Brewbound Podcast

Chula Vista Brewery co-founder Tim Parker shares how meditation, mindfulness and taking care of your mental health can help your business on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.    Parker discusses his personal journey, how he and his wife Dali have struck a better work-life balance and much more.    Plus, the Brewbound team covers the latest news, including a brewery that is backing away...

Lester Jones, chief economist and VP of analytics at the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), joins the Brewbound team to discuss the importance of the on-premise, and how tides may be shifting in draft beer's favor. The conversation was recorded in San Diego during the NBWA Annual Convention and Product Showcase.    Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and reporter Zoe Licata also recap the r...

In this Brewbound interview, host Ray Latif sits down with Alexis Guetzlaff, Director of Marketing for Beer and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at O-I, one of the largest global producers of glass packaging. With over 15 years of experience in the packaging industry, Alexis delves into how glass is becoming the go-to packaging solution for brands aiming to offer a premium, sophisticated consumer experienc...

Brewers Association VP of marketing and communications Ann Obenchain joins this week's Brewbound Podcast to discuss how the trade group reimagined the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).   The refreshed GABF takes place Thursday through Saturday in Denver, and attendees should expect a more experiential feel this year, Obenchain explained. She acknowledged that past GABF events were nearly indist...

The 87th Annual NBWA Convention wrapped up earlier this week, and the Brewbound team recaps the themes of this year's event.    Jess, Zoe and Justin break down the buzzy topics, including a push to support the on-premise channel (especially draft beer), the growing presence of intoxicating hemp beverages and how those products should get to market, and some unexpected things creating headwinds for...

Kimberly McKinnish, SVP and chief operating officer of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), joins the Brewbound Podcast to preview Making Moves 2024, taking place October 1-2 in San Diego immediately following the NBWA's 87th annual convention.    Making Moves, now in its third year, is a collaborative effort from the NBWA's Building Relationships and Empowering Women (BREW) and the A...

Craig Purser, president and CEO of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), joins the Brewbound Podcast to preview highlights of the trade group's upcoming 87th annual convention and product showcase, taking place September 29-October 2 in San Diego.   Purser discusses the NBWA's legislative priorities, metamorphosis into a beer and beverage distribution group, and top concerns for the as...

Several new high ABV offerings are on their way to convenience store doors in 2025. The Brewbound team discusses the latest slate of offerings from Molson Coors that trades on three of their established brands: Blue Moon Extra, Topo Chico Max and Simply Spiked Bold.    The team ponders the timeliness of new singles hitting convenience and the prospects for these.    Jess, Zoe and Justin also discu...

Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC) founder Phil Bannatyne joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the recent announcement that the Massachusetts brewpub will shut its doors in December after 35 years in business. Bannatyne shared his thoughts on the brewpub segment, the team's next steps and how many CBC alumni are scattered across the industry. Plus, the Brewbound team covers recent California craft...

When should you refresh your packaging? Or do a total rebrand? Or should you just stand pat? CODO Design's Isaac Arthur explains the choose-your-own-adventure decision tree beverage-alcohol companies should consider when tweaking the look of their products or the feel of their brand. Arthur walks through the gut check breweries need to do on each of these decisions and what they should know going...

What legal issues should be on brewers' radar? Nichole Shustack and Isabelle Cunningham from the bev-alcohol practice team at law firm Nutter, McClennen and Fish join the Brewbound Podcast to share what to watch out for this year and beyond.   The team discusses the impact of non-alcoholic brands crossing over into bev-alc, direct-to-consumer sales, potential regulations on adult non-alcoholic bev...

Tilray cemented its place as a top five U.S. craft brewery by volume last week with the acquisition of four brands from Molson Coors' Tenth & Blake division: Atwater, Hop Valley, Revolver and Terrapin.    Zoe, Jess and Brewbound weekend newsletter author (and GIF-wielding genius) Sean McNulty break down the deal. The crew also discusses Jess' and Zoe's recent trips to New Trail and Sierra Nevada,...

Beverage-alcohol's growing "fourth category" of flavor-first offerings are quickly becoming a "mega category," NIQ VP of alcohol industry thought leadership Jon Berg shared on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.    Berg explains how the collective of ready-to-drink offerings such as flavored malt beverages, canned cocktails, hard seltzers and other flavor-forward offerings have shifted th...

