Description of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Description of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Description of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Operations

Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc., was formed in 1983 in California, and has two operating subsidiaries: Releta Brewing Company, LLC, (“Releta”), and United Breweries International (UK) Limited (“UBIUK”). In the United States (“US”), MBC and its subsidiary, Releta, operate two breweries that produce beer for the specialty “craft” segment of the beer market. The breweries are located in Ukiah, California and Saratoga Springs, New York. The majority of sales for Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc. in the US are in California. The Company brews several brands, of which Red Tail Ale is the flagship brand. In addition, the Company performs contract brewing for several other brands, and MBC holds the license to distribute Kingfisher Premium Lager Beer in the US and Canada. Generally, product shipments are made directly from the breweries to the wholesalers or distributors in accordance with state and local laws. In these notes, the term “the Company” and its variants and the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” and their variants are generally used to refer to Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc. together with its subsidiaries, while the term “MBC” is used to refer to Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc. as an individual entity.

The Company’s United Kingdom (“UK”) subsidiary, UBIUK, is a holding company for Kingfisher Beer Europe Limited (“KBEL”). KBEL is a distributor of Kingfisher Premium Lager Beer, in the United Kingdom and Europe. The distributorship is located in Maidstone, Kent in the UK.

Subsequent Events

The Company evaluates events that occur subsequent to the balance sheet date of periodic reports, but before financial statements are issued for periods ending on such balance sheet dates, for possible adjustment to such financial statements or other disclosure. This evaluation generally occurs through the date at which the Company’s financial statements are electronically prepared for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements present the accounts of Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Releta and UBIUK. All material intracompany and inter-company balances, profits and transactions have been eliminated.

Basis of Presentation and Organization

The financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The financial statements and notes are representations of the management and the Board of Directors, who are responsible for their integrity and objectivity.

Reclassifications

Certain items in the financial statements for the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or equity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Short- and Long-Term Investments

For purposes of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Foreign Operations

Approximately 26% of the Company’s assets are located in the UK. Although this country is considered economically stable and the Company has experienced no notable burden from foreign exchange transactions, export duties, or government regulations, it is always possible that unanticipated events in foreign countries could disrupt the Company’s operations.

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are stated at the invoiced amount and are the amount the Company expects to collect. Sales are made to approved customers on an open account basis, subject to established credit limits, and generally no collateral is required. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable; however, changes in circumstances relating to accounts receivable may result in a requirement for additional allowances in the future.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. Management considers the following factors when determining the collectability of specific customer accounts: customer credit-worthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic and industry trends and changes in customer payment terms. Past due balances over 90 days and other higher risk amounts are reviewed individually for collectability. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, adversely affecting their ability to make payments, additional allowances would be required. Based on management’s assessment, the Company provides for estimated uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to a valuation allowance. Balances that remain outstanding after the Company has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. The Company had allowances of $56,700 and $68,200 for doubtful accounts receivable as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost, which approximates the first-in, first-out method, or market (net realizable value). The Company regularly reviews its inventories for the presence of obsolete product attributed to age, seasonality and quality. Inventories that are considered obsolete are written off or adjusted to carrying value.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

Prepaid expenses and other assets generally consist of deposits, other receivables, and prepayments for future services. Prepayments are expensed when the services are received.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated or amortized using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the improvement or the life of the related lease. The Company uses other depreciation methods (generally, accelerated depreciation methods) for tax purposes where appropriate. Costs of maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred; significant renewals and betterments are capitalized. When property and equipment are retired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the asset’s carrying amount and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in the statement of operations.

Estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:

Building	40 years
Machinery and equipment	3 - 40 years
Vehicles	3 - 5 years
Furniture and fixtures	5 - 10 years

Assets Held under Capital Leases

Assets held under capital leases are recorded at the lower of the net present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease. Amortization expense is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the period of the related lease.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses the impairment of its long-lived assets periodically in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 360, (Accounting for the Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets). The Company reviews the carrying value of property and equipment and any other long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. In cases where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to an amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of assets. The factors considered by management in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends, and prospects, as well as the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic factors. Long-lived assets that management commits to sell or abandon are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Deferred Financing Costs

Costs relating to obtaining financing are capitalized and amortized over the term of the related debt. When a loan is paid in full, any unamortized financing costs are removed from the related accounts and charged to operations. Deferred financing costs related to borrowing made in June 2011 were $225,000. Amortization of deferred financing costs charged to operations was $45,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 750 which requires an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes and allows recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and operating loss, and tax credit carryforwards. A valuation allowance is established to reduce the deferred tax asset if it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized.

