Podcasts about trade bureau ttb

Did you know that beer, wine, and spirits can contain allergens like wheat, nuts, or even milk—and that most bottles don't disclose this information? Consumers are often left guessing with no mandatory labeling for allergens or ingredients, putting health and safety at risk.    This week, I'm discussing transparency in alcohol labeling with Eva Greenthal, Senior Policy Scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Eva has been leading the charge to ensure that what's in your glass is as clear as what's on your plate.    Eva will explain why mandatory allergen and ingredient labels on alcoholic beverages are long overdue. We'll also examine how the lack of transparency impacts food-allergic individuals, unpack the proposed regulations from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), and explore how these changes could reshape how we drink and shop for alcohol.    If you've ever questioned what's really in your glass—or how we can create safer and more inclusive dining experiences—this is an episode you won't want to miss. Together, let's raise awareness and raise the bar for transparency! 

This Day in Legal History: Alcohol Control Administration CreatedOn December 4, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Federal Alcohol Control Administration (FACA) by executive order, a pivotal moment in the transition away from Prohibition. This action came under the National Industrial Recovery Act, as part of Roosevelt's broader New Deal agenda aimed at economic recovery. FACA was designed to regulate the burgeoning alcohol industry, which was reemerging after years of prohibition, ensuring it operated within fair competition guidelines. The administration focused on creating voluntary codes for brewers, distillers, and wineries to prevent monopolistic practices and maintain equitable market conditions.FACA's creation coincided with the formal repeal of Prohibition under the 21st Amendment, which took effect later that month. However, the agency's lifespan was short-lived. By August 1935, it was replaced by the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) through new legislation. The FAA consolidated alcohol regulation within the Treasury Department, laying the groundwork for modern alcohol oversight. Today, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a successor to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), continues to fulfill the regulatory role first envisioned by FACA. The establishment and swift evolution of alcohol regulation reflect the complexities of ending Prohibition and integrating alcohol back into the economy under federal oversight.A federal judge in California dismissed Hunter Biden's tax case but criticized the presidential pardon issued by President Joe Biden. Judge Mark C. Scarsi expressed skepticism about the validity of the pardon, noting that it was supported only by a press release and could be interpreted as covering actions beyond its signing date. He questioned the argument that the charges against Hunter were politically motivated, highlighting that the investigation was conducted under the supervision of the President's own Department of Justice.The judge also pointed out inconsistencies in statements by the President, who claimed his son was treated unfairly compared to others with similar tax issues. However, Hunter Biden had admitted to evading taxes while sober, contrary to claims of addiction-related leniency. Despite these critiques, Scarsi determined that the part of the pardon covering Hunter's past conduct required dismissal of the charges in his Los Angeles tax case. The case underscores the legal and political complexities surrounding Hunter Biden's prosecution and the implications of presidential pardons.Judge Slams Hunter Biden Pardon but Tosses California Tax CaseCoinbase CEO Brian Armstrong issued a warning to law firms that hiring former government officials involved in crypto enforcement could result in losing Coinbase as a client. In a Dec. 2 post, Armstrong criticized Milbank LLP for hiring Gurbir Grewal, the former SEC enforcement director who led numerous actions against crypto companies, including Coinbase. Armstrong called this move a mistake, stating Coinbase would never work with Milbank as long as Grewal was there.Paul Grewal, Coinbase's general counsel, supported Armstrong's stance, emphasizing the importance of holding former government lawyers accountable for their actions while in office. He hoped the statement would spark a broader conversation about the “revolving door” between Washington and private law firms. Armstrong's post aims to influence firms not yet on Coinbase's roster to consider the implications of their hiring choices. At a legal panel, Gurbir Grewal defended his actions at the SEC, denying any bias against the crypto industry but acknowledging frustrations with the agency's strict enforcement. Legal experts noted that public ultimatums like Armstrong's are rare, though private client concerns about hiring conflicts are common. Coinbase continues to navigate regulatory tensions, having been charged by the SEC in June 2023 for operating without proper registration and filing its own legal challenges against the agency.Coinbase CEO Threatens Law Firms Over Government Hires (1)A federal court in Texas has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which requires U.S. businesses to report their beneficial owners to the Treasury Department. Judge Amos L. Mazzant III ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, including a firearms retailer and the Libertarian Party of Mississippi, who argued that the law exceeded Congress's constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause by targeting all incorporated entities, even those not engaged in commercial activity.The CTA aimed to combat anonymous shell companies and deter financial crimes like money laundering and terrorism financing. However, Judge Mazzant criticized the law as a "quasi-Orwellian statute" that oversteps constitutional limits, asserting that Congress cannot mandate such disclosures solely for law enforcement purposes. He emphasized that the act does not directly regulate commerce, undermining its constitutional basis.The injunction affects an estimated 32.6 million businesses required to comply by 2025. The Justice Department has not yet commented on the ruling. The plaintiffs were represented by S|L Law PLLC and the Center for Individual Rights in the case Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland.Corporate Transparency Act Blocked Nationwide by Texas CourtThe U.S. Supreme Court will hear a pivotal case on the rights of transgender minors, focusing on a Tennessee law that prohibits gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 18. The Biden administration argues that the law violates the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause by discriminating based on sex and transgender status. This case represents a critical examination of individual rights and the role of government in regulating personal healthcare decisions.Tennessee defends the law as a measure to protect minors from what it calls "risky and unproven" medical treatments, citing international debates and instances of treatment regret. However, major medical associations counter that gender-affirming care is effective and can be life-saving for individuals experiencing gender dysphoria, which is linked to higher suicide rates if untreated.The law has significant consequences for families like that of plaintiff Brian Williams, whose 16-year-old transgender child depends on this care to thrive. Advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal, argue that the law unjustly targets vulnerable youth, while Tennessee officials claim it safeguards children.The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, will decide on the legality of this ban by June. This decision could set a precedent for similar laws in 23 other states, highlighting critical questions about equality and healthcare access for transgender individuals.US Supreme Court set to hear major transgender rights case | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Do you know someone that might enjoy this? Please share it.Margie Lehrman is the CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA). She has led the organization since 2016.So what is a craft distiller? The ACSA defines one as:* A distillery that values the importance of transparency in distilling, and remains forthcoming regarding their use of ingredients, their distilling location and process, bottling location and process, and aging process.* A distillery that produces fewer than 750,000 gallons annually.* A distillery that directly or indirectly holds an ownership interest of 51% or more of the Distilled Spirit Plant (DSP) license.In this conversation, we discussed the policy initiatives they reviewed with legislators during a recent trip to Capitol Hill (press release) including* The conservation and preservation of White Oak, which is used for the production of many barrels.* Allowing the postal service to transport and deliver spirits to residences in states where that it is already permitted for UPS and FedEx.* Why ACSA supports increased funding the for Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which regulates the industry.* Agritourism and its economic impact on distilleries.We also discussed the STEPUP Foundation, which provides underserved and underrepresented individuals with training, encouragement, and opportunities to enter the craft spirits community through a comprehensive internship program. Check out the ACSA's website, Instagram, and their magazine. Thanks for reading. Keep up for free by subscribing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingcocktails.substack.com

Smart Acids hosts Andy and Chris welcome back our resident expert of alcohol (the alcohol with two carbons, aka ethanol), Product Director Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, for a quick rundown of the different classifications and regulatory requirements of ethanol products.1:33 - Differences among ethanol classifications 2:00 - Undenatured ethanol2:14 - Specially denatured alcohol 3:30 - Distilled spirits permit4:25 - Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB.gov) and SDA formulations5:45 - How Univar Solutions can help you navigate this product market intelSmart Acids™ is the source for product insights and current market moves related to chemical and specialty ingredient distribution—breaking it all down one boron at a time. Join hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst for straightforward and honest chat that speaks to the why behind pricing and supply, delivered in a smart, fun and entertaining way. Smart Acids is the winner of a B2 Silver Award, a top national recognition among leading global brands and marketers in B2B.About the hosts: Andy Erickson, senior director of product marketing for essential chemicals, and Chris Ernst, senior director of product marketing for solvents, converse with guests from chemistry and specialty ingredient backgrounds who are keyed in to manufacturing and markets across industries.Univar Solutions is a leading global specialty chemical and ingredient distributor representing a premier portfolio from the world's leading producers, and helping to keep communities healthy, fed, clean and safe. With the industry's largest private transportation fleet and technical sales force, unparalleled logistics know-how, deep market and regulatory knowledge, formulation and recipe development, and leading digital tools, we offer tailored solutions and value-added services to a wide range of markets, industries and applications.

