 October) revealed that, in September, the cannabis firm spent USD 23 million, or USD 120 per barrel, on Molson Coors’ four craft breweries Terrapin, Hop Valley, Revolver and Atwater - a fraction of what Molson Coors must have paid.

Constellation Brands not worried by higher tariffs if Trump wins

USA | It is not the typical growth investors are accustomed to see at Constellation Brands. In the second quarter 2025 (ended 31 August), revenue was up only 2.9 percent to USD 2.9 billion year-on-year. Its beer business achieved a solid 6 percent net sales increase, but its depletion volume had a growth of just 2.4 percent. Investors, on 3 October, thought these were softer quarterly results than usual for Constellation’s beer business.

Share a beer with the spirit of Samuel Adams from beyond the grave

USA | Halloween is still a few days off, but Boston Beer is inviting its fans to share a cold Sam Adams with a cold Sam Adams through an otherworldly, limited-edition At-Home Séance Kit. It is available from its online shop for USD 18.03. The kit is priced to match the year Sam Adams died (1803).