In the craft beer segment, hops tend to steal the spotlight when it comes to formulation. They’re prominent within India Pale Ales (IPAs), which is the segment’s top-selling style, according to Information Resources Inc., Chicago. Plus, they’re even measured in most beers by International Bitterness Units (IBUs), which assess the bitterness of a beer as provided by the hops that are infused during brewing.

2B Sparkling launched its monk-fruit-sweetened carbonated beverages in Rexam 12-ounce cans.

In the “Wizard of Oz,” among the many concerns that Dorothy encounters on her quest for home is the musically entertaining “lions and tigers and bears, oh my.” Although not potentially threatening like wild animals, a trio of options often presents itself to beverage manufacturers in the form of packaging: plastic, aluminum and glass, oh my.

Sparkling Drink Systems International (SDS), a New York-based at-home carbonation products company, has partnered with Pat's Backcountry Beverages Inc. (Pat’s BCB), Golden, Colo., to produce a range of beer concentrates exclusively for SDS.

After three years of planning, Ninkasi Brewing Co. opened its expanded Eugene, Ore., brewery and brewed its first batch of beer in the facility in late March. The brewery worked with ecoReal Solutions, Portland, Ore., to add numerous sustainability features to the brewery, setting it on the path to reach Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the company says.

Avure Technologies, Franklin, Tenn., separated into two distinct operating units: Avure Industrial Division and Avure HPP Equipment and Services Division. Both divisions will operate as separate strategic business units. This separation allows each to focus on customer service, new product development and application support specific to its specialty, the company says. Jeff Williams was named chief executive officer of the HPP Equipment and Services Division, and Jan Söderström will assume the position of chief executive officer of the Avure Industrial Division.

Because water is key to its production processes, Hamilton, Bermuda-based Bacardi Ltd. has set new goals through its “Good Spirited” global sustainability program in order to become more ecologically responsible for the production of its flagship brand, Bacardi Rum, it says.

To build on the policies and programs that Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo already has established in a number of areas including supplier conduct, sustainable agriculture, and environmental health and safety, the company now is rolling out a land policy with zero tolerance for illegal activities in its supply chain and for land displacements of any legitimate land tenure holders.

Earlier this month, Hamilton, Bermuda-based Bacardi Limited unveiled its new “Good Spirited: Building a Sustainable Future” initiative, which will hold its global operations and suppliers for Bacardi rum to high sustainability standards.

Brewing is an extremely energy-intensive process in which the costs of electricity, heat, gas and other energy carriers make up a large share of total costs.