This is the weekly newspaper columnWine ingredient labels 9-6-2023Ingredients and allergy information likely are coming to a wine label near you. Much already is mandated in Europe. The U.S. Treasury Department's Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is taking comments to fine-tune U.S. mandates.The process takes time. When decisions are made winemakers have two-plus years to get approvals and print labels. So 2026 is the earliest you will see mandated ingredient labels on U.S. wines.Wine ingredients are not a simple issue. It is likely only ingredients in the finished product will be listed, not those that disappear during the winemaking process. Makes sense, but not certain. Will percentages of individual grape varieties be required? Will “grape juice concentrate” cover ingredients like Mega Purple? For most wine, water—85% or more—will be listed. All to be determined.Labeling advocates struggle with vagaries of wine. Exact descriptions vary with vintage. Even from a specific vintage, wine is a living product that changes over time. It is hard to determine things like alcohol by volume (ABV) in advance for labels to be printed. One attorney involved in the process quipped: “Wine is not Cheetos.” Expect a wave of lawsuits when rules are asserted.There is momentum to allow winemakers to use QR codes to publish ingredients. QR codes would be more timely and accurate. It also would free winemakers from having to change their labels each year, an important consideration for smaller winemakers.The QR code solution also is attractive because wine is an international trade product. It would allow winemakers to satisfy the rules of different countries–or, horror of horrors—individual U.S. states. It is easier and faster to tweak a website than to print a gallimaufry of labels that depend on where the wine was made, sold, or shipped to.Wine ingredient labels are coming. This will be a good thing. But the devil will be in the details.Tasting notes• Attems Pinot Grigio Ramato, Friuli DOC 2021 is interesting play as a rosé of pinot grigio. Lively and full of flavors. $15-20 Link to my review• San Felice Il Grigio da San Felice Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG 2019 is well-done mass distribution Chianti. $15-25 Link to my review• Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is fulsome with brooding, dark fruits and ripe flavors. $22-25 Link to my review• Chehalem Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley 2021 is smooth, elegant, somewhat bashful red fruits, easy-going tannin and proper acidity. $25-32 Link to my reviewLast round: What is the leading cause of dry skin? Towels. Wine time.Thank you for reading Gus Clemens on Wine. This post is public so feel free to share it.Email: wine@cwadv.comNewsletter: gusclemens.substack.comWebsite:  gusclemensonwine.comFacebook:  facebook.com/GusClemensOnWine/posts/Twitter (X): @gusclemensSince you subscribe to my newsletter, it follows you enjoy wine and humor and are an adventurous, inquisitive person. Each morning, The Sample sends you one article from a random blog or newsletter that matches your interests. When you find one you like, you can subscribe to the writer with one click. To give it a try Link to The SampleLinks worth exploringDiary of a Serial Hostess Ins and outs of entertaining; witty anecdotes of life in the stylish lane.As We Eat Multi-platform storytelling explores how food connects, defines, inspires.Balanced Diet Original recipes, curated links about food systems, recipe reviews. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gusclemens.substack.com/subscribe

You know him from the long-running FX series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and the didn't-run-long-enough series "AP Bio," but what you might not know is that Glenn Howerton made a brief but memorable cameo in one of Dan's favorite scary movies, "The Strangers." This gets discussed herein. As does Glenn's wildly popular podcast, his delicious new whiskey brand (Four Walls), the comedic brilliance of Danny DeVito, insurance scams, failed TV pilots and the fact that Glenn and Dan live down the block from each other. Also on the show, our roving correspondent Brad Japhe weighs in on a new ruling by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) that will formally define American Single Malt whisky. So ya, this one is JAM PACKED! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is I'm drinking a Free Spirit DIPA by Green Empire Brewing https://www.gebrew.com/product/free-spirit-dipa/97 A collaBEERation is out now - Lawsons Finest Liquids has just released Maple Brown Ale! It was brewed in collaboration with Whistle Pig of Shoreham, VT. It's made with Vermont maple syrup from Purinton Maple Farm of Huntington, VT, and aged in WhistlePig Rye Whiskey barrels. It's in their Retail Store and Taproom right now and distribution soon https://www.lawsonsfinest.com/beer/maple-brown-ale-aged-in-whistlepig-rye-whiskey-barrels/ Another interesting collab, though one I'm less likely to drink - Boston Beer's “Green Rebel Brewing Company” has teamed up with PepsiCo to release Hard Mountain Dew in Baja Blast and Watermelon flavors. It's got zero sugar, 5% ABV, and 100 calories per 12 ounces. It will be available in 12-ounce and 24-ounce cans - no word yet on a release date, but is it fair to say it's too soon? https://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com/2021/11/boston-beer-pepsico-adding-hard-mtn-dew.html Some interesting facts I learned about Cider… Cider is federally regulated as wine and, thanks to the Wine industry ciders have the right to sell direct-to-consumer. Also, Ciders under 7% ABV are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and face less labeling and packaging restrictions than ciders over 7% ABV, which are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Cider over 7% ABV can't use vintage dating to delineate the impact of the season on an apple's harvest and resulting cider. And, the last one, Ciders made with any non-apple/non-pear fruits are regulated as fruit wine - which has a whole different set of regulations. Get the full story on https://www.ciderculture.com/legality-of-hard-cider/ Find out more about your host The Real Voice - Mel Allen. He's a working voice over talent and you can check out voice over samples and demos at https://therealvoice.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boozebuddy/support

Tax administration. Taxes in the United States are administered by hundreds of tax authorities. At the federal level there are three tax administrations. Most domestic federal taxes are administered by the Internal Revenue Service, which is part of the Department of the Treasury. Alcohol, tobacco, and firearms taxes are administered by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Taxes on imports (customs duties) are administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). TTB is also part of the Department of the Treasury and CBP belongs to the Department of Homeland Security. Organization of state and local tax administrations varies widely. Every state maintains a tax administration. A few states administer some local taxes in whole or part. Most localities also maintain a tax administration or share one with neighboring localities. Internal Revenue Service. The Internal Revenue Service administers all U.S. federal tax laws on domestic activities, except those taxes administered by TTB. IRS functions include: Processing federal tax returns (except TTB returns), including those for Social Security and other federal payroll taxes. Providing assistance to taxpayers in completing tax returns. Collecting all taxes due related to such returns. Enforcement of tax laws through examination of returns and assessment of penalties. Providing an appeals mechanism for federal tax disputes. Referring matters to the Justice Department for prosecution. Publishing information about U.S. federal taxes, including forms, publications, and other materials. Providing written guidance in the form of rulings binding on the IRS for the public and for particular taxpayers. The IRS maintains several Service Centers at which tax returns are processed. Taxpayers generally file most types of tax returns by mail with these Service Centers, or file electronically. The IRS also maintains a National Office in Washington, DC, and numerous local offices providing taxpayer services and administering tax examinations. State administrations. Every state in the United States has its own tax administration, subject to the rules of that state's law and regulations. For example, the California Franchise Tax Board. These are referred to in most states as the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. The powers of the state taxing authorities vary widely. Most enforce all state level taxes but not most local taxes. However, many states have unified state-level sales tax administration, including for local sales taxes. State tax returns are filed separately with those tax administrations, not with the federal tax administrations. Each state has its own procedural rules, which vary widely. Before 1776, the American Colonies were subject to taxation by Great Britain and also imposed local taxes. Property taxes were imposed in the Colonies as early as 1634. In 1673, the English Parliament imposed a tax on exports from the American Colonies, and with it created the first tax administration in what would become the United States. Other tariffs and taxes were imposed by Parliament. Most of the colonies and many localities adopted property taxes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/law-school/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/law-school/support

A growing number of American craft distillers are exploring a whiskey category that is not (yet) officially recognized by the federal government. The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, which is more than 170 distilleries strong, hopes to change that. The group has proposed a standard of identity for the category, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) recently announced that the matter will be addressed in its upcoming spring unified agenda. Steve Hawley of Westland Distillery in Seattle is one of the commission's founders and its president. In the latest episode of The Craft Spirits Podcast, Hawley discussed the commission's efforts to establish and protect the category across the globe. He also talked about common misconceptions about the category, as well as future opportunities for craft distillers making American single malt.

