Mashing-In News: AleSmith Turns 30, Brewers Association Adds New Advocate, Beer Meets iGaming
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 — Matthew McConaughey turns 56
Today’s craft beer news spans milestones and evolution across the industry — AleSmith Brewing celebrates 30 years with a Grand Cru revival honoring founder Skip Virgilio; the Brewers Association appoints Michael Mohr-Ramirez to lead federal advocacy; breweries expand into iGaming to reach digital audiences; Reuben’s Brews readies its 2025 Advent Beer Box; TechniBlend explores the rise of mindful, functional drinking; and inflation data shows beer prices up nearly 30% over the past decade.
Reuben’s Brews Unveils 2025 Advent Beer Box with 24 Holiday Surprises
Reuben’s Brews is once again celebrating the holiday season with its popular Advent Beer Box — a hand-packed collection of 24 unique beers, from barrel-aged treats to seasonal favorites, available for $149 and ready for pickup starting November 26 at the brewery’s Ballard and Downtown Seattle taprooms. (Washington Beer Blog)
AleSmith Brewing Marks 30 Years with Grand Celebration and Grand Cru Revival
AleSmith Brewing celebrates its 30th anniversary this Saturday, November 8, honoring its original founder Skip Virgilio — who launched the San Diego brewery in 1995 — with a rebrew of his classic Grand Cru ale and a Tiki Bash packed with live music, food, and special releases marking three decades of innovation, resilience, and world-class beer. (San Diego Beer News)
Brewers Association Names Michael Mohr-Ramirez Manager of Federal Affairs
The Brewers Association has appointed Michael Mohr-Ramirez as its new manager of federal affairs, where he will lead advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., representing the interests of more than 9,000 small and independent craft brewers nationwide. (Brewers Association)
Breweries Tap Into iGaming to Reach Digital Drinkers
Breweries are increasingly entering the iGaming world—partnering with online casinos, esports, and virtual events—to expand their reach, create immersive digital experiences, and connect with tech-savvy drinkers, blending traditional beer culture with the interactive entertainment of modern gaming. (San Diego Beer News)
Beer Prices Up Nearly 40% in a Decade — Sam Adams Tops the Inflation Chart
A new FinanceBuzz study reveals that U.S. beer prices have climbed roughly 40% over the past decade, with the steepest hikes hitting favorites like Sam Adams Summer Ale (+71%), Dos Equis (+58%), and Miller High Life (+44%), proving that even “the champagne of beers” isn’t immune to inflation’s hangover. (Cheapism)
Craft Beverage Industry Embraces Wellness and Innovation Beyond the Pint
The craft beverage industry is rapidly evolving beyond traditional beer toward low-ABV, nonalcoholic, and wellness-focused drinks, with companies like TechniBlend leading the shift through precision blending technology such as the Alchemator™, enabling breweries to create flavorful, functional, and flexible products for the mindful-drinking era. (Craft Beer & Brewing)
Brewer to Recreate 1875 Arctic Ale Using 150-Year-Old Expedition Beer
A 150-year-old bottle of Allsopp’s Arctic Ale, originally brewed in Burton-upon-Trent for an 1875 North Pole expedition, will soon be opened by Innis & Gunn founder Dougal Gunn Sharp to inspire a modern recreation, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, made in partnership with Allsopp’s Brewery. (BBC)
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