5 Stories Over Beer is a weekly article that presents 5 recent and thought-provoking stories about beer and the brewing industry that you should read. So sit down, grab a beer, and take a few minutes to read 5 thirst-quenching stories. Cheers!

The Big Beer Merger Threat in 5 Stories Over Beer

1. Big Beer Merger Threatens Small and Independent Craft Beer Business: According to Bloomberg News, the U.S. Justice Department is poised to approve Anheuser-Busch InBev NV ’s takeover of SABMiller Plc in an agreement that may include measures to keep the beer behemoth from edging craft brewers from shelves. However, the details and veracity of these measures are not known. Since Anheuser-Busch InBev is also the largest distributor for beer in the U.S., this merger creates a major problem for the very business survival and growth of small and independent craft beer brewers. Bob Pease, the President and Chief Executive of the Brewers Association, provides in-depth background and discussion about the nature and concern over this threat and its potential impact to the craft beer industry as well as to beer-loving consumers in a New York Times editorial column. Read his excellent and important opinion article by clicking here.

Bob Pease discusses how the AB InBev takeover of SABMiller ( aka Big Beer Merger ) threatens small and independent craft brewers. Photograph courtesy of the Brewers Association.

 

2. Fighting Sexism in the Brewing Industry: Beers are still being sold with names like Top Totty and Legspreader. It’s time to rethink and reform sexism in beer marketing and the brewing industry. Read more about fighting sexism in beer by clicking here.

Belinda Jennings at Woodforde’s Brewery. Photograph courtesy of Woodforde’s Brewery.

 

3. Denver Rare Beer Lineup Announced as the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Nears:  Denver Rare Beer is one of the premier events surrounding the GABF, offering exclusive tastes of hard-to-find and unusual brews. This year, more than 50 breweries are scheduled to attend Denver Rare Beer, a Pints for Prostates fundraising event. The prostate cancer awareness event will be held on Oct. 7th and tickets go on sale this Father’s Day, June 19th, at 10 a.m. Read about the line-up and where to get tickets by clicking here.

Pints for Prostates reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health.

 

4. Majority of U.S. House of Representatives endorse Beer Tax Reform Bill: The Brewers Association announced that the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (H.R. 2903) is now supported by the majority of the U.S. House of Representatives. The comprehensive, bipartisan bill—which is widely supported by the brewing industry—seeks to reform burdensome laws regulating America’s brewers and beer importers and re-calibrate the current federal excise tax structure for the nation’s brewers, fostering economic development and innovation in the industry. Read the full story by clicking here.

Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act Reaches 218 House Co-Sponsors

 

5. The Beer-Driven Farming Boom: How Hops Growing Is Back In The U.S.: Hops farming in the U.S. and worldwide has been growing steadily along with the rise of craft breweries. The number of hops acres in the United States increased from 29,787 in 2011 to 44,882 in 2015, according to the Hop Growers of America. Those acres produced the world’s largest hops haul in 2015, at 42 percent of the total global crop. Read in Forbes about how and where hops farming is happening by clicking here.

U.S. Hop Farmers are Thrilled About the High Demand for Hops

I hope you enjoyed reading about the Big Beer Merger Threat and other stories in this week’s 5 Stories Over Beer. Let me know your thoughts.

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