Marijuana as of 2020 is now legal in 15 states in the United States. CBD products are popping up in can drinks nearly every where you look these days. Is it legal? Can cider now be fused with cider or at least CBD or perhaps THC? Find out in this special presentation prerecorded at CiderCon2020. Opening slide to: Current regulatory status of marijuana and CBD beverages Presentors Attorney Marc Sorini and Attorney Alva Mather of McDermott Will & Emery LLP Marc Sorini Alva Mather Topics presented: How The Controlled Substance Act (CSA) impacts marijuana use. Status of marijuana Under Federal Law The politics and law relating to cannibus The Cole Memo during the Obama Administration running through the Trump administration Appropriation restrictions affecting marijuana law Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vs Cannabidiol (CBD) Industrial Hemp Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) vs Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018    (2018 Farm Bill) Former Commissioner Gottlieb statement in 2018 and its impact on FDA regulations How the Food Drug Administration(FDA) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) work together regulation cider Is marijuana Generally Recognized as Safe (GRS) by the FDA? What is the enforcement concerning CBD products? What does the future hold for having THC in cider? Why labeling (COLA) counts! From the presenter's presentation: TTB has made it clear that it will not approve any formula for a product containing a Schedule I controlled substance TTB has also made it clear that it has conferred with FDA and will not approve a formula for a product containing ingredients not recognized as GRAS   Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Craft Brew News 07/10/20(Courtesy of Brewbound.com)Allagash Founder Rob Tod Recovers From COVID-19In an interview with a Maine NBC affiliate, Allagash founder Rob Tod revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-March after returning from a ski vacation.Tod told the affiliate that he self-quarantined and “rode it out” at home, not wanting to infect any other Allagashians.Even with the diagnosis, Tod said he was “so consumed and immersed in running this company at a time when we had lost 70% of our business the day that I came down with the COVID.”With March and the coronavirus, practically overnight people stopped going to bars and restaurants, where most of Allagash’s sales occurred. In less than a month sales tanked by seventy percent. Since losing 70% of its business, Allagash has since refocused on building its off-premise business. The company in June shared plans to launch several years’ worth of innovations in the fall, including a line of sparkling session ales made with fruit called Little Grove by Allagash, a new stout called North Sky and 6-pack bottles of flagship Allagash White.California Governor Orders Shutdown of Breweries and Restaurants in 19 CountiesWith a growing number of new COVID-19 cases in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has expanded the state’s temporary shutdown of bars and breweries to include a ban on indoor and outdoor dining and drinking in 19 counties, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. However, restaurants will be allowed to continue operating outdoor patio spaces, as well as breweries that operate licensed food service or partner with neighboring restaurants or food trucks.Counties included in the order include Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Majority of counties account for nearly 75% of the state’s population. All 19 are on the state Department of Public Health’s “monitoring list” for areas with an increasing number of novel coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.Dichello Distributors Files Lawsuit Against Anheuser-Busch Alleging Conspiracy to Force SaleAn Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Connecticut is suing the world’s largest beer manufacturer alleging that the maker of Bud Light conspired with a now former employee to damage the business and force a sale of the distributorship.New Haven, Connecticut-based Dichello Distributors is suing Anheuser-Busch, claiming A-B “engaged in an ongoing conspiracy” with Sal DiBetta, a former employee who later worked as CEO of the wholesaler between 2013 and 2016, as well as “other unnamed parties,” to “undermine” Dichello and force president John Hall’s family to sell the business to A-B, according to a complaint filed on June 17 in the Connecticut Superior Court.Dichello also alleges A-B has tried to enforce an equity agreement on the wholesaler and threatened them “with consequences for non-compliance, including forced sale of the distributorship.”A-B has not responded to a request for comment.DiBetta worked for A-B for more than 30 years before joining Dichello in October 2013 and departing in 2016, according to his Linkedin profile.Anheuser-Busch to Pay Record $5 Million Offer In Compromise for Trade Practice Violations Tied to Sports and Entertainment SponsorshipsAnheuser-Busch InBev has agreed to pay a record $5 million offer in compromise (OIC) for alleged trade practice violations related to sports and entertainment sponsorships, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) announced today.Additionally, A-B’s importer and wholesaler permits were suspended for two days in Littleton, Colorado, and four days in Denver.The $5 million fine is the largest offer in compromise collected to date by the TTB, Thomas Hogue, a spokesperson for the federal agency, confirmed with Brewbound. A-B’s offer tops a $2.5 million fine collected last year from Heineken USA for alleged trade practice violations.According to the TTB, the alleged violations included:“Entering into sponsorship agreements with various entities in the sports and entertainment industries requiring concessionaires and other retailers to purchase A-B’s malt beverages and prohibiting them from purchasing specific competitor brands;Inducing sports industry concessionaires to purchase A-B’s malt beverages by furnishing fixtures, equipment, and services;Reimbursing, through credit card swipes, retailers for the cost of installing malt beverage draft dispensing systems, thereby inducing them to purchase A-B’s malt beverages;Requiring retailers to purchase A-B’s malt beverages in return for such retailers’ use of equipment A-B furnished them free of charge or below market value;Craft Beer Storm Website: www.craftbeerstorm.com*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Beara is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faebIf your Company, Hotel or Restaurant wants to book a CraftBeer Weekend or Craft Beer Evening for your guests or employees send an email to Michael@craftbeerstorm.com Michael BearaFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/Craft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

