(Courtesy Upper Hand Brewery)

The beer biz never sleeps at American Craft Beer. And here’s just some of what’s been happening in the beer world while you were enjoying the weekend.

Bell’s Sells Sister Brewery

In December, Michigan-based Bell’s Brewery, which was acquired by Lion, a division of Japan’s Kirin Holdings, in 2021, announced that it was selling its sister brewery, Upper Hand Brewing, to California-based Seven Beverages, Inc, a deal that is expected to close early in 2025.

“Thank you to the Upper Hand team for their years of hard work, creativity and innovation,” New Belgium CEO Shaun Belongie said in a statement. “The ownership, pride and dedication to brewing exceptional craft beers have resonated within the local community and are a testament to their dedication and talent.

“We’re excited to see the new owners continue the legacy of incredible craft beer in Northern Michigan.”

Words to Drink By

“A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.”— Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO

Draft Beer Decline Continues

According to Bon Appétit, the  “draft beer experience is in peril. Last year only 9% of beer sold in the US was packaged in kegs.”

“On a national scale, data company Draftline Technologies estimates between 7 and 13% of all draft lines are empty—installed and ready, but not dispensing any beer. If trends continue, draft beer could become a novelty, or perhaps, a relic.”

Some sight the Covid lockdowns for adding fuel to a fire that was already simmering, others point to the decline of beer consumption in general. There’s also those who look to the consolidation of beer distributors, which has led to big companies like Reyes colluding with macro beer suppliers at the expense of craft brewers.

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