Good Beer Hunting

It's a new week with new news, but you already knew that. In this week's episode of The Gist, Sightlines reporter Kate Bernot talks with me, Beth Demmon, about Drizly's billion-dollar bust, cider's rising star, and… beads? BEES! Hat tip to Arrested Development for that one. This is the Gist. 

People who work in beer arrive from all kinds of professional backgrounds and even different career trajectories. But once they're in beer, it's less common to find examples of those who will be true chameleons, working across businesses that make, move, or sell beer, or even for companies that just handle the raw ingredients that go into making it. That's what makes this conversation particularly...

Football and beer tend to go together without much thought. But in places like Pope County, Arkansas, alcohol is noticeably absent from tailgate coolers, plastic Solo cups, and concession stands. That's because the area, which is home to Arkansas Tech University, is also one of the state's 29 dry counties, where access to alcohol is restricted thanks to political influence, conservative mindsets,...

When I tell people that I'm really into beer, a quarter of the time someone mentions cider despite the two being vastly different. These interactions have always left me feeling helpless because I lacked the knowledge to educate them about the differences, and I certainly couldn't guide them to a beer style that would be similar to cider. The extent of my cider knowledge was extremely limited—unti...

It's a new year and things are already shaking up in the beer world, first with Asahi's entry into brewing in the United States, plus Coca-Cola subsidiary Red Tree's big plans for 2024. Looking outside of beer, Kate and I preview what Sightlines has planned for CiderCon, the annual cider industry conference kicking off January 16, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. Keep listening for all that and more, rig...

When scouting locations to open a new brewery, quite a few things are left to chance. What's available to lease, in the right price range, in the right area, at the right time? Data sometimes comes into play, but then again, sometimes, it's just vibes.  Julie Wartell, a continuing lecturer at the University of California, San Diego and co-editor of the academic text titled "Craft Breweries and Cit...

In the world of cider, Nikki West says the nerdier you are, the cooler you are. That's probably the scientist in her talking, but she's not wrong. As an agriculturally-based product, cider is inextricably tied to the earth, which is one reason why West decided to move from an academic career in geosciences to launching Ciders From Mars in Staunton, Virginia. It wasn't a huge leap, scientifically s...

From the moment I stepped into Good Word Brewing in Duluth, I was impressed. The space is a take on old-world style with warm wood and plush booths—it's comfortable, cozy, and looks like it's been there for decades even though it's fairly new. It's a place where you can settle in for a long while, and you'll want to because the food and beer are so exceptional that lingering is a pleasure. Todd Di...

2023 is drawing to a close, so it's time to take a look back at the year to see what happened, what's happening, and what might happen in the coming months. This is the Gist with Kate Bernot and me, Beth Demmon, where we examine the biggest stories happening in beer and beyond so you know everything you need to know. It's time for The Gist.

In Korean folklore, dokkaebi are tricksy creatures who love to eat, drink, and challenge humans to wrestling matches. They tend to create mischief, but generally not mayhem, and can bring you luck—if you remain on their good side. This same sense of playfulness is evident at Dokkaebier in Oakland, California, an Asian-inspired craft brewery that encapsulates not just the name, but the spirit of do...

How many times have you heard some version of the phrase "beer brings people together?" We get it: eating and drinking with others is an ancient and deeply human way to connect with our communities, and beer plays a huge role in that. It's such a foundational idea that gets thrown around so much that honestly, I've sort of forgotten it means anything. But after talking with Trevor Nearburg, owner...

By definition, the realization that you've experienced a close brush with death can't come until after you've survived, but sometimes you might realize you're already standing on thin ice, left to wonder how you're going to stay alive. We hope these moments in life are few, if at all, but when they do occur, reliving them with the safety and clarity of hindsight can teach us lessons about ourselve...