This week we toast it up with Coach G of Sweat DC and discuss how he got started and what you can do during quarantine to stay active. Then we caught up with Coviello Salines, Founder and Creator of Amour Genève, a blue wine that is organically blue!!! This wine will blow your mind! MEET COACH G Coach G has has over 15 years expe­ri­ence in the exer­cise sports science field includ­ing a Bachelors of Science in Sports Med­i­cine from the Uni­ver­sity of North Car­olina Chapel Hill and a Masters of Science in Exer­cise and Health Pro­mo­tion from Cal U Pennsylvania. He also holds var­i­ous high level cer­ti­fi­ca­tions such as Strength and Con­di­tion­ing Spe­cial­ist, NASM Per­for­mance Enhancement Spe­cial­ist, Spe­cial­ist in Speed and Explo­sion, and an Advanced Exer­cise Nutri­tion Cer­tifi­cate from Human Kinet­ics. After holding a corporate position as Director of Sports Medicine at Bowie State University, he decided to follow his dreams of living abroad, and changing lives. In 2009 he moved to Rome, Italy and while playing pro basketball started training foreign service workers inside the US Embassy, which eventually led to opening Rome's first English speaking fitness company. After Italy, he decided to return back to Washington, DC, and continue his calling of helping people change their lives through healthy living, positive thinking, and fitness. ABOUT COVIELLO SALINES Coviello Salinès knows he's on to something big. His product and brand, Amour Genève, is more than just wine with an “electric blue” hue. It is an inspiration for those dreamers to keep going. His work is a gleam of hope in the midst of tragedy. He has taken first place by creating something the world has never seen. Coviello's parents migrated from the Caribbean to the South Bronx, where he spent much of his early childhood. “They were rarely home,” he says. “They worked around the clock to provide us the life they never had.” His dad was a serviceman. His mom, a correctional nurse at Bellevue Hospital. When his father had the time, he used it to teach young Coviello the wonders of Neurology. He wanted his son to become a neurologist or neuroscientist. “He wanted me to be like the early Ben Carson, so he would bring home large brain books for me to study,” he says. One of Coviello's proudest moments was the day the European Union and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) sent him a letter of clarification for his formula. “It was a validation of what my father would always try to put into my head,” he says. “When I was young, I didn't understand it. Now I see that this is all bigger than me.” ABOUT AMOUR GENÈVE Amour Genève is an exclusive, one of a kind product. After having caused a sensation in Paris, Madrid, and London, this innovative product is now available in the United States. Aroma of a spring rain in a floral, citrus fruit garden allows a joyful and pleasant experience before tasting. Delightful light body with a crisp and refreshing balance. Notes of white peach, grapefruit, and citrus fruit with subtle minerality, which transitions into a smooth finish, allowing you to enjoy every sip. Pair with seafood, lean chicken, gourmet meats and cheese, light salads. PURCHASE A BOTTLE…. OR CASE Head to https://www.amourbluforever.com/buyblue and use our code #rosehour for 15% off your purchase! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/therosehourpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/therosehourpodcast/support

Craft Brew News4/17/20(Courtesy of www.Brewbound.com)BA’s Bart Watson: COVID-19 ‘A Shock to the System’ for Craft BreweriesBy most metrics, small and independent craft brewing companies posted solid volume growth in 2019. However, the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced many craft brewers into “survival mode,” is overshadowing 2019’s growth.In 2019, BA-defined craft brewing companies held 13.6% of the beer industry’s market share by volume, and accounted for more than a quarter of the industry’s dollar sales.Nevertheless, craft breweries have lost a considerable amount of sales in 2020 as on-premise and own-premise sales were cut off in mid-March 2020.That’s left many craft breweries struggling to survive. According to the BA’s second impact survey, 46% of respondents said they may be forced to close their doors within the next three months if the shutdown continues.Asked which breweries might be most at-risk of closing, Watson said the smallest breweries are the most at-risk due to relying on onsite sales and draft production.Responding to a question of how the current downturn compares to the recession that began in late 2007, Watson said beer and other alcoholic beverages are “recession-resistant, but not recession-proof.” Consumers are likely to continue buying beer, wine and spirits, even after they cut spending elsewhere. Since 2009, beer prices have increased, while wine and spirit prices have decreased.Watson also addressed the number of breweries in planning. The BA counted 8,275 in operation in the U.S. in 2019. Citing Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) numbers, he said there are now 11,800 active brewing permits in the U.S., of which he estimated there are around 2,000 breweries in the planning stages.Watson added the industry was already moving in a direction similar to the restaurant and bar industries, in which locations close and new ones open in their place.“We were already seeing 25% to 30% of breweries that close get a new brewery going in,” he said. “And that rate may rise over the next few years as people look to get in at a lower price point than they couldn’t before.”The way those breweries operate once they open may also change. A flaw in the taproom brewery model, which has been hailed as possibly the best way to build a brand and cash flow a brewery by selling beer directly to consumers with little to no distribution, was exposed by COVID-19. Watson said in a post-COVID-19 world, businesses will be forced to consider other revenue streams, such as beer to-go sales and direct-to-consumer sales with limited distribution, either self-distribution or through a wholesaler, where legal, “as a hedge against future shutdowns.”A common thread in off-premise data reporting since the pandemic began is a resurgence of the nation’s largest craft brewers’ long-declining flagship offerings, which haven’t grown in months or even years. Though it may be easy to assume that troubling times inspire consumers to turn to trusted brands, Watson pointed out that these brands have much wider distribution than their smaller craft counterparts.Since March 9, off-premise dollar sales in retailers such as grocery stores, where shelves are typically stocked with products from major domestic and regional craft brewers, topped $3.4 billion, according to market research firm Nielsen.Social Standards Examines Possible Loss of Summer Drinking Occasions, Increase in Virtual Happy HoursWith summer drinking occasions at risk of being lost due to the coronavirus disease COVID-19 shutting down gatherings at beaches and pools, consumer insights firm Social Standards looked at the potential effects of that loss on beverage alcohol products.The firm analyzed 30 beverage alcohol products whose conversation volume increased more than 10% between the first and third quarter of 2019 in an effort to determine those that “may be most vulnerable if social distancing continues.”Products on Social Standards’ potential most vulnerable list include canned wine, Mexican beer, hard seltzer, rosé and non-alcoholic offerings.Those least affected by the potential loss of summer gatherings include malbecs, wheat beer and craft cider.Whether those projections become reality are still to be seen. For example, hard seltzers have maintained their triple-digit dollar sales growth and continued to be the beer category’s growth driver in off-premise retailers during the COVID-19 crisis. According to market research firm Nielsen, hard seltzers increased dollar sales 327% and gained 2.5 share points during the week ending March 28, outpacing pre-COVID-19 growth rates.As consumers connect to family, friends and co-workers on platforms such as Google and Zoom, conversations around virtual happy hours have increased 1,505% during March, according to Social Standards.The winners so far have been wines and whiskeys — but not beer, despite several beer companies turning to virtual happy hours in an effort to engage with consumers. Over-indexing in virtual happy hour conversations are classic cocktails, such as martinis and old fashions, as well as spritzes and margaritas.So who is posting to social media the most about virtual happy hours? Social Standards said they are women, ages 30- to 44-year-old, in higher income brackets relative to the average beverage-alcohol consumer. Those posters also skew more toward urban tech hubs, including San Francisco, Seattle and Austin.Social Standards also examined why people are hosting virtual happy hours. The top reasons are to replace canceled events and stay connected with family, friends and co-workers. Those events also over-index in relation to supporting local businesses, which indicates that virtual happy hour participants want to support local businesses.Craft Beer Storm Website: www.craftbeerstorm.com If your Company, Hotel or Restaurant wants to book a CraftBeer Weekend or Craft Beer Evening for your guests or employees send an email to Michael@craftbeerstorm.com Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faebMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.com**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/Craft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

This interview is with Bernie Kipp, who worked for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). In this interview, Bernie discusses how he got involved in the wine industry, the challenges he faces in his job, and the importance of the OLCC and TTB. He also speaks about what makes Oregon labeling special, his knowledge of early lawmaking, and the importance of protecting labeling laws in Oregon. Towards the end of the interview, Bernie goes on to talk about the changes he's seen in the wine industry, its future, and potential issues/controversies that he sees in the future. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Stoel Rives LLC in Portland, Oregon on November 22, 2019.

