Brewbound Podcast

Hard tea and spritzer brand Loverboy is getting into the non-alcoholic space with a pair of 6-packs: lemon iced tea and white tea peach. Loverboy SVP of sales Derek Hahm and SVP of commercial strategy Todd Anderson discussed the launch of the brand, and how it will be incorporated into the Bravo reality series.    Hahm and Anderson also discuss Loverboy's goals in the hard tea category, the advant...

Bernstein Autonomous analysts Nadine Sarwat and Trevor Stirling share what they know so far about Ozempic, Wegovy and other diet/diabetes drugs' effect on alcoholic beverage consumption.    Sarwat and Stirling break down why these drugs have entered popular culture conversations, what users are saying about their cravings, comparisons to past diet trends and much more.    Also, Jess, Zoe and Justi...

The Brewbound team reconvenes and debriefs following the National Beer Wholesalers Association's Annual Convention. Zoe and Justin give a field report on the convention, including the issues at the forefront of wholesalers' minds, the products sampled on the floor and the vibe at the Alliance for Women in Beer and BREW Making Moves event.

Co-founder and CEO Colin Schilling, CCO Eric Phillips and EVP of marketing Rachel Thomas join the Brewbound team to discuss the cidery's participation in National Cider Month, as well as its debut at the Great American Beer Festival and a retail activation with Whole Foods.   Plus, Zoe, Justin and Jess break down recent headlines – including Molson Coors' Happy Thursday hard refresher, the Beer In...

Eagle Park Brewing co-founder Max Borgardt discusses acquiring and reviving legacy brand Milwaukee Brewing Company (MKE).    The Wisconsin craft brewery acquired MKE's brands and recipes a year ago. Borgardt gives an update on the integration of the two brands and plans for the future.    Plus, Jess, Zoe and Justin break down the latest news, including draft challenges, inflation outpacing at-the-...

Fresh back from Denver, Justin and Zoe recap their experiences at the Great American Beer Festival. Jess quizzes them on the beers, the booths and the vibe of the fest.    Plus, stick around for a Brew Talks replay of our conversation on the health of national draft beer, featuring Dogfish Head co-founder Sam Calagione, Buffalo Wild Wings director of beverage strategy and innovation Jason Murphy,...

Leaders from Brooklyn Brewery and Hoplark share the why behind their recent partnership . Hoplark founder Dean Eberhardt, CEO Betsy Frost and Brooklyn Brewery CEO Eric Ottaway also share their perspectives on the trajectory of NA beverages.    Plus, Jess returns after three months! Zoe and Justin bring Jess up-to-speed during a game of Another Round or Tabbing Out, covering some of the big news of...

September has brought not only a heatwave to the Northeast, but a flood of beer industry news. On this week's Brewbound Podcast, Justin and Zoe dive into some of the latest headlines, including several business deals, such as Brooklyn Brewery's minority investment in Hoplark and Green Man and Appalachian Mountain Brewing's new joint venture. The duo also discuss the closing of Reverend Nat's Hard...

Mass. Bay Brewing is hitting the reset button on its partnership with Dunkin' for beverage-alcohol products in Year Six.    Mass. Bay co-founder and CEO Dan Kenary, CMO Val Toothman and chief growth and ventures officer Nathaniel Davis share why they moved from beer centric releases to hard coffees and hard teas in 2023, the opportunity they see with flavored malt beverages and expansion plans for...

As Brewbound's next Brew Talks event in Denver approaches, this week we replay a Brew Talks Boston conversation exploring what's next for hazy IPAs.    Vitamin Sea Brewing founder Dino Funari, Wormtown Brewery president and general manager Kimberly Golinski, Mighty Squirrel Brewing co-founder Naveen Pawar and Samuel Adams taproom head brewer Megan Parisi share where they believe the style is going...

This week's Brewbound Podcast features a replay of the Brew Talks Boston three-tier reality check conversation with Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione, Total Wine & More's Andrea Starr, Burke Distributing's Kristen Burke and Bump Williams Consulting's Dave Williams.    They discuss the state of the market, their current priorities, their approach to new brands and suppliers, and much more.   Plus, Zoe a...

Four Corners Brewing co-founder George Esquivel shares why he and his partners decided to buy back the Dallas-based craft brewery from Constellation Brands.    Esquivel explains why independence from the brewing giant will lead to more freedom and an ability to move more swiftly, how he's viewing the brewery's future prospects and much more.   Plus, Zoe and Justin review the latest news, including...

