The winners of the first “Canny Awards,” which recognized craft beer cans with high-quality, captivating graphics, were announced during the Craft Brewers Conference, May 2-5 in San Diego.  

 Oskar Blues Brewery and Sun King Brewing Co. collaborated to introduce Chaka. 

 Operating under the slogan “Beer is agriculture,” San Francisco-based Almanac Beer Co. has carved out its own niche in the burgeoning craft brewing industry with its “farm-to-bottle” beer model.  

 In 2011, beer’s performance reflected a category of contradictions with trends torn between the ongoing price consciousness of some consumers and the insatiable taste for variety — even if it carries a higher price — from other demographics.  

Most of the time, change doesn’t happen overnight. But in the case of Silver Eagle Distributors, its acquisition of BudCo Ltd. in 2007 catapulted its business in an instant. 

Real Ale Brewing Co. added 12-ounce cans to its package options starting with its Firemans No. 4 Blonde Ale. 

California’s craft brewing industry generated approximately $3 billion in total economic impact to the state in 2011, reported Steve Wagner, president of the California Craft Brewing Association (CCBA), Nevada City, Calif., and president and brewmaster at Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif.

Samuel Adams, a brand of The Boston Beer Co., Boston, teamed up with San Francisco-based craft chocolate maker TCHO to introduce the Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Chocolate Box.

After enduring contraction the last few years, the overall beer market is on the uptick, says Dan Wandel, senior vice president of beverage alcohol client insights for Chicago-based SymphonyIRI Group. 

 There’s no denying that this time of year can be quite busy.