Craft Brew News - 12/06/2019(Stories Courtesy of BrewBound – www.brewbound.com)New Belgium to be Acquired by Kirin-Owned Lion Little World BeveragesAnother member of the old guard of craft brewing sold today when Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages announced a “definitive agreement” to acquire 100% of New Belgium Brewing Company in an all cash transaction.Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, although it is expected to close at the end of 2019, pending approval from government regulators, as well as co-owners in New Belgium’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).Once closed, the transaction will mark the end of New Belgium’s 100% employee-owned status, which was fully implemented in 2012, and the end of the company’s status as a small and independent craft brewer as defined by national trade group the Brewers Association (BA).Co-founder Kim Jordan will also remain involved in an advisory role and will collaborate with other founders within Lion’s portfolio.Lion’s acquisition of New Belgium, the fourth largest BA-defined domestic craft brewery, will give the Australasian company a foothold in the U.S. market. In 2018, New Belgium produced just under 850,000 barrels of beer, a decline of 11% from 2017 levels.Coca-Cola Files Complaint Against Mark Anthony’s ‘White Claw Hard Seltzer Surge’ Trademark ApplicationCoca-Cola filed a complaint with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last week claiming that Mark Anthony Brand’s application to register “White Claw Hard Seltzer Surge” infringes on its Surge brand of citrus sodas.Mark Anthony Brands filed an application with the USPTO on May 24 to register the brand name White Claw Hard Seltzer Surge, a product that has not yet been announced.According to Coca-Cola’s complaint filed November 20, White Claw’s proposed use of the Surge name is similar in “sound, appearance, connotation and commercial impression.”Surge soda launched in the 1990s as a competitor to Pepsi’s Mountain Dew brand and was discontinued in 2003. Coca-Cola resurrected the brand in 2014 and filed a trademark application for it on December 31, 2013.TTB Accepts Offer in Compromise From Seven Brides BrewingThe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has accepted an offer in compromise from now-shuttered Seven Brides Brewing in Silverton, Oregon.According to the TTB, Seven Brides offered to pay $18,230 of the $132,802.81 it owes in fines for violations that took place from April 2010 to September 2018. Seven Brides has offered to pay $3,630 up front and $1,000 each month for 14 months and the $600 balance in the fifteenth month.Before closing in October 2018, Seven Brides produced 650 barrels of beer, according to the Brewers Association.The TTB has accepted 18 compromise offers from wholesalers and producers this year.FDA Issues Warnings to 15 Companies for CBD Products, Cannot Declare CBD ‘Generally Regarded as Safe’The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it cannot yet determine that CBD is safe for consumption and issued warnings to 15 companies for promoting products with it in ways that violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, according to THCNet.The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act prohibits companies from adding CBD to food, marketing products for children or infants, and claiming that CBD products can treat diseases, provide any kind of therapeutic relief or serve as a dietary supplement. So far, only one drug with CBD has been approved for use in humans; it treats two forms of pediatric epilepsy, Abernathy noted in the release. In order to declare CBD “generally recognized as safe,” the FDA must conduct more research on the substance’s affect on humans.Craft Beer Storm Website: www.craftbeerstorm.com If your Company, Hotel or Restaurant wants to book a CraftBeer Weekend or Craft Beer Evening for your guests or employees send an email to Michael@craftbeerstorm.com Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faebMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/Craft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

Craft Brew News 09/12/19Judge Denies A-B’s Motion to Dismiss Patagonia Trademark LawsuitA federal judge on Tuesday denied Anheuser-Busch’s motion to dismiss a trademark case filed by outdoor clothing maker Patagonia after the world’s largest beer manufacturer launched a beer called Cerveza Patagonia.According to Law 360, Patagonia sued for trademark dilution, rather than trademark infringement, due to the two company’s products being unrelated. A company can only file for trademark dilution when the mark has become “famous.”U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled that Patagonia, who cited more than $10 billion in sales, did indeed fit this description.Phillips wrote “To meet the ‘famousness’ element of protection under the dilution statutes, a mark must be truly prominent and renowned. “Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that its ‘Patagonia’ mark is famous and distinctive.”Along with trademark dilution, the lawsuit also sought to cancel A-B’s 2012 registration of the name “Patagonia,” as it could be associated with the apparel company. Phillips refused A-B’s request to dismiss those claims.Patagonia general counsel Rob Tadlock told Law 360 that A-B has “deliberately tried to confuse customers into thinking that Patagonia Cerveza is produced by Patagonia, rather than Anheuser-Busch.”Last month, A-B launched Cerveza Patagonia in 13 states.Brewers Association Estimates Number of Breweries in PlanningBrewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson, referencing state license lists and brewery-in-planning memberships in its database, along with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) permits, estimated that 1,940 breweries will open in the U.S. over the next two years. According to Watson, when factoring in brewery closures, the number of total breweries in the U.S. over the next two years could reach around 9,200.Check out our Podcast with Bart Watson on Episode # 41 - Here is link:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-craft-beer-storm-29999356/episode/episode-41-what-kind-30904715/Narragansett Acquires 18,000 Sq. Ft. Brewery in Rhode IslandNarragansett Beer officially acquired an 18,000 sq. ft. building in Providence, Rhode Island, which will serve as the company’s new headquarters. Narragansett plans to add an indoor taproom, outdoor beer garden and special event space to the facility, which is slated to open in spring 2020.Narragansett president Mark Hellendrung told Brewbound that he expects the first phase of the project to cost $6 million. The company will also own the building.In a press release, Hellendrung called the brewery acquisition a “homecoming” for him and “a new chapter” for the brand.“To have a brewery right at the top of Narragansett Bay, that’s easy to get to in Providence, and is connected to the picturesque India Point Park and the East Bay bike path is really a dream come true,” he said.Narragansett will continue to produce its higher volume offerings at FIFCO USA and Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket, while producing small-batch and innovation beers on a 15- or 20- barrel brewhouse in Providence, where the company also plans to install a canning line.Anheuser-Busch Donates Canned Water to Hurricane Dorian Relief EffortAnheuser-Busch, answering the American Red Cross’ request for aide, donated more than 100,000 cans of water to Florida residents in advance of Hurricane Dorian, according to Florida Politics. The water was delivered to A-B’s Jacksonville brewery from its production facility in Carterville, Georgia. Southern Eagle Distributing, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and Bernie Little Distributors distributed the water.Craft Beer Storm Website: www.craftbeerstorm.com** Check out Upcoming Craft Beer Weekends ** Hampton, NHThe Victoria Inn Bed & Breakfast and PavilionCraft Beer Weekend - Dates: October 25-27, 2019Friday - Food / Beer Pairing at Inn / Q&A Brewer's PanelSaturday - Beer Bus takes you to local Breweries/DinnerSunday - Kegs N Eggs and BeerMosasAvailability: Limited - Book NOW!http://www.thevictoriainn.com/6th-annual-craft-beer-storm-weekend-2019/If your Company, Hotel or Restaurant wants to book a CraftBeer Weekend or Craft Beer Evening for your guests or employees send an email to Michael@craftbeerstorm.com Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Support ACS In NYC Marathon“32K In 64 days” - I signed up for the NYC Marathon through the American Cancer Society and I am aiming to raise $32,000 ($3,200 Minimum X 10X) - please follow link below to donate what you can - $25, $50, $30K! - Onward... - Here is link –http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=94035&pg=personal&px=49477898&fbclid=IwAR2mBEvhF1wMA_BbHPhkavichNSFrE9Y9gi2RVZzfQ_4Da5Sht7gvH9rY_k*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faebMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/

