This week in 1985, former Pabst prexy Bill Smith, along with other investors, purchased Joseph Huber Brewing Co. As part of deal, "well-liked" former owner, Freddie Huber would stay on for 7 yrs. It was Freddie who developed Huber's popular Augsburger brand that accounted for half its volume. Huber shipped 260K bbls in '83; 239K bbls in '84 but was just under 89K bbls thru first 5 mos of '85. Huber had its ups and downs from then on. Bill and investors sold Augsburger rights to Stroh Brewery in 1988 and closed the brewery for a bit. Freddie bought the brewery back with investment from Berghoff family, but Huber eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1995. Years later its brands were sold off to Mountain Crest Brewing, which was then renamed Minhas Craft Brewery.

Has the country started coming down from its high? Compared to 2 yrs ago, American adults are slightly more likely to believe that cannabis negatively affects society and most users, Gallup found. Folks are still more likely to think alcohol is harmful. But pollsters also tracked notable dips in reports of both current cannabis usage and of having ever tried it. And just as young adults drove a drop in reported drinking, 18-34 yr olds seem to be pulling back on cannabis use, too, results show.

A flurry of four AB distrib deals announced in exceptionally active period in just the last week. Here's the latest: General Dist of Salt Lake City, UT bought Bald Eagle Bevs in Cedar City in Southwest UT. Bald Eagle reportedly sells about 850K cases/yr. This deal will make General about 7.5 mil cases in all. Recall, General Dist bought 4 small AB distribs in UT in 2016. The family that owns Bald Eagle Bevs has a separate Coca-Cola bottling biz, which it will keep. General's deal follows announcement of deal for Jenkins family to buy House of LaRose in OH yesterday and the Canton branch last week. Quality Dist/Martignetti deal to buy Boston branch also announced last week. INSIGHTS already tracked 10 AB distrib deals this yr.

Is bev rollup play Golden Grail Beverages moving beyond bevs? Today it announced that it's appointed a gold mining vet to serve as interim CEO. Scott Lomu, cofounder of a mining-oriented blockchain co, "plans on focusing on several new directions for the company, mainly in oil and gas along with gold mining opportunities," per announcement today from publicly traded co based in Ft Lauderdale, Fla, which variously spelled his name as Lomo and Lomu. It said he'll "be working with Mr Lateef Khan in the dual role of interim CEO," referring to former Royal Crown exec who joined board in Jan.

Ketone-based Key bev launched by former Coke and Pepsi execs has established a West Coast foothold with entry into 10-unit Erewhon chain. Addition builds on presence Miami-based brand has set in NY metro, where it claims to be plying 250 retailers including local chains Westside Market and Brooklyn Fare. Erewhon has picked up Pineapple Passionfruit and Ginger Lime flavors. As we profiled this past spring (BBI, Apr 24), Key was launched by ex-Coke exec Karishma Thawani and ex-Pepsi exec Tekla Back with view to offering bioactive energy option that relies less on caffeine, using 12 g of pre-ketones made by natural fermentation per 12-oz sleek can. Caffeine bill is just 80 g. Brand had launched with $4 mil seed round led by AgFunder with participation from Alethia and AgFunder's SIJ Impact Fund.

For Else Nutrition Holdings' CEO, Hamutal Yitzhak, most recent quarter brought ample mix of satisfaction and frustration. True, plant-based kids' nutrition line continued to log progress in building its retail base in both US and in Canada, where co is based, as banners like Walmart and Loblaws deepen their commitment to brand, and it has received retailer encouragement to move ahead with adult-oriented extension. But share price is languishing, buildout of infant formula is stalled for lack of regulatory guidance and letter of intent signed with Danone in Nov on "multistage collaboration" has expired, in part due to what Yitzhak vaguely referred to on investor call last week as "macro political events."

Apparently liking what it sees in initial location, McDonald's is moving ahead with expansion of its Starbucks- and Dutch Bros-fighting CosMc's bev concept, adding flock of the drivethru stores in Texas that serve items like Signature Galactic Bursts and Beach Protein Frappes, along with range of hot and iced coffees. Locations opened in Dallas, Arlington, Watauga and San Antonio just ahead of back-to-school season, with website flagging another unit "coming soon" to Ft Worth. All are drivethru-oriented tho some are also listed as accepting walkup trade. Items on offer include Berry Hibiscus Sour-Ade, Blueberry Ginger Boost and "Stellar Sips" like Sprite Moonsplash and Tropical Spiceade, in keeping with space-age theme that harkens back to robot character named CosMc that Mickey D retrieved from the 1980s. Some carry hefty dose of caffeine, as with Island Pick-Me-Up Punch with pre-workout boost that contains 226 mg in medium size, 301 mg in large. Concept debuted in Bolingbrook, Ill, near chain's Chicago base (BBI, Dec 7). Signage doesn't disguise ownership of operation, with disk containing golden arches tucked beneath big CosMc's logo.