Summary: Craft Brew News <br> 03/27/20<br><br>(Courtesy of <a href="http://www.Brewbound.com" rel="noopener">www.Brewbound.com</a>)<br><br>Crowler Cans Out of Stock until April as Beer Industry Pivots to To-Go Sales<br><br>As draft beer has almost entirely stopped flowing in the U.S. due to on-premise shutdowns caused by efforts to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, craft brewers are turning to crowlers — 32 oz. cans filled and sealed on demand — to sell the beer left in their kegs before it oxidizes.<br><br>The problem is that the only supplier of crowlers, Ball Corporation, is entirely out of stock of crowlers until April, American Canning co-founder and CEO David Racino said.<br>Ball manufactures crowlers quarterly and the unprecedented shutdown of all on-premise consumption in the U.S. could not have been forecasted.<br><br>Ball Corporation Increases Crowler Production to Meet Demand; Growler Sales Surge<br><br>Ball Corporation has added production of 32 oz. crowler cans and expects to have a supply ready to hit the market in two days.<br><br>The company, which is the nation’s sole producer of 32 oz. crowler cans, increased the size of its planned second-quarter run and is working to expedite shipments when possible.<br><br>As states have forced bars, restaurants and breweries to close for on-premise service during the COVID-19 pandemic, craft breweries whose taprooms are their main source of revenue have turned to to-go sales of cans, growlers and crowlers to stay afloat. However, the shortage of crowler cans, which Ball is the only maker of in the nation, has hampered those efforts.<br><br>Meanwhile, sales of glass growlers from wholesaler Glass and Growlers “are cranking,” chief operating officer William Kerr said.<br><br>The Las Vegas, Nevada-based company has received orders from as far away as Europe and Australia and domestic orders are coming in from clients ranging in size from small craft breweries to national craft-centric chain Yard House, Kerr said.<br><br>“Growler sales are going through the roof,” he said. “We’re on our second truckload this week.”<br><br>Allagash Donates Personal Protective Equipment to Hospital<br><br>Portland, Maine-based Allagash Brewing tweeted that its staff discovered extra safety masks, which the brewery donated to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center.<br>The brewery has been delivering beer directly to consumers in the Portland area.<br><br>In an Instagram post the Brewery said <br><br>“Allagash on the Fly will continue to operate both curbside pickup & delivery as Portland begins a mandatory stay-at-home period. We've continued to add to our safety measures across the brewery—both for our staff's wellbeing and yours.”<br><br><br>Beer Companies Donate to Bartenders and Restaurant Staff<br><br>Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced it will donate $1 million to the United States Bartenders’ Guild, a nonprofit organization that supports bartenders and servers.<br><br>Other brewers making similar donations include Boston Beer Company, which donated $100,000 to the Restaurant Strong Fund, a fund it created for Massachusetts service industry employees with local philanthropy the Greg Hill Foundation. Boston Beer will also match donations up to another $100,000 through March 31.<br><br>Constellation Brands, parent company of Mexican import brands Corona, Modelo and Pacifico, which has pledged $1 million to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, $500,000 to the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild and $250,000 to first responders.<br><br>New Belgium Brewing established the New Belgium Brewing Bar & Restaurant Relief Fund and donated an initial $50,000 with a commitment to match donations up to another $50,000. The fund will support furloughed and laid off service industry employees in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Asheville, North Carolina, where the...
