Janet Monroe

Half Acre and Maplewood merging makes sense in a market where three Chicago breweries have already closed this year. But there’s more going on here than the press release suggests. The coverage frames this as two breweries combining. Maplewood isn’t just a brewery. It’s a brewery-distillery that also produces THC-infused seltzers and NA beverages. Half Acre is a beer operation. When those two consolidate under one corporate entity, you’re not creating a bigger brewery. You’re creating a multi-category beverage company with a fundamentally different risk profile than either business carried on its own. Spirits production, THC products in a regulatory gray zone most carriers are still figuring out how to underwrite, distribution contracts governed by Illinois’ Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act that don’t quietly reset when ownership changes hands. The entity that exists after closing isn’t a scaled-up version of what came before. It’s a different kind of business. A clean press release and a clean risk transfer are two very different things. This deal makes strategic sense for both brands. But the work that happens between announcement and closing is where the real story is. #DefenseBrief #InsuranceDefense #CraftBeer #ChicagoBusiness

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Excellent reminder that not all DTC states are equal. These five states place significant restrictions on wineries/wines that are sold in wholesale within their borders.

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Public Service Announcement: Protein was the big trend at Expo West this year. Brands need to be cautious about protein labeling. Plaintiff lawyers are actively filing suit. I am seeing some big labeling problems with easy fixes. % Daily Value in the nutritional fact panel is listed for most nutrients except protein which is not required UNLESS you make a protein claim outside the nutritional fact panel. And a claim includes putting grams of protein on the front even though the grams are also listed in the NFP. It’s a gotcha and easy claim for plaintiff lawyers to make. And when you list grams you need to make an adjustment based on the Regs. That’s a bit more complicated. At Expo, I saw many brands with grams of protein on the front and no %DV listed in the NFP. If you are a brand, look at your product and makes sure you listed %DV for protein. And if you know a brand or work with brands, please send them this message. It’s such an easy fix and the consequences are so high if you get caught tens of thousands of dollars to settle lawsuits. And I know this is just a harmless error by brands so please help spread the word. The product shown in the photo is made up but highlights some of the out there protein claims of food I didn’t know needed more protein.

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Minnesota’s brewing industry is facing unprecedented challenges, with several longstanding breweries closing their doors. Why aren’t mergers and acquisitions providing a solution—and what strategies are emerging? Husch Blackwell's Jeffrey O'Brien explores how some breweries are adapting in this evolving landscape.

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Tattersall Distilling is entering the THC beverage market with a functional line as craft spirits growth cools. 🌿 The Wisconsin-based distiller unveiled Tattersall Functional Beverages—two low-dose blends, Uplift (citrus) and Unwind (berry), combining cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG), adaptogens, and electrolytes. 🥤 Formatted in 750ml bottles ($60) and 2 oz minis ($7), the mixes are intended for zero-proof cocktails with 2 mg THC per tablespoon. The move comes amid federal uncertainty around hemp-derived products and as peers like Central Standard and Hanson of Sonoma test the category; “adult, festive and functional” demand is the target, the company said. ⚗️ Online shipping to legal states begins now, with select retail rolling out this month and broader distribution slated for early 2026. https://lnkd.in/gwQU-eQc #THCDrinks #FunctionalBeverages #CraftDistilling #HempDerivedTHC #LowDose #NonAlcoholic #BeverageIndustry #MidwestBrands

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New guidance from MN OCM today states: "[From today] . . . until February 17, 2026—cannabis microbusiness license holders, cannabis mezzobusiness license holders, cannabis cultivator license holders, and cannabis manufacturer license holders may transport samples of their own cultivated or manufactured products to a Minnesota-licensed cannabis testing facility." Full guidance here: https://lnkd.in/gVyj8F3U

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I was interviewed by Ally Marotti for her recent Crain's Chicago Business’s piece on Buona Beef's franchising expansion beyond Chicagoland. The story highlights how legacy brands are tapping into new markets and why franchising is an increasingly attractive model for growth.    I shared specific insights on how private equity interest in franchisors is accelerating thanks to their operational playbooks and tech capabilities, which help overcome common scaling hurdles.   Read the full piece here!: https://lnkd.in/gZVwT7w9

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