Part II of today’s beer notes update…

Saint Arnold Brewing: Craft Austin has more info on the 9/1 release of Santo. “It is a dark kolsch style beer. It will be available (all at the same time) in 1/2 barrels, 1/6 barrels, and 12 oz bottles (4/6 cases). It will come in at around 4.90% ABV.”

AB InBev: According to Reuters, “Anheuser-Busch InBev SA’s (ABI.BR) U.S. unit said on Tuesday that it plans to raise prices by 3 percent to 5 percent across its beer portfolio in October as it seeks to offset higher commodity costs. The maker of Budweiser and Bud Light said the increases — which will vary by brand, package and market — will go through on October 3.”

Still on the AB InBev front, get ready for another new product. Per Beernet, “Following A-B chief Dave Peacock’s announcement in May that A-B will reduce the alcohol content in all Tilt products to not exceed 8% abv, A-B announced to distributors the rollout of Tilt Long Island Iced Tea, with sales to retailers starting on September 5. Tilt LIIT will have 8% abv, coming in a 23.5 ounce can and priced in line with other Tilt flavors…”

MillerCoors: Per the Chicago Tribune, “MillerCoors, the Chicago-based joint venture between Molson Coors and SABMiller, is discontinuing MGD 64 Lemonade. The product, launched this spring, was expected to build on the company’s success in low-calorie beer and pique the interest of female drinkers.”

Capital Brewery: A power struggle for the reigns of this Wisconsin brewery? As reported by Madison.com last Monday, “Carl Nolen, who had served as president of the Middleton-based brewer since 2004, has been replaced by Scott Wiener, the largest shareholder of the publicly owned venture. Wiener declined to offer details on the move but says Capital will continue with its expansion plans.”

Then on Thursday… “Carl Nolen, who was asked to leave the company July 6, said Thursday he is leading a group of investors who want to buy the brewery, currently owned by more than 1,400 stockholders. The proposed purchase, along with a new infusion of money into the 25-year-old business, is designed to double or even triple the brewery’s annual production of 25,000 barrels of beer and increase the size of the Middleton brewery.”

Bonus I: Is the larger beer category bouncing back? Beernet reports, “Dan Wandel of Symphony IRI Group got BBD some early numbers for this important beer drinking holiday, and he is pleased to report that the beer category posted a 1.5% increase in case sales, and a whopping +3.7% increase in dollar sales in combined off-premise channels…”

Bonus II: Here is the lowdown on what’s happening in the Chicago beer scene these days via the Chicago Tribune (once again, they’re on top of beery reporting).

Bonus III: Remember the keg thiefs who broke into Avondale Brewing down in ‘Bama? Now someone has stolen Good People Brewing’s blue pickup truck. What the hey is going on down there?