Author: Jim Wells

New California law combats keg theft; GABF beer brewed entirely with N.C. ingredients; Hill Farmstead expansion to double production capacity; and Maui Brewing joins in-flight beers from craft breweries.

On July 30, New Belgium Brewing Company filed a Statement of Organization with the Federal Election Commission to establish its own Federal Political Action Committee (PAC). With this filing, the company increases its national political involvement.

Independent breweries are on the rise in Mexico, and consumers—both local and abroad—are increasingly aware of what’s brewing from Baja to Yucatán.

Uinta Brewing has received a major investment from The Riverside Company, a private equity firm. Uinta founder Will Hamill will remain on as CEO.

A new variety of humulus lupulus is finding its way into beer glasses, and it comes from an unlikely source: the American Southwest.

After learning the ins and outs of Maine’s franchise laws, Vacationland Distributors co-founder Jim O’Brien started questioning the establishment.

The brewery announced on its Facebook page that they had secured new operating space that would enable the brewery to double its annual output.

During its annual shareholders meeting, BrewDog of Scotland announced plans to invest in up-and-coming craft breweries across the globe. The first two recipients are Brew By Numbers and CAP (Curious Audacious Products).

In May of this year, Brewery Vivant of Grand Rapids, Mich. became the fifth brewery to earn B Corp, or benefit corporation.

On July 9, Harpoon Brewery introduced its employees to the new owners of the company: themselves. Harpoon’s shareholder group transferred 48 percent of its stock to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, effective August 1.

After years of petitions from the Brewers Association and brewing professionals, the TTB has revised its stance on certain ingredients that previously required formula approval.

Jack Joyce, co-founder of Rogue Ales and Spirits, passed away on May 27 at the age of 71. Joyce worked as a litigation attorney and an executive at Nike before venturing out to co-found Rogue in 1988.

California’s Mraz Brewing Co. is putting its weight behind an initiative to expand the trails of El Dorado Hills, right in the brewery’s backyard. The partnership is just one example of a flurry of likeminded ventures between the beer world and nature trail enthusiasts.

A bill widely viewed as a setback for Florida craft brewers died in the state House. After passing the state Senate with a 30–10 vote, Florida Senate Bill 1714 would have prohibited brewers making more than 2,000 kegs per year from selling more than 20 percent of their beer on-site.

Colorado’s recreational marijuana dispensaries, which set up shop in January, seemed to open the door to legal and responsible use of marijuana by the public. But while folks enjoy the plant’s effects when smoked or eaten, a commercial beer brewed to give a high won’t be happening anytime soon.

In Ohio, the outlook is favorable for a proposed bill that would lift the state’s current alcohol-by-volume cap from 12 percent to 21 percent. A similar bill failed in 2011, but this version has bipartisan support from 21 legislators.

After public outcry from brewers and farmers, the Food and Drug Administration has promised to reword proposed regulations around using spent brewing grain as animal feed. The original proposal would have required brewers to dry, analyze and package the spent grain.

The St. Louis Brewery has been trying since 2011 to register their brand name—Schlafly Beer—as a federal trademark, but it hasn’t been easy. Due to protest from Phyllis Schlafly, the St. Louis Brewery must now proceed to a trial in court.

Droughts force California brewers to reevaluate water sources; Southeastern politicians seek to reinforce three-tier system; Shanghai beer festival spotlights China’s growing craft scene; and Cigar City’s Joey Redner on Hunahpu’s snafu.

Shortages of aromatic hops forecast for 2014; HopCat to open Michigan’s largest beer bar in midtown Detroit; San Diego leads industry in job growth and wages; and Lakemaid’s beer-delivery drone program grounded by FAA.

Nevada brewery-in-planning works with city government to simplify regulations; BrewNH shines the spotlight on New Hampshire beer; craft beer loses two pioneering spirits; after fire, Minhas Brewery to come back strong; and German breweries fined in price-fixing collusion.

Brew Hub’s first brewery partners look forward; New York City’s beer industry angered over suggested beer tax increase; two Massachusetts nanobrewers join forces; Hindu advocate criticizes Asheville Brewing over Shiva IPA; and Maine breweries join Brewers for Clean Water.

The Alchemist closes cannery to public, promises new retail space soon; analysts believe time is nigh for SABMiller / AB-InBev merger; phony “Brew Dog” beer shop opens in China; and new beer laws on tap for Ohio, Michigan and Georgia.

US government shutdown hindered craft beer industry growth; rare disorder turns man’s stomach into a brewery; civet coffee controversy spurs brewers to reevaluate the ingredient; after lawsuit dismissal, tribe repeals prohibition; and Whole Foods to open first in-store brewery.