Category: Specialty Industry News
News relating to the craft brewing industry
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.
(more...)
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.
(more...)
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.
(more...)
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.
(more...)
News BA Rolls Out New Marketing Campaign to Promote Members During Dry January
The Brewers Association has rolled out a new consumer-facing marketing campaign in an attempt to drive business to its members breweries after the holidays and during “dry January.” The campaign reveals two evolving trends for the BA; marketing directly to the consumer in an effort to drive more business to its members, and promoting the fact that member breweries offer more than just traditional beer
(more...)
News BA Estimates a Decline of 2% or More in 2024 Craft Beer Production
The Brewers Association (BA) is estimating that 2024 will be a second year of declining sales for independently owned craft breweries. In the BA’s midyear survey, craft saw an estimated decline in production of -2% and the association estimates that the full-year number may be weaker than the midyear estimate.
(more...)
News TTB Exempts 24 Brewing Ingredients from Formula and Approval Requirements
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is expanding its list of exemptions from the formula requirements for brewery products made with certain ingredients by exempting 24 additional ingredients. The exemption of was in responds to two petitions filed by the Brewers Association (BA) requesting further exemptions from formula requirements.
(more...)
News Brewers Association Announces 2024 Board of Directors Election Results
The Brewers Association today announced the three candidates elected to the Board of Directors. They include Bill Butcher, Port City Brewing Co., Leah Cheston, Right Proper Brewing Co. and Tomme Arthur, The Lost Abbey.
(more...)
News BA Cuts Staff – Restructures Organization
The Brewers Association announced today that they will cut six staff members, which is 11% of the BA workforce, effective today. Additionally, the organization will restructure the senior management by “reducing the number of CEO direct reports,” according to statement today by BA President & CEO Bob Pease.
(more...)
News CEO of American Cider Association Michelle McGrath to Step Down
American Cider Association (ACA) CEO Michelle McGrath has announced that she will step down from the position she has held for eight years. The Board of Directors is currently seeking a replacement with the intent to hire by the end of the year.
(more...)
News BA Board of Directors Election Begins as Association Faces Pivotal Year
The 2024 Brewers Association (BA) Board of Directors election is open for member voting and runs through November 13th. The board will have a pivotal role in the future of the association as it hires a new leader for the association in the wake of BA President and CEO Bob Pease’s retirement. The Board will also be tasked with defining a path forward to represent an industry that is struggling with declining sales and waning consumer interest.
(more...)
News Falconer Foundation Offering Full Scholarship to ABG Intensive Brewing Science Program
In collaboration with the American Brewers Guild, the Falconer Foundation is offering a full-tuition scholarship to the Guild’s Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering program. The course is designed for brewers and homebrewers who lack formal training in brewing science and covers all the fundamentals of beer production and quality assurance.
(more...)
News The Untold Story of New Albion Brewing
It is a well-known and well told story of the New Albion Brewing becoming the first American modern day craft brewery built from the ground up. But after all these years of the story being told, there is an integral and important part of that historic brewery that has never been revealed. Until now.
(more...)
News BA Releases Mid-Year Industry Results Showing Independent Craft Down 2%
The BA today released its midyear survey results today, providing data for the craft brewing industry through June of this year. The association estimates that there was a continued decline by volume in the market, estimated to be down 2% compared to 2023.
(more...)
News BA Announces Retirement of President & CEO Bob Pease
The Brewers Association today announced the retirement of president and CEO Bob Pease. Pease will step down in early 2025 once his successor is in place. The departure leaves an immense hole for the association to fill. Pease, who has been with the BA for 32 years brought tremendous passion, dedication and knowledge to the leadership position and will long be remembered for the extensive list of accomplishments.
(more...)
News Oregon Craft Beer Legend and Pioneer Art Larrance Dies at 80
Art Larrance, Oregon craft beer pioneer and co-founder of the Oregon Brewers Festival passed away on Sunday from a heart attack at the age of 80. Larrance co-founded Portland Brewing Co. along with Fred Bowman in 1986 and later founded Cascade Brewing.
(more...)
News State Brewers Guilds Shift Fundraising Gears – OBG to Host National Beer Competition
For years, state-based brewers guilds looked to beer festivals as a significant fundraising source. But as the popularity of beer festivals continues to wane, state guilds are beginning to develop new and creative ideas to raise money. The Oregon Brewers Guild (OBG) has developed a new concept in fundraising, a nationwide beer competition.
(more...)
News BA Names Bart Watson as President and CEO
Posted by Tom McCormick | Leave a Comment
The wait is over. In a much-anticipated decision, the Brewers Association has named Bart Watson as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the association. Tapping the next leader from the inside of the association to replace Bob Pease is a bit of surprise given that the search was national in scope – but the having a talented, articulate industry veteran who knows the culture of the BA and of the industry will serve the association and its membership well.
(more...)