Brewbound Podcast

In this Brewbound interview, host Ray Latif speaks with Chris Swersey of Hop Products Australia and Steve Luke of Cloudburst Brewing to discuss the latest hop harvest, new investments in processing, and exciting beer collaborations. Chris shares insights on HPA's recent harvest, noting that yields and quality were well above average. He also highlights the company's new $35 million pellet plant, w...

What's going on in the country's second-densest craft beer state? The Brewbound team hit the road to Portland, Maine, to find out.    While in town for the New England Craft Brew Summit, Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante and senior reporter Zoe Licata checked in with 3 leaders to take the pulse of Maine's formidable (and cheerfully collaborative) craft scene.    This special Maine-centric epi...

Carrie Yunker ended her more than two-decade run at Bell's Brewery on a high note Monday – Oberon Day, the annual release of the company's spring-summer seasonal wheat beer.    Yunker, who started at the Michigan craft brewery as a part-time receptionist and ended up leading the company as founder Larry Bell's handpicked successor, kicked off the festivities at the brewery's Kalamazoo taphouse and...

Allagash Brewing will celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer, and founder Rob Tod knows where he'll be and what he'll be drinking on the brewery's birthday, July 1 – an Allagash White at the Great Lost Bear, the taphouse that served the first pint of White in Portland, Maine.   "I remember it like it was yesterday. That was our very first draftline," Tod tells Brewbound managing editor Jess In...

We're launching something BIG at BevNET, NOSH, and Brewbound, and you're invited to be the first to see it! Introducing Nombase — a new digital community and directory built for the CPG world.  Nombase connects CPG professionals with trusted industry partners, AI-powered insights, timely conversations, company announcements, and job opportunities — all in one place.  Join us for an exclusive overv...

Guinness is synonymous with U.S. St. Patrick's Day celebrations. National ambassador Ryan Wagner joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss preparation for the holiday, how the Splitting the G viral phenomenon has played a role in the brand's upward trajectory and introduces it to new consumers.    Wagner also discusses the on-premise rebound following the pandemic, what goes into creating a perfect G...

World Brewing Alliance CEO Justin Kissinger dishes on the global beer market, non-alcoholic beer trends, the rise of West African ancient grain fonio and emerging markets.    In addition, Kissinger dives into the dietary guidelines that are under review and may be revised. He also shares his favorite places in the world to drink beer.   Plus, the Brewbound team recaps the latest earnings reports f...

In a very special crossover episode, BevNET managing editor Martín Caballero joins the Brewbound Podcast to break down the blockbuster Celsius/Alani Nu deal.    Marty discusses what energy deals usually mean for the beer distributors that built the acquired brands, current trends in non-alc energy and functional drinks and what brewers can learn from the space.   Then, Jess and Zoe get into recent...

January 2025 was a record month for non-alcoholic (NA) beer in grocery stores. NA beer claimed a 4.2% share of beer grocery sales during the month, according to NIQ food store data shared by Bump Williams Consulting.    The Brewbound team discusses how Dry January shook out, plus why industry leaders are bullish on regional cider; how the dots connect between the Consumer Price Index for beer at h...

2025 marks a milestone year for Lawson's Finest Liquids and its flagship Sip of Sunshine IPA. How will the Vermont craft brewery celebrate? CEO Adeline Druart shares details on the latest Brewbound Podcast.    Druart, who took over as CEO in June 2023, shares the keys to keeping Sip growing, including a commitment to cold-chain distribution. She also discusses the crossover of her previous life in...

Super Bowl LIX (59) kicks off on February 9 in New Orleans. What's life like for the Anheuser-Busch distributor in one of the country's biggest party towns ahead of one of the beer industry's biggest days?    Brandon Frederick, VP of sales; Greg Naquin, director of off-premise sales; and Kris Cutrell, director of on-premise sales walk through the preparations for the game, the expectations placed...

Hurray's Girl Beer won Brewbound's 2024 Pitch Slam competition during the Brewbound Live business conference last month in Marina del Rey, California.    Founder Ray Biebuyck joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss how Hurray's Girl Beer is working to reclaim the term "Girl Beer," the brand's post-ironic, satirical and humorous vibe and why it's attempting to create a discourse about women and beer...

