USA | According to the Brewers Association (BA), the number of operating craft breweries continued to climb in 2023, reaching an all-time high of 9,683, including 2,071 microbreweries, 3,467 brewpubs, 3,900 taproom breweries, and 245 regional craft breweries.

The ripple effect of the strike at Molson Coors Texas brewery

USA | Seattle is out of draught Rainier beer, while at Molson Coors brewery in Fort Worth, Texas, workers have entered their third month on strike for better wages, benefits and working conditions. At the time of writing (22 April), the strike was still ongoing.

USA | You would have thought that one year after Bud Light’s ill-fated collaboration with a transgender activist the whole affair would be water under the bridge. Well, it is not.

National Beer Day 2024: the US was drinking more Modelo than Bud Light

USA | National Beer Day, which was held on 7 April, marks the beginning of the end of Prohibition. But this year, more Americans than ever celebrated with a Modelo beer or even a non-alcoholic beer.

Boston Beer’s overuse of noncompetes becomes an issue

USA | At a time when the use of noncompetes has become increasingly restricted, Boston Beer, the firm behind Samuel Adams beer and Truly hard seltzer, has been in the spotlight for their strict enforcement. The practice, although legal, has sparked debates about the balance between protecting business interests and ensuring individual freedom to work.

Constellation wins Corona trademark dispute against AB-InBev

USA | A US court of appeals, on 25 March, upheld a 2023 decision that Constellation Brands can sell Modelo-branded hard seltzer drinks, dealing a blow to Grupo Modelo owner AB-InBev.

Anchor Brewing Company auction, the latest

USA | The winning bid for the Anchor Brewing Company was supposed to be announced at the end of January, but things appear to be delayed. It now seems as if the winner will be announced in late April.

Tobacco firm Altria sells down stake in AB-InBev

USA | Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, agreed to sell about one fifth of its stake in AB-InBev in order to raise cash for its own share buyback programme, which shall keep its investors happy.

Alternative Adult Beverages lose some lustre in US market

USA | Growth in Alternative Adult Beverages (AABs) – all those hard seltzer, cannabis beverages and RTD cocktails, which are positioned differently from traditional beer, distilled spirits, and wine – has started to cool.

Molson Coors’ contract agreement with Pabst ends December 2024

USA | Fifth-ranked US brewer Pabst is coming off a banner year, with volumes sales up 6.8 percent and dollars up 7.7 percent in 2023. Some of that growth is attributed to consumers boycotting Bud Light, which started in April last year.