This is the first post of a new weekly series called “5 Stories Over Beer“. 5 Stories Over Beer is a weekly recurring article that presents 5 stories about beer and the brewing industry from the week before that you should read. So sit down, grab a beer, and take a few minutes to read 5 stories while drinking a beer. Cheers and let me know what you think!

5 Stories Over Beer – 2016 March 13-19 :

1. Private Equity Group Fireman Capital Partners, Backed by Oskar Blues Brewing, Buys Cigar City Brewing – Cigar City Brewing is a Tampa Bay, FL brewery that has achieved regional success and worldwide attention and respect. There has been a surge of consolidation in the beer industry, some viewed as good and some bad. Cigar City produces about 60,000 barrels per year and needed capital to take their success to the next level. Read about the acquisition by clicking here. Read about the business motivation for Cigar City Brewing to make the sale by clicking here.

2. Key Ingredient in Beer Could be Used to Fight Cancer and Make Antibiotics – Scientists at the University of Idaho are working on ways to extract beneficial acids called humulones and lupulones from hops. The acids could be used in the fight against cancer and inflammatory diseases. Read about how the research by clicking here.

3. Climate Change Impacting Beer’s Future – Read about how global climate is impacting the components used to make beer by clicking here. And read about how one brewer is addressing the water shortage in California by brewing an experimental beer – click here.

4. Craft Breweries Looking Beyond the Beer – With the rapid growth in craft breweries and beer choices, competition is greater than ever. Hence, many craft breweries have expanded their brand into something that goes beyond selling beer to consumers. Read about this growing trend in the craft brewing industry by clicking here.

5. Homebrew Con 2016 – Homebrewing has grown more popular than ever. The 2016 National Homebrewers Conference, now known as Homebrew Con, will take place June 9-11 in Baltimore, Maryland. Get details or tickets by clicking here.