Craft Brewing and Distilling News for February 11, 2015
February 11, 2015•The Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) has reported double-digit net sales growth for 2014 across its core portfolio of brands, which includes Kona, Widmer Brothers, Redhook and Omission. CBA’s net sales rose 12% last year to more than $200 million, while shipments grew 10% and depletions rose 7% despite an SKU reduction of about 25%. The Oregon-based company also launched production operations in Memphis, Tennessee last year, and its contract brewing and beer-related sales increased by one-third compared with 2013. CBA’s fourth quarter net sales grew 7%, beer shipments increased 6% and depletions 2%. The brewer expects net sales to increase between 6%-8% in 2015, with average price increases between 1%-2%.
•Park City, Utah-based High West Distillery has relaunched Bourye, a Bourbon and rye whiskey hybrid offering. A blend of nine-year-old straight Bourbon and 10- and 16-year-old straight rye whiskies, the returning offering is positioned as a sipping whiskey, intended to be consumed neat or with water. Bourye is currently available across High West’s 42-state footprint, priced at $80 a bottle, and joins the distiller’s existing range of craft whiskies and vodkas. In addition to its Park City headquarters, High West is currently in the process of constructing a second 30,000-square-foot distillery and visitor center in Wanship, Utah, slated to open this summer.
•Escondido, California’s Stone Brewing Co. has released two different 2015 editions of its returning Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine ale. Rolling out as part of the brewer’s Odd Beers for Odd Years program, the pair include a classic version of Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, as well as a 2015 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine-Extra Hoppy version, which features a large helping of Azacca hops. Both entries will be available in 22-ounce bottles and on draft across 41 U.S. markets. Established in 2011, Stone Brewing’s Odd Beers For Odd Years program was designed to create new spins on the classic versions of the brewer’s Old Guardian Barley Wine and Imperial Russian Stout annual releases.
•San Francisco’s Distillery No. 209 has named drinks industry veteran Jeff Hodson as president. Hodson comes to the company from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, where he served as vice president for the Western region. Distillery No. 209 is known for its namesake gin brand, which is available in 33 states. Distillery No. 209 was founded by the Rudd family, owner of Rudd Oakville Estate Winery and former owner of upscale grocery Dean & DeLuca, which it sold last year to Thai real estate developer Pace Development Corp. for $140 million.
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