[BND] Your Breakfast Briefing

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

It's Time to End the Legal Wrangling and Take Uncle Nearest Public

Both the receiver in the Uncle Nearest Inc. receivership case and the lender, Farm Credit Mid-America, have asked a federal judge to reject an emergency request to fast-track an appeal denying founder Fawn Weaver's attempt to move the case to bankruptcy court. Before rehashing their arguments, let me offer a suggestion: Take Uncle Nearest public.

U.S. Beer Production Rises 2.5% in Year

Beer Institute estimates U.S. brewers produced 12.7 million barrels of beer in March, a 2.5% in year-over-year. "After a slight increase last month, March was the largest monthly increase since May 2024, signaling further stability from the mainstream beer segment," says Andrew Heritage, the Institute's economic wizard.

How the Industry Should Respond to Misleading Attacks

We think it is long past time for the bev/al industry to stop being the punching bag for anti-alcohol zealots masquerading as "public health" advocates.

Pabst Loses Appeal on Abestos Death of Contractor

The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently upheld a $6.9 million jury verdict against Pabst Brewing Co. (“Pabst”) for compensatory and punitive damages stemming from on-the-job asbestos exposure.

Tasting Room Traffic Dips 8% at Sonoma County Wineries

It's worse in Napa.

Service Sector Expansion Continues

The Business Activity Index remained in expansion territory in April, increasing 2 percentage points to 55.9% from March’s reading of 53.9% . 

Pepper Distilling Awards Winebow 4 Additional Markets

James E. Pepper Distilling Co. said it expanded its distribution partnership with Winebow to include California, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware.

Wine Institute Promotes Tyler Rudd to Vice President of State Relations

He's been doing the job since Steve Gross became Interim President/CEO.

Workers Strike Dewar's Distillery

GMB Scotland members struck the John Dewar & Sons plant on Glasgow’s London Road.

Responsibility.org Offers Webinar on Impairing Hemp Beverages

Responsibility.org is hosting a "safety-based conversation" on "Impairing Hemp Beverages: What Parents and Law Encorcement Neeed to Know to Keep Kids Safe" on May 27.

Thanks for reading. I'll see you tomorrow. – Joel