The Company periodically assesses uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on a tax return (including a decision whether to file or not to file a return in a particular jurisdiction). The Company evaluated its tax positions and determined that there were no uncertain tax benefits for the years ending December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from brewing and distribution operations in accordance with ASC 605. The Company recognizes revenue from product sales, net of discounts.

The Company recognizes revenue only when all of the following criteria have been met:

● Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;

● Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered;

● The fee for the arrangement is fixed or determinable; and

● Collectability is reasonably assured.

“Persuasive Evidence of an Arrangement” – The Company documents all terms of an arrangement in a written contract or purchase order signed by the customer prior to recognizing revenue.

“Delivery Has Occurred or Services Have Been Performed” – The Company delivers the products prior to recognizing revenue or performs services as per contractual terms. Product is considered delivered upon delivery to a customer’s designated location and services are considered performed upon completion of Company’s contractual obligations.

“The Fee for the Arrangement is Fixed or Determinable” – Prior to recognizing revenue, an amount is either fixed or determinable under the terms of the written contract or purchase order. The price is negotiated at the outset of the arrangement and is not subject to refund or adjustment during the initial term of the arrangement.

“Collectability is Reasonably Assured” – The Company determines that collectability is reasonably assured prior to recognizing revenue. Collectability is assessed on a customer-by-customer basis based on criteria outlined by management. The Company does not enter into arrangements unless collectability is reasonably assured at the outset. Existing customers are subject to ongoing credit evaluations based on payment history and other factors. If it is determined during the arrangement that collectability is not reasonably assured, revenue is recognized on a cash basis.

The Company records certain consideration paid to customers for services or placement fees as a reduction in revenue rather than as an expense. The Company reports these items on the statement of operations as a reduction in revenue and as a corresponding reduction in marketing and selling expenses.

Revenues from the brewpub and gift store are recognized when sales have been completed.

Excise Taxes

The federal government levies excise taxes on the sale of alcoholic beverages, including beer. For brewers producing less than 2.0 million barrels of beer per calendar year, the federal excise tax is $7 per barrel on the first 60,000 barrels of beer removed for consumption or sale during a calendar year, and $18 per barrel for each barrel in excess of 60,000. Individual states also impose excise taxes on alcoholic beverages in varying amounts, which have also been subject to change. Sales as presented in the Company’s statements of operations reflect the amount invoiced to the Company’s wholesalers and other customers. Excise taxes due to federal and state agencies are not collected from the Company’s customers, but rather are the responsibility of the Company. Net sales, as presented in the Company’s statements of operations, are reduced by applicable federal and state excise taxes. In the UK, excise taxes are paid by the manufacturer and not by the Company.

Discounts

To further promote retail sales of its products and in response to local competitive conditions, the Company regularly offers price discounts to distributors and retailers in most of its markets. Sales for the years 2014 and 2013, as presented in the Company’s statements of operations, are reduced by $1,140,800 and $1,165,100 respectively, related to such discounts.

Chargebacks and Sales Reserves

The Company has estimated reserves for chargebacks for promotional expenses by distributors. The Company estimates its reserves by utilizing historical information and current contracts. In estimating chargeback reserves, the Company analyzes actual chargeback amounts and applies historical chargeback rates to estimate potential chargeback. The Company routinely assesses its experience with distributors and adjusts the reserves accordingly. If actual chargebacks and other rebates are greater than the Company’s estimates, additional reserves may be required. Revisions to estimates are charged to income in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.

Seasonality

Sales of the Company’s products are somewhat seasonal, with the first and fourth quarters historically being the slowest and the rest of the year generating stronger sales. The volume of sales may also be affected by weather conditions. Because of the seasonality of the Company’s business, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year.

