AFRICA'S NO.1 FOOD, BEVERAGE & MILLING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

South African craft brewery Brewsters Craft launches limited edition of mango beer in celebration of women

Mar 11, 2021Mar 14, 2021 Editor

Company name: Brewsters Craft Product type: Craft beer Innovation: New flavour Brewsters Craft, a female-focused brewery, contract facility, lab and beer education space has launched a limited edition of its Mango Beer, under its Tolokazi craft beer brand. According to Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, the owner of the company and the first black woman brewery owner in South Africa, the limited edition was released in celebration of the International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day. The mango beer was developed to honour Yamekela Mbakaza-Bhelekazi, Brewsters Craft’s head brewer. The proceeds from the sales of…

SA craft breweries in dire need of resumption of alcohol trade or risk collapse

Jan 27, 2021Jan 27, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – The current ban on alcohol sales in South Africa is pushing craft brewers to the brink of closure with 87.5% of the businesses at a risk of shutting down permanently due to the economic impact of the ban. Already, 30% of the local breweries have been forced to permanently shut their doors and 165,000 people have lost their jobs. This was revealed by Craft Brewers Association of South Africa (CBASA) who undertook a survey amongst its members to assess the impact of COVID-19 and its related restriction…

SA’s beer industry crosses fingers that the alcohol ban won’t prolong beyond mid-January

Jan 7, 2021Jan 7, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – It’s just days after the government of South Africa reinstated the ban on alcohol sales that the industry players have already started feeling the pinch brought by the move. The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) has called for the lift of the renewed ban, saying small craft brewers would not survive if it was extended beyond mid-January. The prohibition, designed in part to ease the burden on hospitals from vehicle accidents and drinking-related violence, was implemented nationwide on December 29. However, this being the third ban…

Rising Trends in Craft beer in Africa as Pandemic Takes its Toll

Dec 16, 2020Mar 22, 2021 Editor

South Africa is the pioneer of Craft beer in Africa with its first craft brewery, Mitchell’s Brewery, opening its doors in 1983. In less than 3 decades, the craft beer landscape in the rainbow country has changed tremendously and is now dotted with over 215 breweries, according to Craft Brewers Association South Africa. Craft beer, which in 2015 accounted for accounted for just 1% of total beer sales, has grown tremendously in the past few years and now accounts for more than 5% of beer volume consumes in South Africa.…

Fintech acquires Armadillo Insight to bring actionable intelligence to alcohol industry

Apr 30, 2020Apr 30, 2020 Editor

USA – Financial Information Technologies (Fintech), one of the leading business solutions providers for the alcohol beverage industry, has acquired Armadillo Insight, to expand its specialized technology across the alcoholic beverage industry. Armadillo Insight is a company that turns complex craft beer data into sales and marketing intelligence that drives product placement across chain retailers. Fintech said that the acquisition furthers its mission to deliver specialized technology that maximizes efficiency and improves communication across the three tiers of the alcohol industry. Fintech has been providing solution to solves the unique…

India craft beer brand Bira 91 raises US$30m to expand its footprint

Apr 27, 2020Apr 27, 2020 Editor

INDIA – Bira 91, a craft beer brand owned by B9 Beverages, has raised US$30 million in pre-Series C funding round led its existing investors Sequoia India and Sofina, a Belgium-based investment firm. The investment round also saw participation from Mumbai-based consumer-focussed venture capital fund, Sixth Sense Ventures and Korean private equity fund, Neoplux as well as several high reputation family offices. Established in 2015 by B9 Drinks, Bira 91 consists of a crew of over 500 people and has presence in ten international locations, including over 400 cities. To date,…

Scottish craft brewer BrewDog enters Indian market in global expansion drive

Feb 17, 2020Feb 17, 2020 Editor

INDIA – BrewDog, a multinational craft brewer and pub chain based in Scotland, has unveiled plans of expanding into India with the opening of 35 pubs and the launch of several bottled beer brands. According to an ET Retail report, BrewDog plans to initially open 22 tap beers and three commercial ones, including its flagship brand Punk IPA and a wheat beer brewed specifically for the country. BrewDog sees a clear opportunity in India, a market that has recorded rapid growth in the craft beer space, increasing the number of…

Molson Coors Beverage debuts new craft beer Blue Moon LightSky

Feb 14, 2020Feb 14, 2020 Editor

USA – Molson Coors Beverage Company has released a new brand called Blue Moon LightSky, a 95-calorie, light citrus wheat beer brewed at its revamped brewery in Denver, Colorado, USA. The Blue Moon LightSky, which launched nationally at the beginning of February, is said to be brewed with real tangerine peel and pours light golden in color with a slight haze. According to the brewer, the 4% alcohol-by-volume beer packs bright citrus notes on the nose, complemented by a touch of malt sweetness and finishes clean with a hint of…

Molson Coors Beverage to acquire US craft beer maker Atwater Brewery

Jan 23, 2020Jan 23, 2020 Editor

USA – Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the US craft division of Molson Coor Beverage Company has secured a deal to acquire Detroit-based craft beer maker Atwater Brewery. Founded in 1997, Atwater Brewery is one of the leading the craft beer maker in Michigan, US with a strong presence in the traditional German-style lagers and unique ales category. Atwater Block Brewery is credited for reviving Detroit’s brewing tradition from its location in the historic Rivertown district. After investing in the brewery in 2002, the brewer was acquired by Mark Rieth…

United Breweries forays into craft beer segment with Kingfisher Ultra Witbier

Dec 5, 2019Dec 5, 2019 Editor

INDIA – Bangalore-based United Breweries Limited has ventured into the alternate beer category with the launch of the Kingfisher Ultra Witbier – the first non-lager beer from the house of Kingfisher. Brewed with the authentic Belgian wheat beer recipe, the craft-styled beer comes as a rich blend of natural extracts of orange and coriander, spices sourced from Belgium and new world aromatic hops sourced from USA. Kingfisher Ultra Witbier is available in 3SKUs, a 330ml bottle,a 500ml can and a 650ml bottle at an ABV of lower than 5%. Commenting…