Craft Brew News – 07/19/19(courtesy of Brewbound) https://www.brewbound.com/Heineken USA Agrees to Pay $1.25 Million Fine to Settle New York Trade Practice ViolationsThe New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) on Wednesday finalized a $1.25 million settlement agreement with Heineken USA Incorporated (HUSA) for 42 alleged violations of the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) law.The New York fine comes three months after HUSA agreed to pay the largest offer in compromise ever — $2.5 million — to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for alleged trade practice violations related to its proprietary “BrewLock” draft systems.The federal investigation spurred the New York investigation, as the TTB notified the SLA last year that HUSA was allegedly providing retailers with BrewLock systems at no cost.The BrewLock systems, according to both the SLA and TTB, are designed to only dispense Heineken products packaged in unique kegs, which subsequently induced retailers to purchase more products made by the global brewing company.Through its investigation, the SLA determined that HUSA gave away more than 800 BrewLock systems, valued at about $500 each, from 2014 to 2015. Additionally, the SLA’s investigation found that Heineken attempted to conceal transactions involving its “Blade” kegerator device by using a third-party, Micro Matic, to incentivize retailers.State Liquor Authority chairman Vincent Bradley said in a press release. “Whether you are small craft brewery or a major international company, you have to comply with the rules and laws of New York,” “Our agency remains committed to rooting out anti-competitive practices that artificially restrict consumer choice and place small manufacturers at a disadvantage.”Heineken’s UK Pubs Under InvestigationTwo weeks after announcing plans to sell off 150 pubs, Heineken’s Star Pubs & Bars chain is under investigation by the Pubs Code Adjudicator for allegedly requiring its publicans to overstock Heineken beer and its other offerings, according to The Guardian.At issue is whether Heineken imposed unfair terms on tenants who tried to escape the so-called “beer tie,” which requires tenants to buy a certain amount of beer from their landlord, in this case, Heineken. If found to be in violation, the Dutch beer giant could face a fine of about $13.8 million, the outlet reported. California Revises Definition of ‘Beer’California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Tuesday revising the definition of beer to include production using “honey, fruit, fruit juice, fruit concentrate, herbs, spices, and other food materials, as adjuncts in fermentation.” The law also says beer aged in empty wooden wine or spirits barrels is defined as “beer” and should “not be considered a dilution or mixture of any other alcoholic beverage.”California beer companies were previously required to hold a wine making license in order to use fruit in the fermentation process, according to KSBW News. The clarification aligns state law with the existing federal law.Michigan Brewers Push for Self-Distribution IncreaseMichigan craft brewers are attempting to increase the state’s self-distribution cap to 30,000 barrels annually, according to Crain’s Detroit Business. Currently, state law limits self-distribution to 1,000 barrels a year, forcing those who exceed the cap to contract with a wholesaler.Eastern Market Brewing co-owner Dayne Bartscht has started an online petition to garner support for the effort. So far, more than 3,000 people have signed the petition.Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faebMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/

Craft Brew News – 04/06/19(courtesy of Brewbound.com)Constellation Brands Sales Top $8.1 Billion in Fiscal Year 2019Constellation Brands reported its fiscal year and second quarter 2019 earnings results today, which were highlighted by a 7 percent increase in net sales, to more than $8.1 billion.During the 2019 fiscal year, Corona brand family shipments reached 150 million cases, while depletions increased 7 percent. Meanwhile, Modelo brand family shipments exceeded 125 million cases, as depletions rose 12 percent.Newlands called Modelo Especial “the leading growth engine in entire U.S. beer market,” adding that it is the “fastest growing brand in the on-premise” and the No. 1 selling beer in 7-Eleven stores.“It is the fastest growing major beer in the industry, accounting for almost 40 percent of total category growth,” he said, adding that the beer is now the top selling brand in California.In 2020 fiscal year, Constellation Brands will make its “biggest marketing investment” behind Modelo, with television advertising during live sporting events as well as the roll out of 32 oz. single-serve bottles.Heineken USA to Pay Record $2.5 Million Fine to Settle Trade Practice ViolationsThe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) today announced the acceptance of a record $2.5 million offer in compromise from Heineken USA Incorporated for alleged trade practice violations outlined in the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act.According to the TTB, HUSA supplied alcohol retailers with its proprietary “BrewLock” draft systems at no cost between August 1, 2015, and March 26, 2019.In a press release, the TTB said the BrewLock systems were designed to only dispense products packaged in unique kegs used by HUSA, which subsequently induced retailers into purchasing offerings made by the global brewing entity.Additionally, the TTB accused Heineken’s U.S. importing arm of making “slotting fee payments” to retailers, and disguising those transactions as “permissible activities” such as consumer sampling experiences that never actually occurred.Brewers Association: Craft Growth Outpacing Overall Beer MarketThe BA, which released its 2018 craft industry growth statistics today, reported that 7,346 craft breweries operated in the U.S. in 2018. That’s up from 6,490 in 2017.Those 7,346 craft breweries produced a combined 25.9 million barrels of beer in 2018, up about 800,000 barrels from 2017, the BA said.Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson told members of the media during a teleconference. “We’re still seeing openings outpace closings by almost five-to-one,” Watson added that he expects both numbers to be revised upward next year as additional data is collected.In 2018, craft’s share of total beer dollars grew to 24.1 percent — to an estimated $27.6 billion — which Watson attributed to price inflation and the so-called “long tail” of small brewers commanding higher retail margins. Craft’s volume share of the overall U.S. beer also increased, to 13.2 percent last year, up from 12.6 percent in 2017.Watson also made a case for the smallest breweries finding the most success as they build their businesses through direct-to-consumer taproom sales. The BA estimates that the number of barrels sold directly to consumers via brewery taprooms grew by about 400,000 barrels, to 3.1 million barrels, in 2018 (up from 2.71 million barrels in 2017).Ninkasi Brewing Sells Majority Stake, Establishes National Platform to Acquire Other BreweriesOregon’s Ninkasi Brewing has sold a majority stake to Legacy Breweries Inc., an upstart venture led by former Yakima Chief CEO Don Bryant, that aims to acquire U.S. craft breweries.Similar to Canarchy – which owns Oskar Blues, Cigar City Brewing, Deep Ellum, Utah Brewers Cooperative, Perrin Brewing and Three Weavers – or Artisanal Brewing Ventures – which owns Victory Brewing, Southern Tier and Sixpoint Brewery – Legacy Breweries Inc. hopes to establish “collaborative partnerships” with craft breweries, according Ninkasi co-founder Nikos Ridge.Speaking to Brewbound, Ridge said he, along and co-founder Jamie Floyd and the company’s six investors, would “retain significant ownership” in the brewery.“Ninkasi sold a majority stake to Legacy Breweries in order to create a new platform that can leverage our resources in conjunction with those of the Legacy team,” he said.As those “brewing hubs” are established, the company would also look to acquire 10 to 15 smaller breweries in those geographies. Those companies would be able to access expanded production and packaging capabilities and have better access to raw materials such as hops, malt, and cans. (Beara Portsmouth Location for Sale - Call Me or send me an email michael@craftbeerstorm.com !)Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/

