In Mar 2011, Maryland-based Flying Dog Brewery filed suit against Michigan Liquor Control Comm for its "appalling attempt at state censorship" by continuing to ban Raging Bitch brand in MI. Flying Dog brewed the IPA for its 20th Anniversary in 2010, and it had become brewer's best seller. But MLCC barred sale of Raging Bitch in MI because it deemed beer's name and label, "detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare." Flying Dog asked US Dist court to reverse decision immediately so it can begin selling and advertising the brand within MI. MLCC's decision "is about much more than a beer label," said CEO Jim Caruso. "It's about regulators gradually morphing into self-appointed thought police." He didn't think "Michigan citizens deserve government regulators arbitrarily deciding what their beer should be called." Flying Dog finally prevailed and won court ruling in March 2015.

WI's Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling took another step further beyond beer, acquiring SoulBoxer Cocktail Co, a Milwaukee-based RTD brand known for its brandy and bourbon old fashioned canned cocktails, co announced yesterday. It already contract produced the brand, now taking the partnership to the next level. Recall, Eagle Park has been on the move in recent yrs since building out a 20+K sq-ft facility with 30-40K bbls of annual capacity, acquiring Milwaukee Brewing's brands and recipes, and adding to its repertoire of own brands across beer and spirits. It produced and sold just under 10K bbls of beer in WI last year, down 3% vs 2024, according to state data. But it outperformed the mkt, approaching the top 10 craft brewers by volume in its home state.

San Diego's Harland Brewing was fruitlessly lookin' to expand until a local golf course teed up an offer they couldn't refuse. Pending final city council approval next wk and no construction delays, the brewery is set to open in the restaurant space of the Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center sometime in May. Harland will operate "in line with the 18-hold public course hours, opening around 7 a.m. to provide coffee and breakfast items" while "lunch and dinner will run until around 10 p.m.," reported SD Mag.

IA's Big Grove is lookin' to fill more than 100 positions at its forthcoming taproom in the Prairie Village nabe of Kansas City, KS, reports Fox 4. (It's not gonna tend to itself, after all.) The co's 6th taproom and 2d out of IA is set to open next mo, and is "looking to fill culinary roles, taproom hosts and management positions," per report. The hiring events run from Mon to Wed at The Brookfield Room in downtown Kansas City. Despite challenging times in the industry at large, Big Grove continues to grow, up high-single-digits in $$ and vol sales YTD in NIQ off-prem scans thru Feb 21.

AB's Goose Island has overhauled its 312 Urban Wheat Ale, changing the packaging, lineup and incorporating a new tagline: "It's a Chicago Thing." While the cans are still a distinct yellow, the design is simpler and the tagline is prominently featured. No longer available in 15pks, it comes in 12pks and 24pks of 12oz cans. It's also still available in 6pks of 12oz glass bottles and 16oz cans which are, apparently, Chicago Things. And while Goose's Bear Hug family is one of the stronger brands in craft, they're likely hoping for a rebound with the rebrand, as 312 sales are down ~20% in $$ and vol sales YTD in Circana MULC sales thru Feb 22.

After MC took its Blue Moon brand into the high-ABV wheat beer space, Tilray's lookin' to take it up an extra notch with Shock Top High Voltage, a 9.6%-ABV double wheat beer. "We didn't set out to make just another beer," said Sr Brand Mgr Jacon Neilson. "High Voltage is our response to the fans - designed to show up wherever the energy is high and the night is just getting started." High Voltage is available in 19.2oz singles at $2.99 and will start with a "major launch in Southern California before expanding nationwide to both large-format and convenience stores beginning in May," per press release.

Days after Tilray announced its intention to buy BrewDog's US assets, its Cincinnati landlord sued the co for unpaid rent and abandonment, reports the Cincy Biz Courier. Sun Building LTD filed suit in Hamilton County ct alleging BrewDog owes $611K in back rent and has abandoned the property after abruptly closing the taproom last spring (see Jun 18, 2025 issue). BrewDog initially leased the property in Oct 2018 during a period of expansion but cut back on its US brewpubs prior to striking deal with Tilray, paring them back to Columbus/Cleveland OH, Las Vegas, NV and Denver, CO.

Tho most established in segments like energy and focus, FitAid marketer LifeAid Beverage has been riding recent creatine wave that's seen females flocking to ingredient in seemingly record numbers even as it also builds out powdered FitAid Hydrate line as lower-salt alternative to booming LMNT brand.

Flavor mashups called dirty sodas continue to ripple out thru restaurant and bev segments as marketers look to ride consumers' excitement over colorful, unexpected experiments they've been touting on social media in recent years, often melding CSDs with dairy creamers. On packaged side, we now have what's apparently the first alcoholic dirty soda entry under Mike's Hard moniker from innovators at Mark Anthony Brands even as eatery chain Taco Bell has elevated its in-store dirty sodas to permanent status on the menu. It's another sign of the intense cross-fertilization among segments - even straddling alc and non-alc - in marketers' relentless quest to capitalize on latest trends.