Global Sciences, which acquired several assets of New Age Beverage including its Colo distribution operation of that name, has closed on $1.2 mil acquisition of Go Fast, a functional brand that's now spent 27 years finding its footing. Announcement today said deal closed last week via combo of cash and short-term notes issued by Global. Go Fast currently offers line of 6 energy drinks under that brand name, both online and via distributors in Colo, Aruba, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Coming on heels of acquisition of New Age's former Xing Tea and Aspen Pure brands, the deal reflects Global's strategy of building diversified portfolio of brands, per ceo Brad Wyatt. Go Fast is listed among brands in New Age's distribution portfolio. New Age is grouped within Global's Legacy Distribution unit; it also operates manufacturing unit called Resinosa that produces hemp oils and other nutraceutical items.

Our newest speaker, Andy Thomas, President of Anheuser-Busch's High End business unit, completes the meeting program. The 2023 Seminar is stacked with top execs and thought leaders, offering great networking opportunities and content that can't be beat. Register today - seating is limited.

McDermott Will & Emery lead alc bev atty Alva Mather reviewed various dormant Commerce Clause cases during firm's recent webinar (see yesterday's Express). First the 6th then the 1st Circuit Ct of Appeals asked lower district cts to "evaluate the evidence" to determine "the predominant effect" of alc bev laws that may be discriminatory. Cts must now "force both the states and the plaintiffs to come forward and balance the evidence" to determine whether laws are primarily "protectionist" or "geared towards protecting consumers," Alva explained. She also noted recent decisions out of Arizona and New Jersey, where cts questioned whether in-state and out-of-state retailers are "similarly situated." The AZ Dist Ct found that a retailer from out of state "has not had to go through that same three-tier system" as the in-state retailer, so "that is not a one-to-one," Alva summarized. And the NJ suit "netted out" about the same way.

Newly formed co K1 Management Services (K1MS) is an offshoot of KEG 1, the consortium of 10 distribs that emerged in mid-2000s as alternative acquiror. K1MS will operate and manage 3 of the 10 members of KEG 1: Superior Bev Group (OH), Houston Dist (TX) and Caffey Dist/Carolina Premium plus "KEG 1 operating entities" in TX, CO and KY. The distribs K1MS will operate and manage are projected to sell over 60 mil cases collectively, the cos say. That would put it in top handful of distribs in US.

A $2 bil share repurchase program can be seen as co demonstrating its own belief in the company's prospects. And Molson Coors ceo Gavin Hattersley has often stated that belief emphatically. "We turned Molson Coors around," Gavin reiterated at beginning of co's strategy day for investors, and "this is not the same old Molson Coors." Turnaround started yrs ago with revitalization plan, according to Gavin. "Over the past few years, long before controversy upended the U.S. beer industry, we changed how we invest, market and operate and we changed our future," he continued. "Today, we believe we are built for growth, we expect growth, and we are delivering growth." Now the focus can be summed up in one word: "Acceleration."

Coupla details on Trumer's new taproom in Berkeley got a bit mixed up in the SF Gate article CBN cited last issue. The new taproom is simply called "Trumer Taproom" rather than "Trumer Brauerei," brand's mktg manager Chrissy Reinthaler pointed out. Then too, while there are currently 6 styles of beer on tap, there will be 12 tap handles pouring at Trumer Taproom with various styles brewed on the pilot system only available on-site.

One of Colorado's prominent players is now brewing beer in Denver. Broomfield, CO-based 4 Noses Brewing opened its new brewery and taproom in the city's North Park Hill nabe on Fri, moving "the majority of its beer-making equipment" into space that's "much bigger" than its original location, Axios reported yesterday. The "custom new brew system from Germany" can produce lagers for co's Wild Provisions label as well as hazy IPAs for the Odd13 brand it acquired in 2021, among wide range of styles. But the original 4 Noses brewery remains open in Broomfield (focusing on specialty batches), as does its Wild Provisions Boulder location and the Odd13 outpost in Lafayette, per co's website.

As Iowa's Big Grove Brewing continues to build out its new production facility on the outskirts of Iowa City, turns out the company bought 15 truckloads of equipment from Green Flash's former San Diego brewery, according to The Gazette. That's "about half" of Green Flash's old equipment, a Big Grove spokesperson shared with CBN, tho last we heard, the San Diego space still sits idle. (Recall, Tilray bought Green Flash/Alpine brands but not the brewing assets.) CBN profiled Big Grove back in June, detailing co's plans to add another production brewery and essentially triple annual capacity to ~80K bbls. This wk, The Gazette divulged details on Green Flash equipment, adding that Big Grove expects to finish this yr around 30K bbls (before its new facility opens) with aim to increase production by over 50% in 2024.