Craft Brew News - February 1, 2019With Government Reopened, TTB Begins Processing Backlog of Beer LabelsHundreds of Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) employees returned to work on Monday, following a 35-day government shutdown the brought beer label approvals and other important alcohol beverage enforcement activities to a standstill.Last Friday, President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and temporarily funded the federal government through February 15.Now, with the threat of another shutdown looming, TTB workers are tasked with processing a backlog of nearly 10,000 alcohol beverage label approval requests that have already been submitted this year.The TTB approved 192,000 alcohol beverage labels — including approximately 34,000 beer labels — in 2018, according to the Washington Post.During the 35-day shutdown, a number of small craft brewery owners were stuck waiting for beer label approvals that couldn’t be processed, delaying new beer releases and causing financial setbacks.Meanwhile, in Oregon, Deschutes Brewery president Michael LaLonde told the Bend Bulletin that 8 percent of the company’s business was at risk as it awaited approval for six beer labels and a cider permit.“It’s having a huge impact on the business and potentially the economy of Oregon itself,” he told the outlet.Green Flash Brewing Rebrands, Re-Releases Original West Coast IPAGreen Flash Brewing today unveiled a new logo, rebranded packages and a reformulated version of its West Coast IPA flagship.The move comes about eight months after the San Diego-based craft brewery named former Anheuser-Busch executive Michael Taylor as its new CEO, following months of financial turmoil and an eventual foreclosure sale to holding company WC IPA LLC.The redesigned packages feature “custom artwork by illustrator Matthew Jay Fleming, whose illustrations depict the vibrant San Diego lifestyle.”“Our new visual identity represents a dramatic shift for the Green Flash brand and reinforces its origin as one of the original San Diego craft beers,” Ben Widseth, the company’s vice president of marketing, said via a press release.In addition to the new package design, the company also re-launched its West Coast IPA flagship with the original recipe. In mid-2014, the company raised the ABV of its West Coast IPA from 7 percent to 8.1 percent.Widseth said “Over the years, we have been listening to our loyal drinkers who reminisced about the original recipe,”. “So we’re excited to bring it back for them to enjoy, along with a portfolio of other fan favorites and new beer releases to come.”In addition to the original West Coast IPA, Green Flash’s core portfolio now includes Soul Style IPA, GFB Blonde Ale and Tropical DNA, a hazy IPA.In 2018, amid ongoing financial troubles, Green Flash was forced to close two production facilities, lay off 76 employees and pull distribution from 42 states.Asahi to Buy Fuller’s Beer and Cider BusinessTokyo-based Asahi Group Holdings today announced a $327 million deal to acquire the beer and cider business of London-based Fuller Smith & Turner.Financial details were not disclosed, and the the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2019.According to the BBC, Fuller’s will now focus on its pub and hotel business, which accounts for about 87 of the company’s profits. In a press release announcing the deal, Asahi said it would supply beer to Fuller’s more than 380 pubs and hotels in London and south of England.“The deal secures the future of both part of our business including protecting the heritage of the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, which was particularly important to the Fuller’s board,” Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny told the BBC.As part of the deal, Asahi will acquire Fuller’s beer and cider brands, such as London Pride, Frontier lager and Cornish Orchards cider. Asahi will receive the right to use Fuller’s trademarks, although the U.K. company will maintain ownership of the brand name. Asahi will also take control of Fuller’s Griffin Brewery in London, where the company was founded in 1845.The Fuller’s offerings join an Asahi portfolio that includes previously acquired brands such as Peroni and Pilsner Urquell, which were both purchased in 2016.Goose Island Brewmaster DepartsGoose Island brewmaster Jared Jankoski is leaving the Chicago-based and Anheuser-Busch-owned craft brewery for Madison, Wisconsin-based craft brewery Octopi Brewing, according to the Chicago Tribune.Goose Island has yet to identify a replacement.Jankoski told the Tribune that his decision to depart Goose Island after seven years was a personal one, noting that he is “not really a city person.” He joins the 3-year-old Octopi Brewing as brewmaster and will help the company through a $10 million expansion project that will increase its capacity from 40,000 barrels to 100,000 barrels.News Brought to you by Brewbound (www.brewbound.com)Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/craft-beer-storm-WdbK0LCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

The partial government shutdown includes the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). This is highly problematic for breweries as they need to get label and formula approval for new beers from the TTB. Not to mention make tax payments and file other operation reports. Prairie Artisan Ales out of Oklahoma tweeted about this on January 6th - and as you would imagine, got a deluge of varying responses. Wade and Cody from Prarie call in to talk about the shutdown and managing social media for a brewery.

Craft Brew News – 12/28/18TTB Suspends Operations Amid Government ShutdownAs the partial shutdown of the U.S. government stretches into its fifth day, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has officially closed.A temporary landing page on the agency’s website states that alcohol companies will still be able to access the TTB website to make electronic payments, submit labels or formulas, and to file other operational reports, but TTB employees will “not be able to respond to questions or comments submitted via the website until appropriations are enacted.”At the time, the TTB expected 51 of its 478 employees to continue working during the shutdown.The shutdown, which White House officials have said could last into 2019, comes after Trump and House Republicans refused to accept a short-term spending bill that would have funded the government until February 8, 2019.When the federal government shutdown for 16 days in 2013, applications and label submissions were backlogged and some breweries expressed concerns that the release of new beers and seasonal offerings could be delayed as a result.Canopy Growth Eyes US Market Following Farm Bill SigningCanadian cannabis company Canopy Growth Corporation announced plans to enter the U.S. market shortly after President Donald Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law on Thursday.“Canopy Growth will participate in the American market now that there is a clear federally permissible path to the market,” Canopy CEO and chairman Bruce Linton said via a press release. “Consistent with the spirit of the Farm Bill, Canopy Growth will participate in ways that support American farmers.”Canopy offered no further details. However, the company stated that it is “well-positioned to enter the U.S. market” as a result of a $4 billion investment from Constellation Brands, as well as its “deep hemp-specific portfolio of intellectual property acquired from Colorado-based ebbu Inc.”The 2018 Farm Bill decriminalizes industrial hemp and allows for the cultivation and more widespread commercialization of the variety of the Cannabis sativa plant that, according to the bill, contains less than 0.3 percent THC.News of Canopy’s plans to enter the U.S. market comes just two days after the world’s largest beer manufacturer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, announced a research partnership with Canadian cannabis company Tilray to explore the creation of non-alcoholic beverages infused with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).Arcadia Foreclosure Auction PostponedA December 20 foreclosure auction for Michigan’s Arcadia Brewing Company has been delayed, according to MLive.com.Karen Hencken, a certified court officer who handles mortgage foreclosures in Kalamazoo County, told MLive.com that the auction was postponed for the next seven days, but due to the holidays, would likely be adjourned until January 10.The Kalamazoo-based craft brewery had fallen behind $1.4 million behind on its mortgage. However, brewery founder Tim Suprise told Brewbound earlier this month that he was in discussions with potential “strategic partners” that would help the company avert foreclosure.Advertising Watchdog: Miller Lite Can Claim ‘More Taste’ Than Bud Light, Michelob UltraIn response to a challenge by Anheuser-Busch, the National Advertising Division (NAD) has found that MillerCoors has proven a “reasonable basis” to claim that Miller Lite has “more taste” than A-B brands Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, according to a press release from the Better Business Bureau program, which monitors national advertising campaigns for truth and accuracy.However, the NAD recommended that MillerCoors stop using its “Know Your Beer” commercials that appear to show the conclusion is based upon a taste test.Both beer companies viewed the decision favorably. A-B told the Associated Press that it was encouraged by the finding that MillerCoors had “misrepresented Itself” and its taste preference claims were “unsupported by fact.”Meanwhile, MillerCoors CEO Gavin Hattersley told his company’s “Behind the Beer” blog that the beer maker was “pleased with the ruling” and would adjust the campaign to comply with the NAD’s recommendations.“We know it’s helping distinguish Miller Lite, and obviously garnering the attention of our competitors as well,” he told the blog.Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/craft-beer-storm-WdbK0LCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. ---------------------- The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM) works on cider legislation, education, and cider promotion. In this chat: CiderCon2019 with the Michelle McGrath, Executive Director of USACM Why you should attend CiderCon2019 Why arrive early to CiderCon2019 Key programing presentation and lectures to attend at CiderCon2019 Which international company is the invited guest at CiderCon2019. hint: They are North Americans! Find out about Michelle McGrath featured in Wine Enthusiasts’ Top 40 Under 40  Haven’t registered for CiderCon2019 - go to this link: https://ciderassociation.org/cidercon2019/ Pre CiderCon fun and key speakers & educational workshops of CiderCon2019 Feb 4th Monday  Classic arrival day for attendees to be able to attend the next day morning sessions Feb 5th  Tuesday Elements of Cider with Charles McGonegal and Ambrosia Borowski, General Manager of The Northman, Chicago's premier cider bar Listen to 084: Elements of Cider | Sensory Analysis w/Charles McGonegal Cider Tour in Chicago focusing learning about cider and food pairings. Right Bee Cider  The Northman Cider Pub & Bistro ERIS Brewery and Cider House  The Farmhouse Feb 6th  Wednesday - Morning seminars TTB presentation - The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) oversea the regulations and labeling of cider. This  presentation will include taxation issues for cider. A key session for commercial makers or start ups. Certified Cider Professional  (CCP) Level 2 Training.  Servers, distributors and even super cider geeks will up their cider knowledge and be both informed consumers but specifically for those in the trade best educate and serve consumers. **Level 1 must be taken first before attending Level 2. Cider Institute of North America Teaches the craft of cidermaking. The Institue will be leading a workshop at CiderCon2019 Wednesday Afternoon: Pomme Boots Meeting with Krista Scruggs from Vermont by way of California Welcome reception and Cider Share- Imagine a huge room filled with makers pouring cider. A great opportunity for makers to showcase their ciders and network with the folks in the cider trade. This is not open to the public. As of December 12th there is still time to sign up to bring you ciders to the Cider Share. Contact pickcider@ciderassociation.org  Lunch Speakers on Feb 7th Thursday and Feb 8th Friday Thursday Lunch Speaker: Mark Sirini Attorney - Speaking on the History of Alcohol and the Law Friday Lunch Speaker: Michelle McGrath, Executive Director : United States Association of Cider Makers Updates Tradeshow - Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Trade Show! Look for  the Lounge at the Trade Show and Thursday’s Happy Hour session. Plus a bookstore with author signings Who is going to become the next USACM Board Member? Nominations begin the third week of December. Voting takes place on Friday morning at CiderCon2019. Be there at the 9am session to cast your vote.  Are you a Member of the Association? Why not throw you hat into the race and help create cider history and excellence in the market Key Canadian Guests Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse - British Columbia, Canada County Cider - Listen to episode 137 Ontario’s County Cider Story | Jennifer Dean Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider will be presenting Using Oak: What do you want to know? Listen to episode 132 Barrels and Bâtonnage with Ryan CiderCon2019 still needs volunteers contact mailto:pickcider@ciderassociation.org   Mentions in this Chat 060: Nicole Todd | Santa Cruz Cider Company, CA 103: Robby Honda | Tanuki Cider, CA 110: Eric & Katie | Rider Ranch Ciderworks, CA 113: Jake Mann | Five Mile Orchard, CA  

