Brewbound Podcast

Smog City Brewing co-founder Laurie Porter is a prepper. Even during craft's days of double-digit growth in the middle 2010s, Porter, who calls herself "an incurable optimist," was eyeing a future when that growth wouldn't be there.   So Porter and her husband, Jonathan Porter, built Torrence, California-based Smog City with diversified revenue streams – distribution, exports to international mark...

Nearly a year on the job, new-ish Lagunitas CEO Bernardo Spielmann is seeing opportunities for the legacy California craft beer brand.   Those opportunities include expanding Lagunitas Hazy IPA from a draft-only release to package, building on the successful launch of 9% ABV Hazicus Maximus hazy IPA, which now boasts 20,000 points of distribution, and revamping the packaging for non-alcoholic hop...

Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) and hard seltzers have had a bright red 2025, but those declines haven't fazed Mark Anthony Brands, which continues to find growth in the segments where others have faltered.  In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, Mark Anthony Brands president David Barnett details how the bev-alc company is "doing better than most" in today's challenged marketplace. He spoke abo...

High Rise Beverage co-founder Matt Skinner has built a coastal-themed brand in the Southeast but his ambitions extend across the nation.    The Charleston, South Carolina-headquartered intoxicating hemp beverage brand is now available in 22 states, and Skinner sees an opportunity to go even bigger.   "We're in the space of being a nationwide brand at this point," he says on the latest edition of t...

In this Brewbound Podcast interview, host Ray Latif speaks with Kelsey McQuaid-Craig, Executive Director of the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA), about what brewers can expect at this year's California Craft Beer Summit. McQuaid-Craig outlines the event's robust educational programming, featuring three breakout tracks—technical brewing, business of beer, and marketing—as well as new off...

Bars, restaurants and social gathering spaces are beer's "moneyball" opportunity, National Beer Wholesalers Association VP of analytics and chief economist Lester Jones shares during the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.   Jones is the first of two interviews this week. Adam and Amanda Kroener, the founders of spirits-based cocktail brand Carbliss, also join this week's podcast to share the...

One thing Josh Penney noticed after moving to Brooklyn from Los Angeles late last fall – aside from markedly less sunny weather – was a broader diversity in beer styles across brewery taprooms.   "It seemed to be a wider range of things that were really appealing to everybody," he said. "Because out on the West Coast, you might have a robust porter, but then you have, like, six different IPAs."  ...

The Brewbound team recaps the 2025 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and the start of the National Beer Wholesalers Association's (NBWA) Annual Convention and trade show, on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, recorded in Las Vegas.    Jess and Zoe share their experiences at GABF, including which legacy craft brewery brought the Party Bomb; festivalgoers' reception for full-strength spi...

In this Brewbound Podcast interview, Ray Latif speaks with David Christman, VP of State Affairs at the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) , about how distributors are embracing innovation to stay competitive and efficient in a rapidly evolving market. With more than two decades at NBWA, Christman explains how the association supports its members on legislative issues while also leading t...

Tonya Cornett thought she would end her career at 10 Barrel Brewing. She had joined the Bend, Oregon-based craft brewery in 2012, piled up competition medals for her beers and created a following at the brewery. She thrived as the brewery's R&D brewmaster before and after its 2014 sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B).    But then Tilray Brands acquired 10 Barrel and seven other brands in 2023. A yea...

How does an ready-to-drink (RTD) brand that was built on the beach translate to other seasons? Surfside, Stateside Vodka's hard iced tea and lemonade canned cocktail brand, is betting big on sports this fall.    Stateside co-founders CEO Clem Pappas and president Matt Quigley joined the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the brand's meteoric rise, its partnerships across college football and professiona...

AleSmith is celebrating its 30th anniversary with momentum behind new products – in and out of beer – and a growing contract brewing business.    In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, AleSmith president Brandon Richards shares how the San Diego craft brewery has evolved to meet drinkers' needs with new products while fortifying its business by brewing for others.    Richards explains how the P...

