The Brewers Association (BA), Boulder, Colo., released 2013 data about U.S. craft beer industry. Craft beer rose 18 percent in volume sales, representing a total of 15.6 million barrels, and increased 20 percent in retail dollar value, making the segment the primary growth driver in the beer industry, according to the BA.

Summit Brewing Co. announced it will release new packaging art on all varieties of its Summit beer.

This month, Founders Brewing Co. began shipping 15-pack cans of All Day IPA. These packs are replacing the former 12-pack cans but retail for the same price as the smaller packs, the company says.

Fitness water brand Buff Water signed Canadian Football League athlete Hugh Charles, a running back for the Edmonton Eskimos, to its brand team.

The Brewers Association will host the 31st edition of its Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) & BrewExpo America from April 8 to 11 in Denver.

Rogue Ales & Spirits, Newport, Ore., announced that it will add barrel production to its resume with the creation of Rolling Thunder Barrel Works.

Back in the late ‘50s and ‘60s, talking beer stein characters Schultz and Dooley promoted the mellow taste and naturalness of Utica Club lager in TV commercials. At the time, the brand was a strong regional competitor produced in Utica, N.Y., by West End Brewing Co., which is known today as F.X. Matt Brewing Co.

Although craft beer case and dollar sales came in at a distant third to domestics and imports during the 52 weeks ending Dec. 29, 2013, in Information Resources Inc. (IRI)-measured channels, the burgeoning segment is making strides to garner more of that market share.

Upon entering the century-old F.X. Matt Brewing Co. offices in Utica, N.Y., visitors are greeted with Victorian-era furnishings, including an old bank teller counter with a slanted bottom to accommodate women’s hoop skirts. Historic furnishings like this continue throughout the 400,000-square-foot campus. However, despite its historical appearance, the facility offers many modern touches.

Vermont Hard Cider Co. LLC, Middlebury, Vt., released its new Woodchuck Hopped Apple hard cider exclusively on draft in bars, pubs and restaurants across the United States.