Canada – Ontario is expanding the sale of beer, wine and cider to almost 300 corner stores this summer as part of Premier Doug Ford’s push to liberalise liquor rules in the province. The bill, which was passed on 6 June 2019, entails ripping up an agreement with The Beer Store. The retailer has already signalled it will fight the move in the courts.

Colombia | The Chilean brewer CCU, which is part-owned by Heineken, and the domestic beverages company Postobón, on 3 May 2019 opened a USD 480 million brewery in an attempt to topple Bavaria’s stronghold.

USA | It is a pity. Portland’s longest-running craft brewery, BridgePort, has closed for good. After ceasing production at its brewery in February, its pub was shuttered on 10 March 2019.

USA – Danish brewer Mikkeller is expanding into Portland, the US craft beer capital, as it teams up with Portland restaurant group Chefstable to open a Mikkeller pop-up bar in the recently closed Burnside brewery.

USA | Beer hotels have become the new must-have. Yuengling, America’s oldest brewery and largest craft brewer, is moving forward with plans for a beer-themed hotel and tourist attraction in Tampa, Florida.

USA – Two of the biggest names in the craft beer industry are joining forces. Boston Beer, maker of Sam Adams beer, has acquired Dogfish Head for about USD 300 million, the companies announced on 9 May 2019.

Ecuador | On 2 May 2019, Heineken announced it has picked up a majority stake in the domestic brewer Biela y Bebidas Ecuador (Biela) from Cerec Holding, a consortium of local investors, for an undisclosed sum. Heineken plans to invest USD 100 million and also brew its eponymous brand in due course.

USA | Constellation has confirmed that it will close two newish Ballast Point brewpubs and abandon plans for a San Francisco brewpub – which was announced only nine months ago.

USA | There were over 1,000 craft brewery openings in 2018 but also 219 closings.

USA | Craft brewer Deschutes from Bend, Oregon, has informed officials in Roanoke, Virginia, that it will not break ground for a production brewery anytime soon, while Stone from San Diego, California, has put plans for a bistro in Richmond on ice.