On the latest Brewbound Podcast, the Brewbound team closes the book on a lackluster selling season. Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata breaks down the final round of off-premise data, with a letdown from the historically sales boosting summer beer occasions.    Zoe along with Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and managing editor Jessica Infante also recap the latest 3 Up, 3 Down quarterly report f...

Less has been more with BrewDog's U.S. business over the last year and a half.    On the latest episode of the Brewbound Podcast, BrewDog USA chief sales and marketing officer Eric Teodoro Franco explains how the business has "done fewer things better," leading with a focus on its core brands, which helped the brand increase volume 26% last year, to 89,084 barrels of beer, according to data from t...

Columbia Distributing leaders believe they've tapped into a pipeline for the next generation of beer industry workers.     On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, Columbia president and CEO Chris Steffanci, VP of sales, Portland Chris Watzig and former intern Rebecca Logan share the ins and outs of the Pacific Northwest distributor's Beer Careers Program.   Watzig and Logan offer decades-a...

Kevin McGee used his law degree more than he expected when his family took over legacy California craft brewery Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC), including in legal battles over distribution rights.    Now that the family has sold the brewery,  a move announced in March , McGee is putting his degree to use full time.    On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, McGee recounts recent fr...

Rupee Beer founders Van and Sumit Sharma believe they're ready to meet Indian cuisine's moment.    On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, the brothers share their journey of launching the Indian American beer brand during the COVID-19 pandemic as an add-on purchase at their family's restaurant. Today, Rupee has expanded distribution to 18 states – most recently California – and the Sharma...

Representatives of Uncle Nearest were in court last week fighting to retain control of the whiskey brand's operations as its lender seeks the appointment of a receiver as the company has fallen into default on $108 million in loans.   BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker joins the Brewbound Podcast to share the latest on the case, including arguments made in court last week in favor of CEO Fawn W...

While defending shelf space remains important, suppliers need to make sure they're also retaining lucrative display, floor, promotional and feature space, Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) president Dave Williams and VP of business development and portfolio strategy Brian "BK" Krueger shared in the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.    "That's what really multiplies anything that you have on th...

After years working at various breweries and hosting their own craft beer podcast, Chelsea Rhoads and Liz Hess finally decided to take the plunge and buy a brewery.  The pair, who co-host the Body By Beer podcast, acquired Denver's Berkeley Alley Beer Company earlier this summer and have put their own spin on the beloved local spot. They joined Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante for a conversa...

Almanac Beer got lots of people (including the hosts of this podcast!) talking earlier this summer when it announced it was ditching the word "taproom" and rechristening its Alameda, California-based location as Alameda Adventureland.   There was a lot more than alliteration and snappy branding behind the move. Eschewing the "taproom" part of its name made way for Almanac to embrace all the other...

Ray Latif spoke with Chris Swersey of Hop Products Australia (HPA) and Mitch Steele of New Realm Brewing about the 2025 Australian hop crop . Swersey reported a bountiful harvest for HPA, with total production up 10% and yields increasing by 30% despite reduced acreage. This success stems from favorable weather and significant investments in productivity and technology. Their new HPA HOP Central p...

  Worth Brewing co-owner Peter Ausenhus has some advice for fellow craft brewers looking to become innkeepers (or just short-term rental hosts): digital keypad locks and a reliable cleaner.   "It's absolutely hands-off for me," he said of Worth's two-bedroom apartment, which is available for rent on Airbnb.    In Episode 3 of the Brewbound Podcast's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Ausenhu...

Red Bus Brewing owner Erik Schmid is candid about what changed his mind about adding hard slushies to the Folsom, California-based craft brewery's summer menu: "bottom line."   In Episode 2 of the Brewbound Podcast's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Schmid shares that since Red Bus purchased a slushie machine, the fruity drinks have become 10% of Red Bus' beverage sales and 5% of its overa...

When Death of the Fox Brewing Company opened eight years ago, co-founder Chuck Garrity wanted to make sure its Clarksboro, New Jersey-based taproom stayed busy day and night.    So to "maximize" Death of the Fox's taproom investment and utility, the company launched by also offering coffee service, Garrity shared during the first edition of the Brewbound Podcast's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics...