News Impact on Craft Brewers of New Steel & Aluminum Tariffs
The President announced yesterday that the US would immediately begin imposing a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imported into the country. Unlike the recent threat of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which were largely seen as a negotiating tool and political postering, the tariff on steel and aluminum are expected to remain in effect indefinitely and will likely have a significant cost impact on alcohol beverage manufacturers.
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News Georgia Craft Brewers Promote State Senate Bill to End Ban on Self-Distribution
A bill has been introduced in the Georgia State Senate that would allow basic rights to small brewers that are already allowed in most states. Senate Bill 122 would allow small breweries to self-distribute a limited quantity of beer without requiring a wholesaler. It would also allow breweries to donate products to charitable events and eliminate daily limits on off-premises sales.
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News Washington Bill to Lower BAC Heads to Committee
As if there aren’t already enough challenges for the alcohol beverage industry. A Senate bill to lower the legal blood alcohol limit (BAC) for operating a car or watercraft from 0.08 to 0.05 has been introduced in the Washington State Legislature and will head to a committee hearing on Friday.
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News How Weihenstephan Selects Beer for Competition
What does it take to win at beer competitions around the world? For the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, it comes down to taste and quality. Brewmaster Tobias Zollo, recently shared insight on what the brewery does to prepare for competitions around the world.
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News Skagit Valley Malting to Reopen Under New Ownership
Skagit Valley Malting, the small family-owned malting company that that closed its doors in June of 2023 plans to reopen under new ownership by May of this year. The specialty craft maltster is located in the Skagit Valley about one hour north of Seattle, WA.
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News Falconer Foundation Offering Two Siebel Institute Scholarships
In collaboration with the Seibel Institute of Technology, the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation is offering two full tuition brewing education scholarships in 2025. Each scholarship is a full tuition grant and comes with a travel/lodging stipend.
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News Domestic Beer Shipments Down 3.3% in 2024 – 5 Million Barrels Less than 2023
The Beer Institute published an its unofficial estimate of domestic tax paid shipments by beer brewers for December 2024 which showed a decline in shipments of 3.3% for the month versus December 2023. That puts shipments for the full year of 2024 3.3% lower than 2023.
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Sponsored Cleaning and Maintenance Tips for Your Brewery
It’s the perfect time to give your brewery a fresh start with some deep cleaning and proactive maintenance. A well-maintained brewery not only ensures the quality and consistency of your beer but also keeps your equipment running smoothly and extends its lifespan. Here are some tips to help you kick off the year with a clean and efficient brewing space.
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News NBWA’s January Beer Purchasers’ Index Shows Improvement for Beer – Still Weak for Craft
Off to a good start for the overall beer category. But craft beer continues to show signs of declining growth as the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) released the Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for January 2025. The BPI for overall beer was 48 in January, up from 43 in January 2024 while craft beer was 26, down from 28 in January 2024.
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Expert Topic Best Practices for Your Brewery Equipment
To create and release beer on a commercial level these days takes more than just a brewer’s talent. The equipment used is instrumental to making sure the beer is made and packaged properly. World class beer does not need multi-million-dollar equipment. Working within a budget to make the most of what you have has worked for brewers for a long time. But making sure the equipment meets your needs, is well maintained, and learning how to spot problems on the horizon can save a brewery time, money, and unneeded frustration.
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News Family-Owned Sound Beverage Distributors in Washington Sells to Anheuser-Busch
In a twist to recent trends, Anheuser-Busch (AB) announced that they are buying an independent, family-owned distribution house in Bellingham, Washington. Sound Beverage Distributors covers Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties north of Seattle. In addition to the AB portfolio, they carry several craft beer brands and specialty imports.
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News Brewers Association Separates from American Homebrewers Association
After 42 years under one roof, the Brewers Association (BA) and American Homebrewers Association (AHA) are getting a divorce. It was announced today that the AHA has filed for incorporation in the state of Colorado as a step to becoming an independent 501(c) nonprofit organization.
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News American Craft Beer Hall of Fame to Hold Inaugural Inductees
The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame will hold its inaugural group of inductees, set to be revealed during a special livestream event on February 15, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST. The Hall of Fame was recently formed to celebrate the trailblazers, innovators, and visionaries who have made significant contributions to the craft beer movement in the United States.
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Expert Topic The Intrigue of Infusion Malts
Consumers are always looking for new flavors in their beer and brewers are eager to bring innovation to their recipes. While much of the attention to new flavors has been focused on hop varieties and adjuncts, there have been other advancements in the brewing space.
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News TTB Proposes Mandatory Disclosures of Allergens and Alcohol Facts in Labeling
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has published two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) that would require the disclosure of allergen as well as Alcohol Facts information on labels of alcohol beverages. Although the specifications were expected in some form, the proposed new requirements would be a major labelling change for alcohol beverages at a time when the industry is struggling with declining sales across all categories.
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News Molson Coors Rejects Jake and Dick Leinenkugel Offer to Buy Chippewa Falls Brewery.
Molson Coors has rejected an offer by Jake and Dick Leinenkugel to buy the Chippewa Falls Brewery. Molson Coors is closing the iconic brewery and moving production to their main brewery in Milwaukee, yet declined the brothers offer to buy the brewery.
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News Nationwide Collective Beer Effort to Support LA Fire Victims
Common Space Brewery of Hawthorne, CA has initiated a call for breweries nationwide to brew a beer called “WE LOVE LA” with proceeds being directed to a selection of non-profits supporting the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.
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