All articles tagged with #craft beer
Kansas City’s Boulevardia, a popular 10-year annual music and beer festival, is ending after this season due to a decision by organizers, but the city and sponsors like Boulevard Brewing Co. plan to continue celebrating local culture and events in new ways.
Two longstanding breweries in the Rochester area, Beers of the World and Fifth Frame Brewing Company, are closing due to economic and industry shifts, marking a significant change in the local craft beer scene.
Bosque Brewing Company is closing all its taproom locations after a federal judge dismissed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case due to excessive debt, marking another casualty in the ongoing craft beer industry decline that began in 2023.
Loyal Legion, a popular Portland beer bar dedicated to Oregon craft brewing, is opening a new location in Vancouver, Washington, featuring over 70 taps of Washington state beers, a larger space, and a diverse menu, marking its expansion beyond Oregon and offering Vancouver residents access to rare Seattle breweries.
Colorado breweries excelled at the GABF awards, winning 40 medals including three 'brewery of the year' titles across various categories, showcasing the state's diverse and high-quality craft beer scene.
The 2025 Great American Beer Festival in Denver showcased winners across 108 beer categories, highlighting popular styles like IPAs and lagers, with new categories reflecting evolving trends. Awards were given in various beer and cider styles, with breweries of different sizes recognized as Brewery of the Year and Cidermaker of the Year.
Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya has purchased San Francisco's historic Anchor Brewing Co., which closed last summer after 127 years. Ulukaya plans to revive the brand, preserve its heritage, and keep it in its original Potrero Hill neighborhood. Anchor Brewing, known as America's first craft brewery, faced economic challenges and declining sales, leading to its closure. Ulukaya's acquisition aims to restore the brewery to its former glory.
Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, has acquired Anchor Brewing Company, America's oldest craft brewer, which shut down last year due to the pandemic, inflation, and market competition. Ulukaya aims to revive the historic San Francisco brewery.
Lagunitas Brewing Co. is closing its Chicago brewing operations and taproom due to declining sales and industry changes, relocating production to its original Petaluma, California site by early August. The closure affects 86 employees, some of whom will receive support services and job-placement assistance. Despite the move, Lagunitas will maintain its Chicago warehouse and continue servicing local bars, restaurants, and stores. The decision aims to create a more efficient supply chain and focus on sustainable brewing.
National Beer Day on April 7 celebrates the legalization of beer and wine in the US after 13 years of prohibition. A survey by Casino.ca revealed that Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is California's favorite craft beer, followed by Stone IPA. The survey also found that pale ale is the state's favorite type of craft beer, with 83% of Californians drinking craft beer and 52% choosing it over other alcoholic beverages. The craft beer industry has seen significant growth, with the market expected to reach $140 billion in 2024.
The Charlotte brewing community is mourning the sudden loss of Dan Wade, the head brewer and co-founder of Wooden Robot Brewery, who tragically passed away after an accident at the brewery. Known for his meticulous brewing process and passion for creating exceptional beers, Dan's impact on the craft beer scene in Charlotte was profound. His memory will be cherished and his legacy will live on through the outpouring of tributes from friends, colleagues, and the community.
R. Shea Brewing in Akron, Ohio, is closing both of its locations due to a confluence of financial challenges, shifting market conditions, and the post-Covid economic climate. Despite efforts to raise funds through a crowd-funding venture, the brewery's owner, Ron Shea, found the decision to be inevitable after facing mounting financial concerns and a decline in craft beer consumption. The closure reflects broader challenges in the craft beer industry, with other breweries also experiencing financial difficulties amidst changing consumer habits and market dynamics.
The Ramova Theatre in Chicago, which has been closed since 1985, is set to reopen with a restaurant featuring a resurrected South Side chili recipe and a craft beer destination created by New York-based Other Half Brewing. The $23 million project aims to bring back the venue's glory days as a music hall, with an estimated capacity of 1,500 and plans for 150 events per year. Other Half Ramova will offer around 80 tap lines, including IPAs and lagers, and will collaborate with artists for special beers to mark appearances at the venue. The opening is expected in November.
Cannabis company Tilray has completed its acquisition of eight beer brands from Anheuser-Busch, expanding its presence in the craft brew industry. The deal includes well-known labels such as Shock Top, Breckenridge Brewery, and Blue Point Brewing Company. The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Tilray expects its beer sales volume to triple from four million cases to 12 million. This acquisition provides Tilray with additional manufacturing capacity and innovation capabilities for commercial expansion opportunities. Shares of Tilray fell over 3% following the announcement.
Canadian cannabis company Tilray has completed its all-cash acquisition of several beer and beverage brands from Anheuser-Busch, including craft beer labels Shock Top and Breckenridge Brewery. With this deal, Tilray becomes the fifth largest craft beer business in the U.S. and expands its market share in the U.S. Craft Beer Market to 5%. CEO Irwin Simon sees this move as a strategic adaptation to current market realities due to the delayed federal cannabis legalization in the U.S.