Craft Beer News – 11/23/18Artisanal Brewing Ventures Execs Discuss ‘100 percent’ Acquisition of Sixpoint BreweryAfter four years of discussions with Sixpoint Brewery founder Shane Welch, Artisanal Brewing Ventures (ABV) finally completed a deal to purchase 100 percent of his Brooklyn-based craft brewery this week.Even though ABV had been courting Sixpoint for several years, it wasn’t until this summer when negotiations really began to heat up, John Coleman, CEO of ABV, told Brewbound.As the deal came together, ABV — which is backed by family office Ulysses Management and was formed in 2016 via the merger of Victory Brewing and Southern Tier Brewing — turned to Wells Fargo to help finance the acquisition.Coleman declined to share specific financial terms of the transaction.Unlike ABV’s partnerships with Victory and Southern Tier, whose founders have remained involved in the businesses they started, Welch is exiting the company he founded in 2004 to focus on other “craft beer-related businesses,” including a smartphone app that helps facilitate direct-to-consumer sales at breweries.Although ABV’s past strategy has focused on retaining its partner breweries’ founders, the company decided it needed to be more flexible when it came to Sixpoint, Paul Barnett, managing director of Ulysses Management, told Brewbound.“Shane has a lot of other outside interests, which he’s passionate about,” he said. “He struggled with the idea of the obligations that are inherent in being an active founder partner like Bill [Covaleski] and Ron [Barchet of Victory] and Phin [DeMink of Southern Tier].”Now, Sixpoint brewmaster and chief product officer Eric Bachli will lead the company. Last year, Welch hired Bachli away from popular Massachusetts craft brewery Trillium Brewing.According to Coleman and Barnett, Sixpoint was an attractive acquisition target for ABV due to its geographical presence in New York City, where the brewery sells more than half of its volume, as well as its alignment within the Sheehan Family network of wholesalers.“We think there’s a lot of growth potential in metro New York as well as all of the surrounding areas,” Coleman said. “And from a brewing standpoint, the brands are all very complimentary with Southern Tier and Victory brands.”According to Coleman, Sixpoint is on pace to produce 55,000 barrels of beer by the end of 2018. The company did not report production figures to the Brewers Association last year, but in 2016 it reported production of 74,500 barrels.Finally, Barnett and Coleman said ABV isn’t done buying, and they mentioned a focus on breweries located in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southeast regions of the U.S..“The east of the Mississippi geography we find is really an attractive market,” Barnett said.TTB Accepts Offer for Trade Practice ViolationsTTB and Elgin Beverage Agree to $325,000 Offer in CompromiseThe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) yesterday announced the acceptance of a $325,000 offer in compromise from Illinois distributor Elgin Beverage Co. for alleged violations of tied house provisions.Elgin, based in Bartlett, about 35 miles from Chicago, distributes products from Constellation Brands, Pabst Brewing and FIFCO USA, among others.In a press release, the TTB said Elgin had “aided and abetted another industry member in the use of a third party to pay retailers to carry and promote their products.”The pay-to-play scheme, the TTB argued, gave Elgin an “unfair advantage” in the marketplace.“TTB remains committed to putting an end to anti-competitive practices that hurt law-abiding businesses and prevent consumers from enjoying a wide selection of products,” the agency wrote.Earlier this month, the TTB issued an industry circular reminding alcohol beverage companies that it was “committed to ensuring a fair and level playing field nationwide.” In that announcement, the TTB noted that it had “significantly intensified” its enforcement (which began in 2017), and that it was focused on snuffing out “exclusive outlet, tied house, commercial bribery, and consignment sale violations.”“The high incidence of unlawful activities and deliberate concealment of such activities raise serious concerns,” the agency wrote. “These activities are of particular significance because of their nationwide occurrence and their impact on trade and fair competition.”In May, the TTB accepted a $900,000 offer in compromise from Warsteiner Importers Agency Inc. — “the largest single offer in compromise for trade practice violations” ever accepted by the agency.The Ohio-based company was accused of engaging in illegal tied house, commercial bribery and exclusive outlet violations committed in order to compromise a retailer’s independence from January 1, 2015, through April 19, 2018.BA Chief Economist: Brewery Visits are Good for Beer Industry HealthIn his latest blog post, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson said “getting people into breweries is a good thing for the beer industry.”His rationale? Recent Nielsen CGA data that suggests beer drinkers who visit breweries drink more beer, while those who do not visit breweries drink less.Conversely, 24 percent of more than 4,300 consumers who hadn’t visited a brewery in the last year and were also asked about their consumption habits said they were drinking more beer, while 28 percent said they were drinking less.“Now, as someone who cares about good analysis, I won’t pretend that this means going to a brewery is causing people to drink more beer,” Watson wrote. “The causality might run the other way: people who are drinking more beer might be seeking out breweries.”Nevertheless, Watson said all players throughout the three-tier system need to “actively try to recreate the reasons people go to breweries.”His pitch to beer distributors, some of whom have expressed concerns about the proliferation of brewery taprooms?“If these beer lovers are drinking a typical amount, their beer consumption is going up far more than at-the-brewery sales alone, suggesting once again that brewery visits spill out into the wider market and help build brand beer,” he wrote.Massachusetts to Commence Recreational Cannabis Sales on November 20The first legal recreational cannabis sales east of the Mississippi will occur next Tuesday in Massachusetts, The Boston Globe reported Friday.In a press release, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission announced that it had approved two companies — Cultivate Holdings, LLC and New England Treatment Access, LLC – to begin selling marijuana and marijuana products.“This signal to open retail marijuana establishments marks a major milestone for voters who approved legal, adult-use cannabis in our state,” commission chairman Steven J. Hoffman said via a press release. “To get here, licensees underwent thorough background checks, passed multiple inspections, and had their products tested, all to ensure public health and safety as this new industry gets up and running.”It took lawmakers and regulators more than two years to finally approve cannabis sales after Massachusetts voters passed a 2016 ballot initiative making recreational cannabis legal.Source of News Stories: Brewboundhttps://www.brewbound.com/Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHSubscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/craft-beer-storm-WdbK0LCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

Tonight, All About Wine focuses on the federal government and its rule over wine and wineries:  The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).   Join us for this entertaining and informative show.  Call the show and talk with us LIVE on-air about wine and the wine industry.  Our guest line phone number is (646) 727-3235 or Email your questions and comments to allaboutwine101@gmail.com