Long CNBC segment focuses on beer’s positive sales trends. Plus, how were your Memorial Day volumes?

What does the surprisingly weak April mean to the industry at large?

For Memorial Day, it’s all about the grocery stores, isn’t it? We take a bird’s eye view of a broad trend in supermarket and big box store dynamics. Plus, Latrobe labor getting ancy, and Miller rolling out caffeinated version of Mickey’s called Stinger.

Sure, Rock volumes were down, but so are a lot of brands. Why did InBev decide to punt? We talk with InBev USA’s Doug Corbett.

Judge allows direct shipping by out-of-state retailers, without a permit. Plus, more on A-B’s acquisition of Rolling Rock.

Amid share losses, will Miller step up discounting? Will pricing spiral out-of-control this summer? What is Miller’s pricing strategy anyway? We talk with Miller’s Tom Cardella.

A-B buys Rolling Rock brand from InBev for $82 million. Is Goose Island next?

One week to Memorial Day, and the usual suspects are jockeying for preferred status in the grocery ad, the endcap display, and the c-store orange price starburst cooler static sticker. Whoever said this industry wasn’t competitive (Judge Pechman?) hadn’t seen the start of summer.

SABMiller reports more info in its year-end trading statement.

The high end is taking over, and it is accelerating. Plus, Reyes throws a party for their accounts, state AGs ask the FTC to study alc ads, Charlie clarifies self-distribution, and are high fuel costs killing c-store sales? (Hint: Initially, but not in the long run).

Yesterday we quoted a letter sent by an A-B attorney to the Ohio liquor control communicating a wish to keep the right to ship direct to retailers and consumers. BBD has since learned that A-B has disavowed that claim.

We know the big brewers are behind three-tier, but on their own terms, as we are seeing in Ohio.

While brewer/distributor relations seem to be pretty good, there’s one rift in the fight for three-tier. Plus, Boston Beer Q1 volumes ripped, and what’s the No. 1 selling ale in the US?

This is the most anticipated part of the Legislative Conference: our Hyatt bar coverage.

Highlights from the NBWA/Brewers Joint Legislative Conference.