First quarter off-premise sales data from IRI Worldwide shows strong sales for juicy and hazy offerings from large craft brewers. In three months of sales, Sierra Nevada's Hazy Little Thing is keeping pace with the combined Q1 2017 numbers for Sidecar and Tropical Torpedo, which were the brewery's two best-selling new brands last year. Sam Adams' New England IPA has $625,000 in one month of sales – outpacing the brewery's full Q1 numbers from its largest IPA release last year at $968,000. Washington-based Silver City Brewery has sold twice as much Tropic Haze IPA compared to flagship Nice Day IPA in Q1 2018. Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson estimates that New England IPAs currently comprise about 1% of craft volume and account for 15% of craft beer growth. – GOOD BEER HUNTING

Dozens of Seattle-area bars have boycotted the fast-growing Melvin Brewing over claims of inappropriate behavior by staff and a sexual harassment incident involving one of its brewers. No charges were brought against the brewer who allegedly inappropriately touched a server at Menace Brewing after she asked the brewer to stop drinking beer he had brought into the establishment. In response, Melvin suspended the brewer and instituted a comprehensive sexual harassment policy. The company also fired a copywriter following complaints of inappropriate content on its website. The Wyoming-based brewery opened its Bellingham, Washington pub last year and has several other brewpub outlets in planning stages. – SEATTLE TIMES

Bob Townsend took an inside look at Paste Magazine's huge beer tastings. The blind-beer tasting series became popular in 2015 following an IPA tasting that ranked 116 American IPAs, with Brew Kettle's White Rajah IPA coming out number one. Paste staff writer Jim Vorel leads the tastings and says that the informal nature of the panels is helpful for including today's style-bending innovative beers. "We’re capable of giving a good score to a classic example or to a newer example. Ultimately, we’re more a guide from beer drinkers for beer drinkers," said Vorel. Most recently, the publication reviewed 151 Pale Ales and 30 Macro Lagers. – ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Anheuser-Busch is looking to add more 15 pack offerings from its craft High End division. The beer conglomerate currently sells Goose Island IPA and 312, Golden Road Wolfpup, and a Breckenridge Brewery sampler pack in the large format packages. High End president Felipe Szpigel said Blue Point Brewing will release 18-packs of its Toasted Lager once its soon-to-open production facility is operational. High End subsidiary Devils Backbone will make Trail Angel Weiss available in 15 packs within the next two months. Szpigel added that although Elysian and Wicked Weed will continue to add cans to their portfolios, the breweries will not release larger format package options because of their "higher price point." According to market research firm IRI, off-premise sales from the High End's 11 acquired brands are up 19% in the first quarter. – BREWBOUND

Dozens of Seattle-area bars have boycotted the fast-growing Melvin Brewing over claims of inappropriate behavior by staff and a sexual harassment incident involving one of its brewers. No charges were brought against the brewer who allegedly inappropriately touched a server at Menace Brewing after she asked the brewer to stop drinking beer he had brought into the establishment. In response, Melvin suspended the brewer and instituted a comprehensive sexual harassment policy. The company also fired a copywriter following complaints of inappropriate content on its website. The Wyoming-based brewery opened its Bellingham, Washington pub last year and has several other brewpub outlets in planning stages. – SEATTLE TIMES

Startup 3x3 Insights is looking to provide more detailed alcohol sales data from independent retailers. The company is funded by Michael Loeb who helped create and fund Priceline.com. While IRI Worldwide and Nielsen Insights provide plenty of data on large-scale chain grocery and convenience stores, very little information is available from the estimated 50,000 independent retailers in the U.S. "We are helping retailers use this information about their customers – similar to the data Amazon uses every day – to make the brick-and-mortar store more relevant," said CEO Michael Provance. "This is enabling retailers to stay modern and remain closer to the consumer." – BREWBOUND

AB-InBev plans to offer more 15 and 18 packs of cans for its acquired craft brands division. "Consumers are demanding it," said High End president Felipe Szpigel. "After Founders kicked it off and opened that space, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be addressing it as well." The High End plans to add more large-format offerings from Golden Road, Goose Island, Devil's Backbone, and Breckenridge. – FOOD&WINE

Massachusetts-based Night Shift Brewing plans to open a 10-barrel brewpub on the first floor of the Converse World headquarters in Boston. The new location will have a 2,500 barrel annual capacity and Night Shift plans to open it by the end of the year. The brewery can produce about 20,000 barrels at its original Everett location and does some contract brewing in Rhode Island. – BREWBOUND

Yeast originated in China, according to a study where French scientists sequenced the genomes of 1,000 different strains.  The findings of the five-year study, which were published in Nature, demonstrate that yeast found in China has the highest genetic diversity of any other geographic area. A geneticist at UCLA is already planning experiments based on the findings. – ATLANTIC

