USA | In retrospect, 2019 may have been “peak craft”. The Brewers Association (BA) estimates that independents produced 31 million hl beer, up nearly 4 percent, increasing craft’s market share by volume to 13.6 percent.

USA | In the four weeks to 21 March 2020, beer sales soared 16.2 percent per Nielsen data on retail channels. The 12-week sales growth for the category was 8.6 percent.

Mexico | Constellation Brands has reiterated its commitment to Mexico, after residents of Mexicali, a city on the US border, voted against completing its billion-dollar brewery.

USA | Some people are stupid. Reportedly, internet searches for “corona+beer+virus” have risen in recent weeks. Although there is no connection between the coronavirus and the popular Mexican beer, that hasn’t stopped people from getting the two confused.

USA | President Trump may plug “America first”, but when it comes to choosing a beer, American folks turn a deaf ear. Beer imports rose 1.8 percent in 2019 to reach 42.5 million hl, the Beer Institute, an industry body, reported on 5 February 2020.

USA | Diageo has agreed to pay a USD 5 million fine to settle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which had charged the world’s number one drinks company of pressuring distributors to buy excess inventory to boost its results in a flagging market.

USA | The Siebel Institute of Technology, home of the World Brewing Academy programme, has relocated to the Chicago Westloop/Greektown area, leaving Kendall College, which has undergone a zoning change and a subsequent repurposing of the building.

USA | The top brass for Lagunitas announced on 20 February 2020 that she is stepping down with immediate effect after nearly five years as CEO. Her departure comes shortly after Lagunitas reported another round of layoffs.

USA | The Coca-Cola Company has reaffirmed its full year guidance, despite an expected impact from COVID-19 on its first quarter 2020 results.

USA | Boston Beer, the maker of Samuel Adams beer, saw volume sales rise 24 percent to 5.3 million barrels (6.2 million hl) in 2019, thanks to buoyant demand for its Truly hard seltzer and Twisted Tea brands, plus the addition of the Dogfish Head brands.