Breweries remain barred from accepting direct payment for assigning Texas distribution rights to a licensed wholesaler in the state following state supreme court’s (in)decision late last wk. Ct chose not to hear appeal brought by trio of small Texas brewers, Live Oak, Revolver and Peticolas. Recall, brewers sued state, charging that 2013 law explicitly barring brewers from being paid for distrib rights violated due process rights with “no rational reason,” pushing well beyond state’s “police power” to regulate industry. In 2016, lower court ruled in brewers’ favor. But Tex Alc Bev Commission appealed that ruling, which Tex Ct of Appeals reversed the next yr (see vol 8, no 106 from Dec, 2017). Now, by choosing not to hear case, Tex Sup Ct upholds that decision. Brewers weighing options.

While many large craft brewers face tougher trends, smaller craft players across US see ways to dig deeper and expand their bizzes. Plenty shakin’ in San Diego, watched closely by local outlet Westcoaster SD. First, fast-growing Belching Beaver makin’ more moves, picked up additional 24K sq-ft in nearby lot to expand packaging capabilities and move into hard seltzer market, paper wrote. Brings co’s total footprint near 50K sq-ft. It produced just over 30K bbls last yr, just outside top-20 CA-based craft brewers, according to state reports. Sold almost 3/4 of that in CA too, up almost 50% from 15K bbls sold in home state in 2017. Belching Beaver on track for 40-45K bbls in 2019, per Westcoaster, with other oppys ahead of it as well. Lots more moves in the county, including planned taproom in downtown InterContinental hotel from Latitude 33 Brewing and new location for Acoustic Ales in Carlsbad. Big Moves by Brew Bus/Florida Ave Near Tampa, Circle Brewing Near Austin In 2 of top-5 most populous states, both still under indexing in terms of breweries per capita and craft share, a couple of recent announcements that sound a lot more like traditional craft capacity expansions. Almost 4 yrs after acquiring Florida Avenue Brewing in Tampa, Brew Bus Brewing announced big expansion plan to build its own production facility in 34K sq-ft facility in Wesley Chapel community, Neighborhood News reported. Company that started as bus-tour operator to nearby breweries started producing its own beer under Brew Bus Brewing name at BrewHub and acquired one of older area brewpubs Florida Avenue in 2015 (see vol 6, no 97). Now co acquiring large ex-fitness center that’s been closed since around the same time. Building out production facility for both brands lookin’ like an $8.7-mil investment, according to paper. Big plans also on tap in Texas, where Austin’s Circle Brewing got greenlight for large expansion in nearby Elgin, according to Austin Biz Journal. City council ok’d up to $200K in economic incentives for co to build 18K sq-ft brewery on 22 acres, clearing land to also grow crops for its beer as well. Opened in 2010, co shipped just over 2,000 bbls last yr, according to Brewers Assn stats. Construction expected to begin this summer with brewery opening early next yr, paper wrote. Second Sites and Sports-Related On-Premise Efforts Details scant so far, but Seattle’s Cloudburst Brewing announced plans for a 2nd taproom in town, this time in hopping Ballard nabe, according to The Stranger. The 4-yr old co has kept its biz draft-only so far and made quite the name for itself in a town crowded with breweries. But when right building showed up, co made move and expects new location to open before end of 2019. Then in Massachusetts, Worcester-based Wormtown Brewery expects to open a small brewery and taproom in 4K sq-ft location at Patriot Place, adjacent to Gillette Stadium where New England Patriots play. Outfitted with 7-bbl system and spacious taproom, co hopes to get site up and running this summer, in time for football season to start. Similarly, upstart Atlanta brewery Scofflaw announced debut of branded location in city’s State Farm Arena, home of NBA’s Hawks and WNBA’s Dream. The Scofflaw Beer Barn is outfitted with 48 taps, more than any other bar in arena, brewery touted. Meanwhile, back in Boston, pop-up beer gardens in and around town keep on, well, popping up. Back for 2nd yr, Castle Island’s Constitution Wharf spot in Charlestown, as Boston.com recently featured.

AB’s Breckenridge Brewing could lose its original location on Main St in city of Breckenridge, CO, following property owner “abruptly and inexplicably” backing out of negotiations to renew the lease, reported Summit Daily talking to Breck’s head brewer Jimmy Walker. “After exploring every avenue to stay we filed a lawsuit on Friday as a last resort,” AB Brewers Collective communications director Megan Lagesse told CBN. “The current lease is up June 30,” AB atty told paper, explaining that “while the brewery thought it had an agreement with the owner, they recently had a change of mind.” So with less than one mo to figure out alternatives, AB/Breck lookin’ for a quick remedy. Owner of the property is listed as Breckenridge Brewery Real Estate LTD. While production primarily moved to brewing campus in Littleton, CO, the Breckenridge Brewery’s Breck location employs over 60 people and serves as co’s “innovation center,” general manager Sarah Hanley noted, adding “Anheuser-Busch is super committed to us staying in the community.”

