Craft Brewing And Distilling News for August 10, 2012

•Portland, Oregon’s Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) has reported a 12% rise in net sales, from $73.8 million to $82.8 million, for the first six months of 2012. Net income, however, was down to $1.3 million compared to $8.2 million in the year-earlier period (due primarily to an after-tax gain of $6.5 million from the sale of CBA’s minority interest in Fulton Street Brewery, LLC last year). Total beer shipments, meanwhile, increased 6% to 360,400 barrels. Based on the first half, CBA revised its full-year depletion and sales growth estimates to 8%-10% and 13%-15%, respectively. Established in 2008 through the merger of Pacific Northwest brewers Widmer Bros. and Redhook, CBA’s brand stable also includes Hawaii’s Kona Brewing.

•Seattle importer Black Rock Spirits, LLC has launched Sparkle Donkey—a 100%-agave Tequila brand—in the U.S. Featuring Silver and Reposado expressions, the new range is handcrafted in Jalisco, Mexico and made with Blue Weber agave. Priced within the $20-$25 a bottle range, Sparkle Donkey is initially rolling out in limited edition small batches in Washington state this month, with additional key markets to follow. The Tequila brand joins Bakon, a bacon-flavored potato vodka launched in 2009, in Black Rock’s portfolio.

•Little Rock-based Rock Town Distillery, which bills itself as Arkansas’s first legal distillery since Prohibition, has added two longtime beverage industry executives to its team while also announcing plans to boost capacity amid surging sales. Rock Town has named Keith Lacewell vice president of international sales and Michael Crosby director of sales. Both have more than 25 years of industry experience. Lacewell (who will also be a partner in Rock Town) previously worked for Brown-Forman, Snapple and Marathon Imports, while Crosby has worked for Arkansas wholesalers including Strauss Distributors and Moon Distributing. Launched in 2010, Rock Town’s portfolio includes Brandon’s Vodka, Brandon’s Gin, Arkansas Lightning, Arkansas Young Bourbon Whiskey, Arkansas Hickory Smoked Whiskey and Riverboat Rum. Its products are sold in Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and will be available in Oklahoma later this month.

Tagged : craft beer, Craft Brew Alliance, craft spirits

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