The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), Alexandria, Va., hosted its 78th annual convention and tradeshow Oct. 11-14 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Constellation Brands Inc., Victor, N.Y., announced an agreement to acquire San Diego-based Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. One of the fastest growing craft beer companies in the United States, Ballast Point beer portfolio contains more than 40 different varieties, including its Sculpin IPA and Grapefruit Sculpin IPA, the company says. The partnership with Ballast Point will enable Constellation Brands to compete in the craft beer segment, further strengthening its position in the highest end of the U.S. beer market, it adds.

Three cities in Maryland recently named October “Shore Craft Beer and Hard Cider Month.” One of them in Ocean City, also hosted a Shore Craft Beer Festival, which took place Oct. 24 and featured local brewers, according to the Caroline Times Record.

Providence, R.I.-based Narragansett Beer announced the release of Big Mamie Indestructible American Pale Ale, a sessionable ale that pays homage to the USS Massachusetts. The release commemorates the 50th anniversary of maritime museum Battleship Cove and Narragansett’s own efforts to save the impenetrable warship many years ago, the company says.

White Plains, N.Y.-based Heineken USA announced it is upping the stakes on game day with its What’s Your Play? retail program that will run from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. The comprehensive program includes eye-catching football-themed point-of-sale (POS) materials, digital partnerships, a Twitter-driven sweepstakes and cross-merchandising opportunities to inspire men of legal drinking age around the world to up their game by choosing Heineken, Heineken Light, Dos Equis, Tecate, Tecate Light and Strongbow Hard Ciders for their game day celebrations, the company says.

London-based SABMiller plc and Denver-based Molson Coors Brewing Co. reported that MillerCoors, a Chicago-based joint venture, experienced a net income decline of 8.6 percent to $344.4 million for the third quarter compared with the same period last year. 

Blue Moon launched two new, seasonal offerings — Cappuccino Oatmeal Stout and Gingerbread Spiced Ale. 

From Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) to Dia de Reyes (Jan. 6, 2016), Tecate Light, a brand of White Plains, N.Y.-based Heineken USA, is bringing the boldness of the holiday season to life with a comprehensive, 360-degree program that offers legal drinking age consumers everything they need to kick-start their holiday celebrations, the company says. 

Unibroue announced the introduction of a limited-edition craft beer: La Résolution. 

There are few plays in basketball more exciting than the three-point shot. Taking inspiration from the game, Portland, Ore.-based Pyramid Breweries recently teamed up with the Portland Trail Blazers to create its newest, limited-edition beer – Reigning 3s. This unfiltered White Pale Ale is the company’s take on its own 3-pointer, using a combination of Cascade, Apollo and Lemon Drop hops. With 5.5 percent alcohol by volume, this beer rates 30 on the international bitter unit (IBU) scale. Due to limited availability fans will have to travel to "Rip City" to get a shot of this brew, the company says.