Goose 312 Urban Wheat and IPA prices in Chicago are extreme examples of AB’s willingness to go low on core craft brand prices. Yet co’s also experimenting with low price points across many of its acquired craft brand families. Collectively, AB acquired craft cos avg prices dipped 2.5% to $37.91 per case in IRI mutli-outlet + convenience data. That’s not far off from total craft segment prices (+1.1% to $38.26/case). Indeed, low prices below far from across the board. Top AB acquired craft brand Elysian Space Dust still well above craft avg at near $49/case. Others too. But avg price for each brand family is down YTD, including sizable price drops on several lead brands emphasizing larger pack sizes (15-, 18-, 24-pks, etc.), and newer intros at low prices. For example, Golden Road Wolf Pup session IPA and Mango Cart each down at $30-31/case markers in MULC ($29.42 and $27.23 in grocery channel); Goose 312 Urban Wheat and IPA at $28.50/case and $31.88/case nationally in IRI MULC ($26.87 and $28.05 respectively in grocery channel); Blue Point Toasted Lager down $4.30 per case to $31.82 in MULC ($28.50/case in grocery); Breckenridge Nitro Irish Stout prices plummeted to $29.56 per case, down 30% vs last yr, and $$ sales down as result even with volume up 38%; Breck variety pk (15pk) is down to $25.30 per case in MULC, tho sales spiked to become its #2 brand overall. And Four Peaks Gold Lager dropped $4.73 per case to $32.25 YTD. Jaw-Droppingly Low Craft Case Prices in $21-25 Range Then too, newer brands goin’ even lower in some instances. Real low. 10 Barrel Pub Lager, $$ up 53%, volume up 124%, is selling for under $21 per case YTD thru May 19 in IRI MULC. Down $9.60/case vs last yr. Just getting started, Goose Island’s new Natural Village Garage Style Lager goes for $22.66/case in MULC; Summer Hours Lager is up $4/case to $23.70 on avg. Golden Road’s new Fruit Cart mix pk is $26.75 per case and new Spiked Agua Fresca variety pk at $27.80 per case. Devils Backbone new Gold Leaf lager at $26.30/case; Blue Point’s new Shore Thing Anytime Anywhere Lager selling at $25.77 per case; Summer Ale at $25.09 per case. Separately, MillerCoors dabblin’ with lower-priced craft too, primarily with new Saint Archer Gold, selling for ~$29/case in MULC currently. Terrapin Recreation Session IPA ($27.48/case), Hop Valley Light Me Up Lager ($27.99) are goin’ low as well. But those brands are less emphasized, both declining double-digits. And MC acquired craft cos collectively still above avg craft pricing, at $41.01/case, down 0.5% YTD thru May 19 in MULC. Many of AB’s lower-priced craft brands are in growth mode currently. AB (and MC) far from the only craft cos dabbling in these lower price points. But still gotta wonder, at what cost?

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Chalk it up as another example of crowdfunding gone wrong. After talks with a potential buyer reportedly fell apart, UK's Wild Beer Co went insolvent and laid off its entire workforce, according to Just Drinks. The craft brewer crowdfunded £1.76 mil ($2.14 mil in today's dollars) from nearly 2K shareholders back in 2017, but never delivered on the new brewery it promised to build.

Say goodbye to SAVOR. After "14 delicious years," SAVOR will "hang up its apron," the Brewers Association announced today. No 2023 date had been officially announced, meaning the June 2022 event was its last. Org will instead turn its attention toward larger events including the Great American Beer Festival and Craft Brewers Conference. "We'd like to thank all our beer lovers, breweries, sponsors, and partners for making SAVOR the country's premier craft beer and food pairing event," the association wrote.

After a bit of delay, Lagunitas' new innovations lab, dubbed the Lagunitas Disorderly House of Brewing," officially opened today, co shared with CBN. Recall, this is part of Lagunitas' Petaluma, CA brewing campus, initially licensed as a brewery that can "start to play" across all kinds of brews and NA products, tho "not licensed" for any other types of alc bevs (see May 20 issue).