Taxes Collected From Customers

Taxes collected from customers and remitted to tax authorities are sales tax collected from our retail customers. State and federal excise taxes on beer shipments are the responsibility of the Company and included in our selling price. Excise taxes on shipments are shown in a separate line item in the consolidated statement of operations as reduction of gross sales. Sales taxes collected from customers are recognized as a liability, with the liability subsequently reduced when the taxes are remitted to the tax authority. Total sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to tax authorities were not material in 2014 and 2013.

Delivery Costs

In accordance with ASC 605, (Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs) the company reports pass-through freight costs on beer shipped to independent beer wholesalers in cost of sales. Reimbursements of these costs by wholesalers are reported in sales.

Non-pass-through costs incurred by the Company to deliver beer to wholesalers are included in marketing, distribution and administrative expenses. These costs are considered marketing related because in addition to product delivery, wholesalers provide marketing and other customer service functions to customers including product display, shelf space management, distribution of promotional materials, and product rotation. Shipping costs included in marketing expense totaled $1,051,300 and $911,200, for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Basic and Diluted Income per Share

The basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. In 2014, the effect of any potentially dilutive securities would have been anti-dilutive. Therefore, the conversion of the related party notes has been excluded from the calculation of net earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2014. Basic net earnings per share exclude the dilutive effect of stock options or warrants and convertible notes. The computations of basic and dilutive net earnings per share are as follows:

	Year Ended December 31
	2014			2013
Net loss	$	(1,539,500	)		(876,900	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding		12,611,133			12,611,133
Basic net income (loss) per share	$	(0.12	)		(0.07	)
Interest expense on convertible notes	$	—			—
Income (loss) for purpose of computing diluted net income per share	$	(1,539,500	)		(876,900	)
Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive securities		—			—
Dilutive potential common shares		12,611,133			12,611,133
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share	$	(0.12	)		(0.07	)

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company has subsidiaries located in the UK, where the local currency, UK Pound Sterling, is the functional currency. Financial statements of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during the period for revenues and expenses. Cumulative translation adjustments associated with net assets or liabilities are reported in non-owner changes in equity. Any exchange rate gains or losses related to foreign currency transactions are recognized in the income statement as incurred, in the same financial statement caption as the underlying transaction, and are not material for any year shown.

Cash at UBIUK was translated at exchange rates in effect at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and its cash flows were translated at the average exchange rates for the years then ended. Changes in cash resulting from the translations are presented as a separate item in the statements of cash flows.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America includes having the Company make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The amounts estimated could differ from actual results. Significant estimates include, allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization periods, and the future utilization of deferred tax assets.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $987,500 and $755,600 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value

The fair value of the Company’s financial instruments reflects the amounts that the Company estimates to receive in connection with the sale of an asset or paid in connection with the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). For financial assets and liabilities that are periodically re-measured to fair value, the Company discloses a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the use of inputs used in valuation techniques into the following three levels:

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2 – observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 3 – unobservable inputs.

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had no financial assets or liabilities that required periodic re-measurement at fair value.

The recorded value of certain financial assets and liabilities, which consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximate the fair value of the respective assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 based upon the short-term nature of the assets and liabilities. Based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms, the carrying value of short and long term notes payable approximate fair value.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is composed of the Company’s net income and changes in equity from all other non-stockholder sources. The changes from these non-stockholder sources are reflected as a separate item in the statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Reportable Segments

The Company manages its operations through two business segments: (i) brewing operations, tavern and tasting room operations in the US and Canada (the “North American Territory”) and (ii) distributor operations in Europe (including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) (the “Foreign Territory”). The Company evaluates performance based on net operating profit. Where applicable, portions of the administrative function expenses are allocated between the operating segments. The operating segments do not share manufacturing or distribution facilities. In the event any materials and/or services are provided to one operating segment by the other, the transaction is valued according to the Company’s transfer policy, which approximates market price. The costs of operating the manufacturing plants are captured discretely within each segment. The Company’s property, plant and equipment, inventory, and accounts receivable are captured and reported discretely within each operating segment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU No. 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted.

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In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements — Going Concern: Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This standard requires management to evaluate the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for 12 months following the issuance of the financial statements and provide related footnote disclosures. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. We will adopt this standard beginning with our 2017 annual reporting period.

In January 2015, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update which eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items and the need to separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”)), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”), and the SEC did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.