Craft Brew News 09/27/19

(courtesy of BrewBound – www.brewbound.com)

BrewDog USA on Track to Double Sales in 2019

Scottish craft brewers BrewDog are on pace to double its U.S. business this year.

In an email to BrewDog USA wholesalers, chief revenue officer Adam Lambert reported that the company’s depletions (sales to retailers) increased 95% through the first eight months of the year. The company has also sold more than 320,000 case equivalents.

BrewDog’s U.S. home, Ohio, where it built a 100,000 sq. ft. production facility, accounts for 55% of its domestic business, and in-state sales are growing at a rate of 80%.
Sales of core IPAs Elvis Juice and Hazy Jane are up 104% and 95%, respectively, year-to-date. Grapefruit-infused Elvis Juice now represents nearly half (49%) of BrewDog USA’s business, while New England-style IPA Hazy Jane makes up 22% of its business. Sales of BrewDog’s flagship Punk IPA, which accounts for 8% of the company’s business, are flat.

Lambert noted that 16 oz. cans continue to drive BrewDog’s total growth and represent 9% of its total business.

In 2020, BrewDog is projecting its upward sales trajectory to continue, as Lambert told wholesalers that the company’s goal is to once again double its business.

Weyerbacher Reorganization Plan Shows Private Investor Group Backed Out, Internal Investors In


The private investment group announced as a majority investor in Weyerbacher Brewing Company this past April has backed out of the deal, the brewery’s chief operating officer, Josh Lampe, told Brewbound.

Instead, the Easton, Pennsylvania-based craft brewery has turned to a group of seven individuals and two trusts to invest $50,000 in exchange for shares in the business, according to a reorganization plan filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Pennsylvania’s Eastern District.

1518 Holdings abandoned plans to buy a majority stake in Weyerbacher, a 24-year-old craft brewery that sold as many as 19,543 barrels at its most recent peak in 2014, shortly after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April, Lampe said.

“We’ve been going at it on our own, and we’ve got a lot of beer coming out and are making headway with getting everything back in stock, which is a good thing,” he added.
Weyerbacher also owes $1.9 million to other creditors, but those claims are unsecured and the company plans to pay back a total of $186,000 according to the reorganization plan.

Lampe said there have been no layoffs at Weyerbacher since the company laid off two salespeople in February. The company has no plans to close its retail locations in Easton, where it operates a 30,000-barrel production brewery and taproom, or in New Hope, where it opened a stand earlier this year inside a food hall and local market.

Lampe said “We’re still working through our issues, but my main focus is the future of the company and making sure that we are able to keep putting out great beer,”.

Texas Brewers Report Boost from Beer-To-Go Sales Legalization

Eighteen days after Texas’ new beer-to-go law went into effect, manufacturing brewers are reporting high levels of consumer enthusiasm for the opportunity to buy and take home packaged beers from taprooms.

After passing through the Texas Legislature in the spring and being signed by the governor in June, the law allowing the state’s licensed manufacturing breweries to sell beer to-go went into effect on September 1. Prior to the change, only brewers holding brewpub licenses that produced fewer than 10,000 barrels could sell patrons beer for off-premise consumption. The new law allows customers to purchase up to one case of 12 oz. cans (288 oz.) per brewery visit daily.

Peticolas Brewing Company founder Michael Peticolas said sales during the two weeks since the change in the law were the best in the 8-year-old Dallas-based beer company’s history. Peticolas, an attorney turned brewer, was a vocal proponent of changing the law.

“It was a huge team effort to get this thing from concept to actually opening up on September 1, which ultimately is the single biggest day we’ve ever had in our history,” he said.

Austin Beerworks co-founder Adam DeBower told Brewbound in an email that the passage shows that with “a well-thought-out and executed game plan, normal people can in fact still move the needle on the laws that govern our lives.”

Truly Hard Seltzer Named Official Hard Seltzer of the NHL

The Boston Beer Company today announced it has inked a five-year deal for Truly Hard Seltzer to be the “official hard seltzer” of the National Hockey League. The agreement is Boston Beer’s first national sports league partnership.

The sponsorship will begin at the start of the 2019-2020 season on October 2, and will give the brand exposure both through broadcasts and stadiums during the regular season, Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Stanley Cup Final. Truly will also sponsor the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame during the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic as well as the 2020 NHL Stadium Series.

NHL chief business officer and executive vice president Keith Wachtel said in a press release “As the beer category continues to evolve, we’re thrilled to become the first national sports league partner of The Boston Beer Company,”. “With a thriving business across multiple categories, they are an ideal partner to engage with our avid fan base. We’re excited to develop fun and unique activations across their portfolio of brands.”

In December 2017, Boston Beer and the Boston Red Sox announced a multi-year agreement to make Samuel Adams “the official beer of the Boston Red Sox.”


Craft Beer Storm Website: www.craftbeerstorm.com


** Check out Upcoming Craft Beer Weekends **


Hampton, NH
The Victoria Inn Bed & Breakfast and Pavilion

Craft Beer Weekend - Dates: October 25-27, 2019

Friday - Food / Beer Pairing at Inn / Q&A Brewer's Panel
Saturday - Beer Bus takes you to local Breweries/Dinner
Sunday - Kegs N Eggs and BeerMosas

Availability: Limited - Book NOW!

http://www.thevictoriainn.com/6th-annual-craft-beer-storm-weekend-2019/


If your Company, Hotel or Restaurant wants to book a CraftBeer Weekend or Craft Beer Evening for your guests or employees send an email to Michael@craftbeerstorm.com



Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2


Support ACS In NYC Marathon
“32K In 64 days” - I signed up for the NYC Marathon through the American Cancer Society and I am aiming to raise $32,000 ($3,200 Minimum X 10X) - please follow link below to donate what you can - $25, $50, $30K! - Onward... - Here is link –
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=94035&pg=personal&px=49477898&fbclid=IwAR2mBEvhF1wMA_BbHPhkavichNSFrE9Y9gi2RVZzfQ_4Da5Sht7gvH9rY_k

*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***

Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH

*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:

https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faeb


Michael Potorti
Founder/Brewer
Host of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcast
michael@craftbeerstorm.com
michael@bearairishbrew.com

*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***

Beara Brewing Co.
2800 Lafayette Road
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Tel. (857) 342-3272

www.bearairishbrew.com

Like us on

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=en


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/

**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**

Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278

Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriber

Craft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher:
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-storm

Craft Beer Storm Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/

Craft Beer Storm Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/