San Diego-based Green Flash Brewing Co. announced that it has acquired Alpine Beer Co., also of San Diego. Green Flash Founders Mike and Lisa Hinkley and Alpine Beer Founders Pat and Val McIlhenney noted that the merger will allow the breweries to join forces to share resources, knowledge and experience.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, multiple beverage brands are finding ways to salute our nation’s troops and their sacrifices in the days before and after this federal holiday.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch announced its intention to purchase craft brewer 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, Ore.

To help consumers celebrate Friendsgiving, a Thanksgiving celebration with friends that usually happens before or after Thanksgiving, Budweiser is introducing new packaging. The brand of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch will offer a limited-edition, handmade wooden crate with 18 Budweiser beers and two pilsners glasses. In addition, the beer bottles will feature authentic, classic labels from 1918, 1933 and 1976.

Guinness & Co., a part of London-based Diageo, introduced its newest innovation: Guinness The 1759.

Heineken USA, White Plains, N.Y., entered into a long-term partnership agreement with Major League Soccer (MLS) that would make the Heineken brand the official beer of MLS. The partnership will commence in January 2015.

In time for fall, Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif., introduced a new, citrus-rich, chocolaty iteration of its year-round Stone Smoked Porter. Stone Smoked Porter w/Chocolate & Orange Peel currently is available in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at retailers, bars and restaurants in select markets nationwide.

MillerCoors, a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Co., extended its Steel Reserve Alloy Series with a new Spiked Punch flavor.

Strongbow Hard Apple Cider, a brand of Heineken USA, White Plains, N.Y., launched a new marketing campaign, “Cider at its Bestest.” The new, national campaign explains to consumers that Strongbow is best served over ice and includes the brand’s first U.S. TV spot, “Slow Motion Horse.”

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), Alexandria, Va., kicked off the first full day of its 77th Annual Convention on Sept. 29 in New Orleans. The first full day of the convention focused on the regulatory, commercial and economic value of distributors.