OH-based on-prem chain, Winking Lizard, returned to 2019 levels of beer sales over the summer across co's 17 locations, but it's "taken a while for the beer segment to come back," co-owner John Lane shared at NBWA convention. Nowadays, "you gotta drive that core," because "the other stuff just isn't moving like it did" pre-Covid. About 25 cents of every dollar for Winking Lizard comes from beer sales, and huge portion of that comes from draft, he reminded. But key watch-out for John is to "be careful on how we price" draft. "We've been really hit with quite a few price hikes" and gotta "make sure" there's "differentiation between bottled beer and draft beer."

Panel of prominent female execs and industry observers highlighted dynamic state of the beer industry at day 2 of NBWA convention leading up to Alliance for Women in Beer meeting tomorrow. Segment moderated by Gulf Distributing gen counsel Rebecca Maisel, featuring Sierra Nevada sales veep Ellie Preslar, Whole Foods global beer & spirits category merchant Mary Guiver and Bernstein equity research analyst Nadine Sarwat. And Nadine reiterated her stance that US alcohol remains an "incredibly attractive" market, picking up on notion of non-alc "barbarians at the gate." Emergence of 4th-category led soft drink giants to feel they have a "right to play." But Pepsi's Blue Cloud distribution faces an "uphill battle," unlikely to be a "meaningful threat" long-term, in Nadine's view, given dual headwinds of state regs and lack of scale.

Showing a flair for timing, Beer Institute named Brian Crawford as its new president and chief executive officer today at its annual meeting, introducing him to the audience after a 6+ month search. Brian comes to BI from the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) where he is exec veep of govt affairs. He starts in his new role Dec 5.

Cold-brew co Rise Brewing launched a Barista extension of its oatmilk line offering home chefs a chance at same microfoam effect as café technicians. It's line-priced with other oatmilks. In its RTD coffee range it also offered a Salted Caramel extension that contains just 12 g of sugar (120 calories) per 7-oz can in contrast to some far more caloric rivals. Recall that Rise is coming off capital round that we now hear may have reached $10 mil, with Meritage leading the cap table (BBI, Sep 13) . . . Aura Bora, which just pulled in significant capital round (BBI, Sep 21), launched a Chai Cranberry flavor as it continues to build out retail footprint, including such recent partners as Safeway's Portland and Intermountain stores, Vons Pavilions' arm in SoCal and Sprouts nationally. Another Kroger arm, King Sooper, comes

"Happy healthy soda." That's key prong for relaunch of My Muse brand, recent platform created by serial entrepreneur Lance Collins that found itself back in the shop after indifferent reception to launch last year (BBI, Mar 15 2021). Packed in 12-oz slim can, the "inspired soda," as some of the can copy puts it, offers more robust-tasting, functional alternative to flavored seltzers with just a modest hit of sugar. It contains coconut water, the adaptogens ashwagandha and panax ginseng and host of vitamins but just 5 g of sugar (25 calories) via sweetener mix of cane sugar and stevia. It joins a lately tweaked enhanced water that was part of initial launch and has had its sweetener toned down a bit, but the iced teas that comprised the other arm are gone, at least for now. Execs at booth said the soda prototypes had been pulled together hastily for show, with the cans wrapped just the prior Fri so Collins would have something to show at NACS, somewhat to surprise of his team. Revamped line will comprise 5 canned sodas in flavors like Watermelon and 4 bottled waters. The sodas' SRP is $2.49, with initial focus out west and Sprouts a key retail target. Recall that My Muse initially had launched at longtime Collins consigliere Big Geyser (BBI, May 18 2021). Lance, the entrepreneur behind brands like Fuze Tea, NOS Energy, Body Armor, Core Water and Zen WTR, had flagged development of sodas this past spring, then revealed that he'd be dropping the teas (BBI, Mar 31 and Jun 6). At one time it was intended to go into Molson Coors beer network but any concerted such effort likely will wait until all kinks have been ironed out.

"Don't give up on us." That in essence was message from Tilray chmn/ceo Irwin Simon on Fri as cannabis player with outsize ambitions disappointed Wall Street with $65.8 mil net loss (Canadian) on $153.2 mil in net revenue. With US legalization proceeding at snail's pace - despite what Simon acknowledged were mainly "symbolic" remarks from President Biden last week urging declassification as Schedule 1 drug - Tilray strategy continues to be to build out other businesses that could be platform for intensified cannabis push once legalization happens. That implies further M&A, as with co's acquisitions of SweetWater Brewing, hemp marketer Manitoba Harvest and Breckenridge distillery. "The plan is very much been laid out," said Simon, who'd long led a acquisitive Hain Celestial prior to move into cannabiz. "We have a strong spirits business. We have a strong beer business, and we have a good foothold in the wellness business with Manitoba Harvest, continuous focus on growing those businesses. And with that, look at other acquisitions out there within the spirits in the wellness business or in the beer business with adjacency to cannabis."

So far, so good. That was word from Celsius brass at NACS as it moves to onboard PepsiCo as its new distribution partner after fractious relationship PEP had with Bang. In the meantime, it's continuing to do what's worked so well so far, building out its lifestyle-y Vibes line and augmenting in-market activities on college campuses and music fests. That was gist of what emerged from NACS booth conversation with ceo John Fieldly, sales vp Tony Guilfoyle and marketing vp Kyle Watson.

Regulatory issues created by Pepsi's work on Hard Mtn Dew with Boston Beer, and especially its establishment of Blue Cloud distribution, explained in additional detail by atty Mike Madigan during NBWA this morn. Tho lots of bev producers are diversifying their portfolios these days, including "large soda suppliers," Pepsi is "the outlier," in Mike's view. Hard Mtn Dew is "ostensibly produced" by Boston, but that's a "fiction," he argued. Pepsi "controls the manufacture process," he contends, describing it as a "contract brewing agreement," tho that's not what either co calls their relationship. "Pepsi owns the trademark," and "nobody can sell Mountain Dew without the consent of the trademark holder," Mike emphasized. Calling Boston the supplier of Hard Mtn Dew is "the fiction that Pepsi is creating," Mike said, believing the "trademark holder should be considered the supplier." And "some states" have agreed, refusing (or at least showing resistance) to awarding licenses to Blue Cloud, he said.