Weathered Souls co-founder Marcus Baskerville discusses Black is Beautiful Vol. 2 and how the cause beer collaboration has evolved.    Plus, Zoe and Justin break down Monday's blockbuster news that Tilray Brands will acquire eight craft brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev in a $85 million cash deal. The deal includes Shock Top, Breckenridge, 10 Barrel, Redhook, Widmer Brothers, and Blue Point, among...

Crooked Hammock director of brewing operations Larry Horwitz shares his vision for portfolio reinvention and why he is the "light lager whisperer." Horwitz also offers insights into brand creation and consumer trends.    Plus, Justin and Zoe review the latest earnings for Boston Beer and Molson Coors, discuss leadership changes in the industry, and play Another Round or Tabbing Out with greywater...

Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. president and CEO Chris Swonger joins to break down the opportunities canned cocktails are creating for beverage-alcohol companies. Swonger also pushes back against the beer industry's stance against expanded market access and lower excise taxes for these products.    Also, Justin and Zoe recount the latest Anchor Brewing news, including brewery workers' bid t...

A week after Sapporo announced plans to shut down historic Anchor Brewing and liquidate the business to pay off creditors, the Brewbound team and Vine Pair reporter Dave Infante break down the story so far. The trio discuss the effect on the brewery's union workforce and what's next for the San Francisco institution, including how likely it is to be saved as a turnkey operation.   Plus, Justin and...

With Brew Talks just a day away, the Brewbound team previews the Boston event and shares why they're excited.   Justin then quizzes Zoe on her wants in a taproom experience after reviewing a listicle on the best breweries in Massachusetts.    The team also salutes Chicago's Funkytown Brewery for winning the Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream Brewing & Business Experienceship.     The show wra...

The Brewbound team gives a quick overview of the Brewers Association and Harris Poll's latest craft beer consumer survey and plucks out a few key takeaways. Plus, Justin and Zoe dish on a Lagunitas defection to Firestone Walker, decry Friday news dumps, and play Another Round or Tabbing Out on Bud Light's latest media blitz.

Wisconsin Brewing's Paul Verdu and Move Ukraine's Ken Shearer join the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the Move Ukraine collaboration beer project aimed at helping rebuild Ukraine.    Verdu and Shearer are seeking brewers to join the effort to brew a pilsner with sunflower seeds – the sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine. The duo share how the collaboration beer came to fruition, and why its m...

What's it like to attend a hard seltzer festival in 2023? Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata shares her first-person experience at Seltzerland in Boston.    Plus, BevNet spirits editor Ferron Salniker joins the podcast for the first time, detailing everything that went down at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United State's annual meeting.   Zoe and Brewbound editor Justin Kendall also run through...

The Brewbound team breaks down the latest headlines, including Ken Grossman's return to Sierra Nevada as interim CEO, Bayou City Hemp's acquisition of 8th Wonder in Houston, and Wall Street analysts' survey of distributors that paint a bleak picture for Bud Light.    Plus, Justin and Zoe play Another Round or Tabbing Out on pickle hard seltzer.

Funky Buddha Brewery co-founder Ryan Sentz discusses what it's like to buy back the business he and his brother KC sold to Constellation Brands in 2017.    Buying back the brewery has been a several-years-in-the-making process, Sentz shares. As Funky Buddha turns 10 years old, he also explores his vision for the company moving forward, the possibility of adding a distillery and why an independent...

The Brewbound team, along with Brewbound Weekend Insider newsletter writer Sean McNulty, reviews the Brewers Association's annual craft beer volume data. The team also discusses the latest craft brewery deals, including Funky Buddha and Appalachian Mountain Brewery returning to independent brewery status, and FX Matt buying the Flying Dog Brewery brand.    Zoe shares how the latest hard seltzers a...

Fishers Island Lemonade founder Bronya Shillo shares why she sold the nearly decade-old brand to Spirit of Gallo, the spirits division of E. & J. Gallo.    The show turns into an unofficial M&A episode as the Brewbound team discusses FX Matt's planned acquisition of Flying Dog Brewery, and the founders of Appalachian Mountain Brewery buying back the North Carolina craft brewery from Anheuser-Busch...

The Brewbound team reunites to dish on the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC). Jess, Justin and Zoe discuss the Brewers Association's state and federal ambitions, the beer trade groups' union against canned cocktail market access and tax breaks, and trade practice reform.   The team also recaps the 2023 economic impact of Russian River's Pliny the Younger, wholesaler consolidation and plays a gam...