Hazy IPAs, single malts, and the craft drinking revolution.
Colorado's Rick Thomas Distillery announces its first malt whiskey release this week, marking a significant milestone for the state's craft spirits scene. Meanwhile, BH James Distillers launches Spirit 76, a line of flavored Kentucky bourbons celebrating America's semiquincentennial with four distinct expressions now hitting shelves.
Whiskey dominates July releases with 10 limited-edition bottles celebrating the US 250th anniversary, while craft brewers shift away from hazy IPAs toward balanced, clearer styles. New releases from Monkey Shoulder, Jack Daniel's, and Old Pulteney mark the month's spirit highlights.
Whisky auctions hit a June peak with Yamazaki leading sales, while Barrell Craft Spirits launches a patriotic bourbon for the nation's 250th anniversary. Meanwhile, craft breweries report a pivot away from hype toward consistency as industry fundamentals stabilize heading into summer.
Spring whiskey releases take center stage this week, with eleven innovative bottles showcasing extra-aged expressions and experimental finishes. Brewpubs emerge as craft's bright spot with the smallest volume decline in 2025, while microbreweries struggle against crowded retail shelves. A fresh wave of spirits launches from major producers keeps the category energized heading into summer.
Horse Soldier Distillery opens this July Fourth weekend, a Las Vegas distillery launches its inaugural Bourbon Week, and top spirits makers continue pushing Formula One-inspired whiskies and premium releases into May's market. The whiskey sector shows robust demand, with global valuations accelerating toward $345.7 billion by 2035, while premium closures and sustainability packaging drive industry growth.
The ADI International Spirits Competition 2026 delivered a major upset this week, with craft distillers from Missouri, Massachusetts, and Michigan shutting out Kentucky in the bourbon category. Meanwhile, VinePair polled eight brewers on which craft beer style they consider officially dead in 2026, revealing a broad consensus around slushie sours and pastry extremes. Whisky Advocate also rounded up several noteworthy spirits news items, including a Pappy Van Winkle sweepstakes and the launch of Bhatka Spirits' bourbon-armagnac blend.
Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing Co. are set to open a massive 40,000-square-foot entertainment venue in Myrtle Beach on May 20, combining moonshine and craft beer under one roof. Industry watchers are also tracking the explosion of April spirits launches — from 100% agave tequilas to canned cocktails — alongside fresh trend data showing brewers calling time on "slushie sours" and other hyper-sweet styles. Beer market analysts confirm volumes remain under pressure worldwide, with premiumization and no-alcohol segments picking up the slack.
The week of May 4–8, 2026 brought a fresh wave of whisky releases headlined by Dewar's U.S. Open Champion's Edition and Little Book Chapter 10, while Global Drinks Intel rounded up a slate of new spirits launches from Edinburgh Gin to limited expressions. On the beer front, InsideHook published its definitive May whiskey guide and Nashville Scene served up rapid-fire reviews of five new whiskeys hitting shelves now.
This week's highlights include a bumper crop of new American whiskey releases — featuring the oldest Eagle Rare ever produced and a new creation from legendary distiller Chip Tate — alongside a new round of global spirits launches. Meanwhile, Canada's craft distillers are doubling down on direct sales and local experiences as they navigate a turbulent 2026 market, and European craft spirits face compounding pressures from geopolitical uncertainty and shifting consumer behavior.
This week in craft beer and spirits: Austin's local brewery scene drops a space-themed hoppy lager just in time for late April, the Denver International Spirits Competition reveals its top whiskey winners for 2026, and a new brewery-distillery announces plans to open in East Palestine, Ohio's historic train depot. Meanwhile, the industry continues to grapple with a post-correction landscape as low-ABV and non-alcoholic offerings gain ground.
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