Justin Kendall Aug. 27, 2025 at 8:15 AM John Molson founded Canada's oldest brewery on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal in 1786.
While craft beer breweries in the U.S. have been on a slight decline, the industry's creativity and ingenuity have helped beer giants like Anheuser-Busch grow their portfolios while allowing independent breweries to truly shine. Apart from being independent and creative, craft beer breweries have also been applauded for their sustainable, eco-friendly practices like using recycled packaging materials, repurposing spent grains, and exploiting renewable energy to fuel the brewing process.
When the lockdown occurred, many people turned to the internet for ideas on how to entertain themselves. Some took up sourdough making, some learned to dance, and others discovered home brewing. In the years since, home brewers have come up with plenty of wacky ideas for new flavor profiles and unusual ingredients to use to create interesting-tasting beers, from beer flavored with birch branches to oyster stout beer and brews reminiscent of peanut butter and jelly. So given this wide range of modern beer flavors, it's not entirely uncommon to picture a coffee-tasting beer. But did you know that you don't have to buy special ingredients to bring this creation to life?
She had joined the Bend, Oregon-based craft brewery in 2012, piled up competition medals for her beers and created a following at the brewery. She thrived as the brewery's R&D brewmaster before and after its 2014 sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B). But then Tilray Brands acquired 10 Barrel and seven other brands in 2023. A year later, Tilray laid off Cornett and members of her team in a move that shocked many within the industry.
Side Gate Brewery & Beer Garden is celebrating its 4th anniversary on Saturday, October 11, 2025, with 2 fantastic beer releases, new merchandise, live music and finger-licking good food. Join us! FRESH BEERS: The Hopside Down - a Hazy IPA to ring in the new season of Stranger Things Side Gate 4th Anniversary IPA - an IPA made in collaboration with Toyota Pavilion at Concord's 50th Anniversary and Visit Concord
Colorado is home to 456 craft breweries down from a peak of 468 in 2023 ranking fourth nationwide in 2024, according to the Brewers Association (BA), which hosts GABF. Those breweries produced a combined 779,338 barrels of beer and generated $2.5 billion in economic impact for the state, according to BA data. Closings accelerated in 2024, when there were 41 compared to 35 in 2023.
Dubbed the Rec Room, it's East Brother's first taproom outside of the East Bay flagship. The 3,500-square-foot space will eventually have 15 beers on tap, including its popular Bo Pils, a light, crisp Bohemian-style pilsner. The taproom doesn't serve food, but people can bring sustenance from the Metreon food court inside to enjoy with their beer. On Friday, curious San Franciscans filtered into the new space. Some tested out the pool table and dart board.
AleSmith is celebrating its 30th anniversary with momentum behind new products in and out of beer and a growing contract brewing business. In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, AleSmith president Brandon Richards shares how the San Diego craft brewery has evolved to meet drinkers' needs with new products while fortifying its business by brewing for others. Richards explains how the Party Tricks IPA line and addition of Sun Path fruited lager line have driven growth for the company.
According to data from market analyst Circana, Michelob Ultra surpassed Modelo Especial in sales volume at bars, restaurants, and other retail outlets, but Modelo still leads in revenue. Each case of Modelo costs about $7 more than a case of Michelob Ultra, so one brand leads in volume (units sold) and the other in income. In other words, customers buy more Michelob Ultra, but spend more on Modelo.
Whether it's clinking steins of pilsner at Oktoberfest in Germany, lingering over a Guinness Extra Stout in a Dublin pub, or washing down seafood with a lager at a Goan shack, beer is often the most democratic of drinks. Affordable, easy on the palate, and effortlessly social, it's a longstanding favorite around the world. But in our global economy, beer is cheaper or more expensive depending on where you are and what exactly it is that you're drinking.
After decades of steadiness atop the world of American beer, the last few years have seen a sudden shakeup, with a third beer in three years becoming the No. 1 best seller. For 20 years up until 2023, Bud Light was the undisputed champion of beer in the United States, topping the sales over and over. Then, in 2023, following the rise of top Mexican beer brands, Modelo took the No. 1 spot in a massive unseating.
Since the advent of the craft beer revolution, great breweries have popped up in every corner of the United States, with almost 10,000 breweries operating in the country as of 2023. That's up from only around 90 in the '70s, when macrobrews like Budweiser and Coors were at their most dominant. Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors still rule beer production in the country, with both brands controlling a little more than half of the U.S. market.