World of Beer has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, in an effort to reorganize. Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante shares details of the filing and what it means for craft breweries.    Jess and Brewbound editor Justin Kendall also review the latest earnings reports, including Anheuser-Busch InBev cycling the anniversary of the Bud Light boycott, how A-B is faring in the U.S. a year...

How is beer doing at the halfway point of 2024? Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata shares highlights from not one, but two mid-year beer reports. Zoe breaks down the Brewers Association's mid-year craft report, as well as a total beer overview from the National Beer Wholesalers Association and Fintech halfway through 2024.    Plus, Zoe and Brewbound editor Justin Kendall discuss the latest earnings rep...

Almost Friday Media, the comedy meme account turned digital media empire that has long celebrated the vaunted opening of a beer at the closing of the workweek, had a drinker base long before it had a beer brand. The media network reaches more than 800 million accounts across more than 30 channels on seven different media platforms, and launched its eponymous light lager Friday Beers late last year...

Long-time Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bob Pease will retire on June 30, 2025, after 32 years at the trade organization representing small and independent craft brewers, Pease and the BA announced last week.  Pease joins the Brewbound Podcast to detail how long he's been in talks to retire, why now is the right time and what advice he would give to his successor. He also discusses th...

Following a long July 4 holiday weekend, the Brewbound team shares how they celebrated Independence Day.    Jess provides a Jersey Shore report, including whether there was enough Surfside supply.    Zoe shares the results from her July 4 darty on how newer beverages such as Surfside, Sun Cruiser, The Beast Unleashed, and Happy Thursday performed with the under 30 crowd. She also notes the prevale...

Molson Coors-owned Leinenkugel's is making its flagship Summer Shandy a year-round offering. Leinenkugel's president Tony Bugher and John Leinenkugel discuss why the move represents the company getting out of its own way, how big the brand is for its business and how they plan to support the brand in the colder months.   But first, ReserveBar CEO Derrick Correia offers thoughts on the post-Drizly...

The Brewbound team catches up on the latest news, including Allagash's first foray into non-alcoholic adult beverages with Hop Water. Justin, Jess and Zoe discuss why this seems on brand for the Portland, Maine-based craft brewery, and why it may be a better entry point than NA beer.   Jess then shares why some cannabis users say they are drinking less, with a lot of caveats.   Zoe shares her expe...

In this episode of the Brewbound podcast, host Ray Latif sits down with Kyle Kensrue, Account Executive at Ollie. With extensive experience in the brewing industry, Kyle shares his journey from managing breweries in New York City to his current role at Ollie, a software platform designed to support brewers. He highlights how Ollie, built by brewers for brewers, helps alleviate administrative burde...

Bernstein analyst Nadine Sarwat breaks down the pros and cons of a potential sale of Boston Beer Company. Sarwat also examines potential suitors, Wall Street's view of potential deals and why Boston Beer continues to be in conversations around M&A.    Plus, the Brewbound team discusses the latest news, including the Kelce brothers' investment in Garage Beer, Hulk Hogan's new lager and Athletic's a...

In this Brewbound Podcast interview, Ray Latif sits down with Nate Armbrust, a key figure at Scott Labs, to discuss the company's long-standing support for brewers and its role in the evolving beverage industry. Nate provides a detailed history of Scott Labs, which began as a yeast laboratory in Petaluma, California, 90 years ago. Originally serving the wine industry, Scott Labs has since expanded...

Burial Beer Company's Doug Reiser discusses the culmination of a three-year project to open a rooftop wine bar for the company's Visuals wine brand in Asheville, North Carolina.    For Burial, it's about creating "immersive experiences" at its venues, Reiser explains. He discusses reviving once-abandoned spaces, how the company got into beer and then moved into the wine space and how much overlap...

On a special bonus episode of the Brewbound Podcast, we talk a lot about lagers and marketing.     First, Jack Hendler and Joe Connolly discuss their book – Modern Lager Beer: Techniques, Processes and Recipes – and producers' growing interest in craft lagers. Hendler is one of the co-founders of Jack's Abby, a Massachusetts-based lager brewery, and Connelly is the brewery's sales director.   Then...