A tough year for craft. Big changes at the Brewers Association. A billionaire saving Anchor from the abyss. Looming dietary guidelines for alcoholic beverages …   2024 was a whirlwind.   To wrap up the year that was, the Brewbound team is joined by Christopher Shepard, senior editor of Beer Marketer's Insights, and Dave Infante, author of the Fingers newsletter and a contributing editor and column...

New Belgium Brewing resumed brewing at its Asheville, North Carolina-based production facility this week for the first time since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on the region and shut down the brewery's operations.    It was a significant stoppage for the company as the Asheville brewery accounted for around 40% of New Belgium's total output. In the wake of the hurricane, the brewery was flooded w...

Leaders of the newly former Barrel One Collective shared their vision for the new platform, which was formed from the merger of Harpoon Brewery's parent company Mass. Bay Brewing and Smuttynose's home of FinestKind Brewing.    Harpoon co-founder and CEO Dan Kenary and FinestKind CEO Steve Kierstead explained how the platform came together, how open they are to adding to the collective and the type...

This week's Brewbound Podcast features a pair of interviews with 2024 Brewbound Award Winners. Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver shares why fonio is a game-changing ancient grain for brewers. Brewbound named Brooklyn's Fonio Rising series of beers its 2024 Best New Product.    Plus, Breeze Galindo, director of operations of the Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling, di...

Incoming Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson joined the Brewbound Podcast this week to share how he's approaching the new role with the trade group.    Watson, the BA's VP of strategy and membership, was named as the successor to long-time leader Bob Pease , who will retire on January 3. Watson will take the post on January 6.    On the podcast, Watson explains how the trade gro...

The Brewers Association has tapped Bart Watson to lead the trade group for small and independent brewers, following the planned retirement of Bob Pease. The Brewbound team breaks down the choice and the challenges ahead for Watson in his new role, as well as the larger industry after last week's release of the "Year in Beer" report.    Plus, Jess, Zoe and Justin share highlights of the Brewbound L...

Brewbound revealed the winners of its 2024 awards during the Brewbound Live business conference this week in Marina del Rey, California.   This week's Brewbound Podcast features interviews with three of those award winners: The 2024 Craft Brewery of the Year, Coronado Brewing Company; The 2024 Large Brewery of the Year, Narragansett Beer; And the 2024 Beyond Beer Company of the Year, Surfside. Cor...

The Brewbound returns from Thanksgiving breaks to discuss the pre-turkey day news dump, including Molson Coors' agreement to purchase the intellectual property of Cruz Blanca and why the Mexican-inspired, Chicago-produced brand is now on the clock.   Jess, Zoe and Justin also break down the results of the Brewers Association's board election and why this one was a bit out of the ordinary.    The c...

After a packed news week, the Brewbound team breaks down the latest headlines, including leadership reorganization and staff cuts at the Brewers Association, an impending CEO change at Heineken-owned Lagunitas Brewing and Sapporo-Stone ceasing exports for the craft beer brand.    Jess, Zoe and Justin also preview the Brewbound Live business conference coming up December 11 and 12 in Marina del Rey...

Stout Collective founder and CEO Matt Tanaka walks us through expected design trends for 2025, including why he believes mascots and maximalism will be a feature of beer labels in the new year.    Tanaka also breaks down the goals and experience of Stout Collective's BOPP Beer Design Conference, held annually in Chicago. He shares how his firm tries to keep the conference fresh and the conversatio...

This week the Brewbound Podcast crossed the 200th episode milestone. Insider's Week in Beer newsletter writer Sean McNulty joins to celebrate.   The Brewbound team recaps the latest headlines, including the Lord Hobo-Lone Pine merger, the Beer Institute's Annual Membership Meeting, layoffs at Molson Coors' remaining craft production facilities and Monster's Q3 financial results.    Plus, the gang...

Highland Brewing owner and CEO Leah Wong Ashburn provides an update on how Asheville, one of the country's great craft beer cities, is recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.    Last weekend, Highland brewed its first beer since the hurricane cut a path of destruction through Western North Carolina. Ashburn shares the steps the brewery took to return to operations, starting with ensuring...

The Brewbound team dives into the top stories in the beer business, including the "strategic partnerships" made by Maui Brewing parent company Craft 'Ohana to hand off leadership of Modern Times Beer's daily operations and hospitality businesses.   The team also discusses Boston Beer's latest earnings report, which one analyst called "messy," the performance of Twisted Tea and a write down on craf...