May Trade News
Brewery news
Top 50 Brewing Companies
According to the Brewer’s Association, BA defined “craft brewers” produced 23.1 million barrels of beer in 2020. That figure is a 9% decrease from 2019. The drop in production led to a decrease in share to 12.3% volume share of the total beer market, vs. 13.6% share in 2019.
Despite the drop in craft share volume, the number of operating breweries in the US hit a new high of 8,764 in 2020, according to the Brewer’s Association. “Throughout the year, there were 716 new brewery openings and 346 closings. While openings decreased approximately 30% compared to 2019, only half of this drop is attributed to COVID,” per BA announcement. “Increasing market competitiveness and maturity were also factors, and the decline was apparent before the pandemic.”
wine news: fire & ice
Wildfires damaged 17 wineries in Napa in 2020, as well as burning millions of acres in other parts of California, Oregon and Washington. To help in preventing similar disasters from wildfires, the Napa County Board of Supervisors announced in early April, it is endorsing plans to spend over $42 million over five years on fuel reduction and similar projects in efforts to prevent a repeat of damage.
Freezing temperatures in Burgundy vineyards from April 6 to 8 may cause damage to the 2021 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vintages. Snow fell on April 6 and brought temperatures of -7° C (19° F) in parts of the region. Chardonnay buds were already wide opened and Pinot Noir buds suffered frost damage as well. “It is still too early to know precisely the extent of the damage, but 80% of regions have been affected,” said Jean-Marie Barillère, president of CNIV, France’s council for appellation wines.
PRODUCT NEWS
2021 has been a great year so far for Twisted Tea. The brand is up almost 50% in the current year and is on its way to double digit growth for the 13th consecutive year. Twisted Tea is the fourth largest brand in the ready to drink / flavored malt beverage category behind White Claw Seltzer, Truly Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
Higher-alcohol White Claw is available, along with several new flavors in a variety pack. White Claw Hard Seltzer Surge, available in blood orange and cranberry flavors, has 8% alcohol content, an increase of 3% from the original. White Claw is also offering a new hard seltzer variety pack, which includes strawberry, pineapple and blackberry flavors, along with the popular mango flavor.
