Lagunitas Brewing Company, since May 2017 fully owned subsidiary of Heineken (inside.beer, 6.5.2017), is the only top five U.S. craft beer brand to gain dollar share in the first half of 2018, according to CEO Maria Stipp. Thus, the brewery is outpacing competitors like Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Boston Beer (Samuel Adams), and MillerCoors (Blue Moon and Leinenkugels)
Stipp said in an interview with Brewbound that Lagunitas could sell in retail outlets five percent more beer in terms of volume and four percent more beer in terms of value through July 14, as tracked by market research firm Nielsen. Especially new package formats for its 12th of Never and Sumpin’ Easy ales, including 12-pack and 19.2 oz. single-serve cans helped to boost sales.
Further momentum is expected from the launch of 6-pack can packages starting in September to replace 12-packs in places that lack shelf space.
Another push forward is expected from other drinks, like the cannabis-infused drink Hi-Fi Hops (inside.beer, 15.8.2018) and non-alcoholic beverages like Hop Water, a non-alcoholic, zero-calorie, zero-carbohydrate, water made with Citra, Equinox and Centennial hops as well as “a pinch” of brewer’s yeast.
International expansion and production of Lagunitas overseas within the Heineken network has a higher priority than opening additional taprooms in the US. Currently, the Pataluma based company operates three taprooms, one at its headquarter in Pataluma, California, and one in Chicago and Seattle each. Lagunita’s brewery and taproom in Charleston, South Carolina, had to be closed forever in July last year, when the old leased brick building from 1880 needed a costly repair. (inside.beer, 23.1.2018) Instead, Lagunitas considers opening new taprooms in European cities like Amsterdam and Paris.
