Beer Marketer's Insights
Regional brewer Stevens Point in Wis is making a push to become go-to house for those seeking production partner on alc-alternatives with installation of BrewVo dealcoholization system. The addition, at time Stevens Point says it's eyeing increment of 40-80K bbls of production capacity, will first be used to produce NA versions of its own Point and Whole Hog beers and Ciderboys hard ciders in time for Dry January window before onboarding contract customers. The BrewVo process, from Sustainable Beverage Technologies of Golden, Colo, employs proprietary membrane separation tech to preserve full-strength flavor without recourse to bioengineered yeasts, arrested fermentation or other shortcuts. The capability will put Stevens in more differentiated contract brewing space. "For a category growing in double digits, there is not adequate capacity to support it. We intend to change that," said operating partner Joe Martino. Stevens Point, whose history goes back far enough for it to have produced beer for soldiers fighting in Civil War, makes its own Point Premium soda line and has long served as copacker of teas, sodas and other NA items using range of can sizes or longneck 12-oz glass bottles . . . As Constellation looks to stabilize Modelo Especial and all of Casa Modelo, co's extending its lead brand fam into a few new arenas, from non-alc to high ABV and a seasonal brew, co announced last night. That includes extension of Modelo's lead chelada flavor, Limon y Sal, into non-alc version via 6-pks of 12-oz cans line-priced with co's Corona Non-Alc. Limon y Sal Non-Alc will be available by Jan. Co will also debut Modelo Noche Especial, a seasonal 5.7%-ABV amber lager for Christmas holiday that seems to play in similar range to Noche Buena seasonal entry long produced by rival Dos Equis, and Modelo Chelada Suprema, an 8%-ABV version of its Modelo Chelada lineup.
Death Wish Coffee now has entered the multiserve segment. A few months after offering its first single-serve canned lattes (BBI, Mar 4), Saratoga Springs, NY-based co is offering a refrigerated 48-oz Unsweetened Dark Roast that's good for 4 servings that each delivers a 265 mg caffeine punch. It's breaking exclusively at co's upstate NY retail partner Wegmans, with further expressions due next year. The entry uses organic Fair Trade-certified Arabica and Robusta beans that are brewed for 18 hrs. What prompted launch by specialist in bagged coffees? "Ready-to-drink coffee formats continue to reign supreme with Gen Z and Millennials," explained CEO Steve Gardiner.
Cincinnati-based Hoist Hydration, which can claim to be a domestic pioneer of rapid hydration segment but in a decade hasn't moved much beyond regional status, has recruited Vitaminwater and Rowdy Energy vet Hallie Lorber to serve as CEO. She's part of a new wave of talent in both staff and board roles to augment talents of cofounders Kelly Heekin and Ben Schmidt that's been ushered in by Gerry David, the former Celsius CEO who came in as board chmn last Oct (BBI, Oct 14). Hallie has had stops over the years at Ben & Jerry's, Vitaminwater, Bevyz, Keurig Green Mountain and Rowdy Energy, the brand launched by Suja cofounder Jeff Church with Kyle "Rowdy" Busch. She also runs David Ortiz Children's Fund and Mariano Rivera Foundation.
Canada's Steam Whistle Stickin' With Green Bottles In Wake of Rival Moosehead Going Only Cans
A move away from bottles? Can it, says Greg Taylor, co-founder and ceo of Canada's Steam Whistle, the country's largest independent brewery, reports BNN Bloomberg. Recall, earlier this month, the country's Moosehead Breweries announced they'd be ditching bottles in "a move that reflects a long-term shift in consumer preferences," as 85% of Canada's beer sales are now in cans, compared to 7% in bottles (see Sep 16 issue). But Greg's holdin' the line, saying co will stick with the green bottles it has used since Steam Whistle was founded in 1940: "I just love it out of the bottle; it looks better, it feels better, it's more of a premium experience for sure."
UN Targets on Chronic Disease Delayed by US Veto; WHO Blames Industry for Focus on "Harmful Use"
Delivered in a blustery statement to the UN general assembly yesterday, US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F Kennedy Jr rejected a draft statement designed to coordinate global efforts related to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. That statement, drafted over many mos, came under fire from public health advocates last mo for weakening or "watering down" earlier versions that took tuffer stances on a variety of topics, including alcohol. Crucially, the current draft focuses on reducing "harmful use" of alcohol and does not incorporate the "no safe level" rhetoric frequently used by the UN's health-focused arm, WHO. But, after the rejection by the US on separate grounds, the declaration could not be approved as intended yesterday and will instead go to a vote by the UN general assembly, expected next mo.
AB keeps marchin' along toward its plan to invest an additional $300+ mil in US facilities, most recently adding $7.4 mil investment into its Los Angeles, CA facility and $9.2 mil into its Cartersville, GA facility. Co's up to $42.6 mil in announced investments across 4 facilities so far, on top of $9 mil in Baldwinsville, NY and $17 mil in Houston, TX. Plus, AB launched Columbus (OH) Regional Excellence Center, expanded access to its St Louis and Columbus centers for training beyond its own workforce thru tie-in with Manufacturer's Institute program for military experience, as part of its $300 mil investment plan. That still leaves a whole lotta investments left to reach its plan, suggesting lots more investment news will keep trickling out for some time.
Creator-backed brands are old hat by now. But why do some break out while others never break through? Happy Dad brothers and co-founders Sam (ceo) and John Shahidi (president) shared "Secrets Behind the Business" on the Full Send Podcast this week, detailing the 4-yr journey of the brand built in partnership with YouTubers the Nelk Boys, who also run Full Send. (Nelk has 8.4 mil YouTube subscribers; Full Send has 2.2 mil.)
Breaking out beyond its core mkts in eastern PA and NJ, parent co of red hot Surfside vodka teas, Stateside, has already eclipsed 1 mil cases in FL statewide this yr, INSIGHTS learned. That's far more than it initially forecasted for the full yr, making FL one of, if not co's largest, mkt outside core states. Surfside hasn't caught on nearly as fast in Western and Midwest expansion states, but it's gaining ground virtually everywhere, on track to fly past initial projections and deplete over 11 mil cases nationally in 2025.
As Constellation looks to stabilize Modelo Especial/Casa Modelo, co's extending its lead brand fam into a few new arenas, from non-alc to high ABV and seasonal brews, co announced last night. This Nov, Constellation will debut Modelo Noche Especial, a 5.7%-ABV amber lager "meant to be enjoyed during Noche Buena, celebrated on Christmas Eve," co shared. That's available in 6pk bottles line-priced with Modelo Especial. In Jan 2026, co will extend Modelo's lead chelada flavor, Limon y Sal, into non-alc, offering the brand in 6pk 12oz cans, line-priced with Corona Non-Alc. And in Mar, Modelo Chelada Suprema, an 8%-ABV version of its Modelo Chelada lineup, will launch in 24oz cans of Mangonada and Tropical flavors, "line priced with Modelo 24oz Cheladas."
7-Eleven is taking applications for pending edition of its Brands with Heart brand accelerator with focus this year on bev, snacks and frozen treats categories. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to access portal by Oct 13 for shot at entering program, which culminates early next year with some participants pitching category mgrs for co's 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes c-stores.