Texas-based Shiner will release a variety six-pack featuring three fruit beers.  The Texas Heatwave will feature Prickly Pear, Hill Country Peach Wheat, and Mango Kolsch. The "tart and citrusy" Prickly Pear had been a fan favorite in previous years but was canceled as a seasonal release last year. The Shiner variety pack will be available throughout summer. – AUSTIN360

Love City Brewing has opened in the Callowhill neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania. The city's newest brewery has 7 beers on tap and is focusing on approachable styles, including a few lagers. The brewery is run by spouses Melissa and Kevin Walter. – EATER

Several multinational brewing conglomerates have recently stirred up social controversies abroad. In India, AB-InBev factory workers are apparently striking after a union president was fired for taking earned time off. The Global Fund to Fight AIDs, TB, and Malaria suspended a partnership with Heineken following accusations of exploitation of their female beer promoters in Africa. Constellation Brands has stoked protests in Mexicali, Mexico over the construction of a new production facility that local farmers believe will overtax the water supply. Online beer publication Good Beer Hunting decided to highlight these events as a reminder that multinational beer companies operate as a global manufacturer on a huge scale, not simply as a domestic corporation looking to acquire local craft breweries. – GOOD BEER HUNTING

Yeast originated in China, according to a study where French scientists sequenced the genomes of 1,000 different strains.  The findings of the five-year study, which were published in Nature, demonstrate that yeast found in China has the highest genetic diversity of any other geographic area. A geneticist at UCLA is already planning experiments based on the findings. – ATLANTIC

An Australian study by the Cancer Council of Victoria found that low-carb beers are not any healthier than standard beers. While many of these beers do have fewer carbs, the difference is usually negligible since the majority of calories comes from alcohol and not carbohydrates. Additionally, some low-carb options had more carbs than standard beer offerings that did not advertise as low-carb. – AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Georgia-based New Realm Brewing has purchased Green Flash's production facility at auction. New Realm opened in January and is helmed by former Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele. Conflicting reports have been released as to whether New Realm simply purchased the equipment or will also be moving into the Virginia Beach production site. Green Flash was foreclosed on March 30th. – PASTE

Oregon-based Deschutes Brewing Company has altered plans for a Virginia production facility. The project was initially announced two years ago with a timeline to be operational by 2021. Instead of going forward with an incentive-laden agreement where the city of Roanoke would have paid Deschutes back for purchasing a 49-acre plot of land, the brewery has purchased the land outright for $3.2 million. CEO Michael LaLonde says the facility is still on track for 2021 and that Deschutes will sell 200,000 barrels from the location in its first year. LaLonde added that the change in plans will allow Deschutes to maintain "flexibility." – BREWBOUND

Sony is suing California-based Knee Deep Brewing Company for trademark infringement for the brewery's flagship IPA Breaking Bud. The media conglomerate claims the beer's name and branding are an attempt to capitalize on the success of the hit TV series, Breaking Bad. "Simply put, rather than investing the time, effort and resources necessary to establish their own reputation and identity, Defendants have instead opted to hijack the famous brand identity associated with SPT and its BREAKING BAD show for Defendants’ own intended benefit," reads the complaint. Knee Deep's CEO released a response stating that a representative of Sony had contacted the brewery in 2015 expressing appreciation for the brewery's reference and brought up the possibility of a formal partnership. – PASTE

Massachusetts' alcohol regulatory body has dropped pay-to-play charges against Boston-area distributors. Medford Distribution, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, was charged last year with providing almost $1 million of bar dispense equipment and coolers to retailers in exchange for tap placement and stocking priority. The 14-month investigation found that 441 bars and liquor stores received the equipment between 2014 and 2015. The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission ruled that since Anheuser-Busch bought the equipment there was no pay-to-play. The commissioners ruled the distributor simply facilitated the transaction between A-B and the retailer. – BOSTON GLOBE

ZX Ventures – AB-InBev's growth and innovation arm – has acquired the UK-based Atom Group. The spirits producer, eCommerce platform, and importer describes its business as a "pioneering, disruptive global drinks group encompassing the full life-cycle of spirits." The company manufactures spirits under the Atom brand and sells them through Maverick Drinks and online retailer Master of Malt, which it also owns. – BREWBOUND

Louisiana lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow brewers to self-distribute. Senate Bill 314 started as a wine bill but now includes a provision that would allow breweries producing up to 25,000 barrels to distribute up to 10,00 barrels directly to retailers. The bill would impact over half of the state's 34 breweries. There are only 13 states in the country that currently do not allow some form of self-distribution. – GOOD BEER HUNTING