Last year, while attending the Georgia Brewers Conference, I heard a DEI presentation from Isaiah Smith, the CEO of Our Culture Brewing Co, Fenwick Broyard, vice president of culture at Creature Comforts Brewing Co., and Tracy Bardugon, then a taproom manager at Fire Maker Brewing who now works at  Elsewhere Brewing. You might think once you've heard one DEI talk, you've heard them all, but I foun...

It's a new week and that means new drama, news, and more on this episode of The Gist, with Kate Bernot and me, Beth Demmon. We bring you the latest beer world news with all the context—and the tea—you need to know on what's happening right now. This is the Gist.

Look around beer today and it's easy to find lots … beyond it. Breweries are making hard seltzer, canned cocktails, wine, or opening up restaurant extensions. Whether it's over the counter at a taproom or in a store, the challenges to sell beer have never been more unique and plentiful as people can now choose to drink just about whatever they want in a variety of formats, flavors, and experiences...

When we talk about what they appreciate about beer, it's not uncommon to hear them mention the people; the "community." And in a very tangible way, there are few examples for how this appears than at a beer festival. All over the country, almost all year-round, you can find examples of packed event halls, convention centers, and even parking lots where enthusiasts and novices alike mill about, sam...

If you follow me on Instagram, you know my love for beer is only rivaled by my love for cooking. Cooking is not only a therapeutic experience but a creative outlet . When I'm not in the kitchen, I'm probably watching cooking shows. Without a doubt, MasterChef is my favorite, and I've been hooked since its first season. I was delighted this year when two people from the beer industry impressed the...

Communities can be built through mutual joy just as easily as through shared struggle, and in the rugged landscape of the American frontier, it can also be built through necessity of survival. Along the banks of the Salmon River, the small town of Stanley, Idaho, embodies these ideals of wonder and respect for nature, but residents' way of life is changing, in sometimes unexpected and unwelcome wa...

There are many movements throughout the craft beer industry shining a light on the importance of diversity and seeking ways to create more inclusive environments. One of these movements is Tha CommUNITY, a multi-brew initiative led by April Dove. Since its launch in 2021, April has brewed 11 beers with breweries in and around Charleston, South Carolina, while providing breweries with a blueprint o...

From a declaration of maturity to mergers and acquisitions, cannabis, craft share, and beyond, it's been a big week in beer. Let's get the heart of what's going on right now on The Gist, with Kate Bernot and me, Beth Demmon. 

For a while now, it has been my mission to cover the stories of Black women in the craft beer industry doing incredible things. Many of us started as casual drinkers and transitioned into the craft beer scene with the aim of bringing more diversity into it. So, when Vivian Ward came to my attention, I knew I had to talk to her about The ExBeerience, her initiative focused on creating opportunities...

There's a masochistic element to drinking Malört, the bitter liqueur beloved by Chicagoans and reviled by others. But beneath its herbaceous and citrusy intensity, it represents much more than a challenge to your palate. To drink Malört is a rite of passage—entrance to a secret club you have to earn your way into through a tongue buckling finish and nearly a century of history.  In his piece for G...

My guest needs little introduction. Averie Swanson is well-known in the craft beer industry for her work at Jester King Brewery—a brewery in Austin, Texas renowned for their farmhouse ales. She's also one of 19 Master Cicerones in the world, and the founder and beer maker behind Keeping Together . Averie is here to talk about one of the most romantic beer styles in craft beer—Saisons. Though IPAs...

Ready to hear about why the Federal Trade Commission is not happy with Total Wine, what's selling and what's stalling at convenience stores right now, and whether we're headed for an NA beer bubble? Keep listening—it's time for The Gist with Kate Bernot and me, Beth Demmon.

It doesn't matter if you're an avid drinker or someone who's never had a drop—there's a good chance you've seen or heard about the growth of non-alcoholic beer, wine, or spirits in the last year or two. Businesses like Athletic Brewing Company have reached pop culture status, appearing in TV shows and movies, showing up in magazines like GQ, and probably debuting at social events near you, at part...