Brewbound Podcast

Convergence is all the rage as big beverage companies (Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Monster) dive into bev-alc and lean into becoming "total beverage" producers. Nik Modi, managing director for RBC Capital, and Marty Caballero, editor for BevNet (Brewbound's sister publication), join the Brewbound team to discuss the latest beverage partnerships, what has caused the trend, and if a "complete collapse" of the...

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is scrutinizing sports sponsorships struck by bev-alc producers and distributors. How can brewers play in this space without running afoul of the government agency? McDermott Will & Emery's Alva Mather and Nichole Shustack offer their opinions on the Brewbound Podcast.

The cost of making beer is rising faster than the cost to buy beer, so what does that mean for craft brewers? Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson discusses the options, plus the state of the supply chain, and the need for a replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Rabobank beverage analyst Bourcard Nesin joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss his report breaking down e-commerce alcohol sales in 2021 and the opportunities that await brewers in the space and tips for how to succeed.

The Brewbound team breaks down Monster's agreement to acquire the CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective for $330 million in cash.

Midway through Dry January, three craft brewers discuss their new non-alcoholic offerings and why these new products make sense both this month and the rest of the year. Deschutes' Veronica Vega, AleSmith's Brandon Richards and Notch's Chris Lohring join the Brewbound team to talk about their N/A beers and the development behind them.

Ball Corporation has postponed the implementation of its new minimum order quantities and warehousing policy until March 1 after conversations with the Brewers Association and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Then, the newly reunited Brewbound team discusses more headlines, including Topo Chico Ranch Water, Troy Aikman's Eight Lager, and Pabst's social media attention grab.

As 2021 winds down, Zoe and Jess break down Brewbound's top 10 most read stories of the year. Topics discussed include the beer industry's reckoning with an outpouring of women's experiences with sexual harassment and discrimination on the job, as well as the launches of some hard seltzer brands (Sonic Hard Seltzer, Happy Dad Hard Seltzer) and the demise of another (Coors Seltzer).

Beer Marketer's Insights' Craft Brew News senior editors Chris Shepard and David Steinman join the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the biggest beer industry stories of 2021.

On one of the final Brewbound podcasts of 2021, Jess Infante and Zoe Licata are joined by Jeff Carroll, general manager of Avalara for Beverage Alcohol, to discuss his predictions for 2022, from e-commerce growth and evolution to state DTC shipping changes (or lack thereof). Plus, Jess and Zoe run down recent beer news, and share an exciting Brewbound team announcement!

With Brewbound Live 2021 in the rearview mirror, the team recaps what happened in Santa Monica both on and off the stage, including Firestone Walker co-founder David Walker's keynote speech, a data deep dive on Gen Z, and panel discussions featuring independent hard seltzer makers, beer buyers at popular national chains, and leaders in the middle tier.

The world's largest can manufacturer, Ball Corp., alerted clients that it will increase the minimum order for printed cans to five truckloads per SKU starting January 1, and the company will no longer offer warehousing for orders. Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson joins the Brewbound Podcast to provide context on the fallout for craft brewers.

Just how big of a deal is the sale of Bell's to Lion Little World Beverages? The Brewbound team along with 3 Tier Beverages founder Donn Bichsel Jr. and Castle Island Brewing founder Adam Romanow discuss the transaction. Plus, Romanow offers insights into opening a second taproom location in South Boston -- such as how foot traffic varies throughout the day in Castle Island's suburban taproom vs....

National beer writers Kate Bernot and Dave Infante join Brewbound's Justin Kendall, Jess Infante and Zoe Licata for a special Beer Byliners crossover conversation. Topics include the Brewers Association's 2022 event vaccine requirement, the disparity in available capital for different brewing ventures, Boston Beer's entry into the Finnish Long Drink space, labor issues at contract brewer City, the...

Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages has struck a deal to acquire Bell's Brewery, the seventh largest craft brewery by volume in 2020. Bell's will join New Belgium as part of the international beer manufacturer's craft platform in the U.S.

Agustin Ruelas and Ray Ricky Rivera join the Brewbound Podcast to discuss how the SoCal Cerveceros homebrew club is helping build a pipeline of professional brewers. Ruelas and Rivera share their own aspirations, including Ruelas' Brewjeria Company in Pico Rivera and Rivera's contract brewed Norwalk Brew House brand and self-distribution business.

On the heels of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States' annual convention in Austin, Chris Swonger, the trade group's president and CEO, joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the growth of ready-to-drink spirits-based canned cocktails, and the organization's efforts to even the tax rates for RTD products with beer, as well as efforts to add direct-to-consumer sales privileges and much...

Bump Williams Consulting's Dave Williams and Brian "B.K." Krueger share insights on the state of the craft beer business in the off-premise three-quarters of the way through 2021. The conversation covers how retailers are allocating shelf space, packaging trends including 19.2 single-serves and variety packs, the focus coming to the hard seltzer space and much more.

The Brewbound team reconvenes to discuss all the new hard seltzers coming to the convenience channel, plus new products from Sierra Nevada -- a lifestyle tea brand -- and Firestone Walker -- more 805, more Mind Haze and Cali Squeeze seltzers. The conversation then turns to the closing of Due South, the acquisition of Catawba and a bunch of openings. Dusty the dog also makes a squeaky appearance.

After an eventful National Beer Wholesalers Association annual convention in Las Vegas, the Brewbound team debriefs on all of the middle tier issues discussed over the last week. The team also hits the latest news, including a big wholesaler acquisition in Ohio, comments to the Department of the Treasury by Reyes and others, lawsuits over terminations in New York, and questions over PepsiCo's entr...

Beer Institute president and CEO Jim McGreevy dishes on the biggest issue facing the trade group's members — tax equalization efforts by spirits companies — and shares his vision for the organization moving forward.

The Brewbound team recaps the 2021 Craft Brewers Conference, which focused on health, wellness, diversity, inclusion and equity. They also discuss the recent slowdown of hard seltzer sales and Boston Beer's beyond beer moves that on the surface look like swimming against the current.

When the boss is away, the mice will play. Team J-Z tackles the news in this bonus episode, while Justin takes a much-deserved vaction. The duo discusses new fall and winter hard seltzer releases, an update on the annual NBWA convention's health and safety policies, and the new Moon Haze brand from Blue Moon.

In Denver next week, the Brewbound team and leaders from Dogfish Head, New Belgium and Bell's will do something refreshingly novel: talk about beer (not hard seltzer). The team is prepping to head to Craft Brewers Conference, when they'll be together in person for maybe the first time ever.

Oklahoma City's COOP Ale Works made a splash in March with the reveal of its partnership with fast-food chain Sonic Drive-In to create a hard seltzer brand based on popular flavors such as Cherry Limeade and Ocean Water. COOP president Sean Mossman joins Brewbound Frontlines to discuss the early returns on the brand, the need to contract out production to meet demand, and the revised expansion pla...