Much has been written about the acceleration of declines in beer during 2025 along with spirit ready-to-drink (RTD) growth and wine softness. In fact, Suntory and Pernod have/are establishing separate route-to-market organizations for RTD spirits. At the same time, ABI has become a major player in the space and emerging brands like Surfside are projecting more than 10 million cases for its business.
As we approach the close of 2025, Brewbound is calling for nominations for the Brewbound Awards 2025, our annual celebration of the beer companies, products, and people shaping the future of the industry. The awards will be presented during Brewbound Live, taking place December 5, 2025, in Marina del Rey, CA. As 2025 enters its final stretch, we invite you to nominate the standout brands, individuals, and innovations that deserve recognition.
Fish and beer have a longstanding relationship. Beer-battered fish, fish and chips with a frosted pint; these combos are popular and a crowd favorite. But there's another collaboration between fish and beer that most people are unaware of - unless they know to look for it. We're talking about isinglass (or fish bladder), and no, you can't taste it in your ale. However, small traces of it are probably in your glass, depending on the brewery, and it's largely the reason for your beer's crisp, cloudless appearance.
From the very beginning, Blue Moon built its flavor profile around Valencia orange peel, a choice that set it apart from other wheat beers on the market. Where most breweries leaned into coriander or spice, Blue Moon leaned into citrus, crafting a brew that was smooth, bright, and unmistakably refreshing. The garnish-originally an experiment to amplify those natural notes-quickly became more than an accessory. It became part of the brand's DNA, a visual cue that transformed a pint into an experience.
Alameda's already vibrant beer scene just got a little merrier with the addition of a new beer garden that recently debuted on Park Street. Called Park Station, the craft beer emporium is housed in the former Big O Tires shop at Park Street and San Jose Avenue and features plentiful outdoor seating, fire pits, heaters and even a stage. There's also a cavernous main indoor tap room and a side room for private events.
Voodoo Ranger, the popular IPA beer brand, has announced a partnership with 2K Games to create a special-edition Borderlands 4 IPA. The beer is called Voodoo Ranger x Borderlands 4 IPA, it comes in six-packs, and they're available across the US right now ( via BleedingCool). Each six-pack includes a QR code that offers up the chance to win a copy of Borderlands 4 and in-game "golden key" rewards.
Columbia Distributing leaders believe they've tapped into a pipeline for the next generation of beer industry workers. On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, Columbia president and CEO Chris Steffanci, VP of sales, Portland Chris Watzig and former intern Rebecca Logan share the ins and outs of the Pacific Northwest distributor's Beer Careers Program. Watzig and Logan offer decades-apart experience of the 10-week paid internship program, which introduces participating students to all elements of Columbia's business and operations.
Since moving to the U.S., I've learned that being Irish here gives you automatic authority on all things Guinness. And while not every drunken-leprechaun stereotype is true, we do know a thing or two about stout. In case you're wondering, the way you pour it is so important that you can tell the difference between drafts in Ireland and abroad. And there is a proper way to sip a pint of Guinness.
Brimming with the spicy, slightly smokey flavour that marks the Hela condiment usually reserved for roadside sausages and chips, the beer is a strictly limited, special edition release. The Currydurst tests the limits of flavored beersImage: Astra Brauerei St Pauli GmbH St. Pauli's cult classic beer Astra is popular beer across Hamburg, but is mostly associated with the St. Pauli district, a working class and alternative culture hub where the city's port and red-light district meet.
The latest wins build on last year's triumph when Hawkstone Lager was crowned England's Best Lager. This year's medal haul spanned the full product range, underlining the brand's depth and consistency. Hawkstone IPA and Hedgerow each won Gold medals, Hawkstone Cider also secured Gold, while Hawkstone Session and Hawkstone Black picked up Silvers, and Hawkstone Lager and Hawkstone Vodka were each awarded Bronze.
Rupee Beer founders Van and Sumit Sharma believe they're ready to meet Indian cuisine's moment. On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, the brothers share their journey of launching the Indian American beer brand during the COVID-19 pandemic as an add-on purchase at their family's restaurant. Today, Rupee has expanded distribution to 18 states most recently California and the Sharmas are readying for an explosion of Indian restaurants entering the U.S market.