Brewbound Podcast

Rupee Beer founders Van and Sumit Sharma believe they’re ready to meet Indian cuisine’s moment.    On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, the brothers share their journey of launching the Indian American beer brand during the COVID-19 pandemic as an add-on purchase at their family’s restaurant. Today, Rupee has expanded distribution to 18 states – most recently California – and the Sharmas are readying for an “explosion” of Indian restaurants entering the U.S market.    “We’re doing something that really directly ties it into the only story that we know, which is restaurants,” Van Sharma said. “That’s what we grew up in, more spe...

Representatives of Uncle Nearest were in court last week fighting to retain control of the whiskey brand’s operations as its lender seeks the appointment of a receiver as the company has fallen into default on $108 million in loans.   BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker joins the Brewbound Podcast to share the latest on the case, including arguments made in court last week in favor of CEO Fawn Weaver remaining in charge, a gag order on comments to the media and on social channels and the timeline for a judge’s ruling.   Plus, the Brewbound team discusses aluminum can producer Ball Corpor...

While defending shelf space remains important, suppliers need to make sure they’re also retaining lucrative display, floor, promotional and feature space, Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) president Dave Williams and VP of business development and portfolio strategy Brian “BK” Krueger shared in the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.    “That’s what really multiplies anything that you have on the shelf,” Krueger said.    Beer brands’ display losses aren’t just coming from competitors within the category – they’re coming from other mega alcohol categories and even non-alcoholic (NA) beverages.    “If you look at what’s on the floor on display now, it’s less alcohol across...

After years working at various breweries and hosting their own craft beer podcast, Chelsea Rhoads and Liz Hess finally decided to take the plunge and buy a brewery. 

The pair, who co-host the Body By Beer podcast, acquired Denver’s Berkeley Alley Beer Company earlier this summer and have put their own spin on the beloved local spot. They joined Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante for a conversation about why now was the time to become brewery owners and how they plan for Berkeley Alley to be a community gathering hub.

The brewery, which opened as...

Almanac Beer got lots of people (including the hosts of this podcast!) talking earlier this summer when it announced it was ditching the word “taproom” and rechristening its Alameda, California-based location as Alameda Adventureland.   There was a lot more than alliteration and snappy branding behind the move. Eschewing the “taproom” part of its name made way for Almanac to embrace all the other things it had become: a gathering space for all members of the community, whether or not they drank beer.   In the fourth and final installment in the Brewbound Podcast’s Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Almanac EVP of sales Kev...

Ray Latif spoke with Chris Swersey of Hop Products Australia (HPA) and Mitch Steele of New Realm Brewing about the 2025 Australian hop crop. Swersey reported a bountiful harvest for HPA, with total production up 10% and yields increasing by 30% despite reduced acreage. This success stems from favorable weather and significant investments in productivity and technology. Their new HPA HOP Central pellet plant, which processed popular varieties like Galaxy, Ella, and Eclipse, recently achieved FSSC food safety certification.

Mitch Steele praised HPA's Galaxy hops, highlighting its consistent tropical fruit intensity. After extensive evaluation, Steele found the 2025 Galaxy crop to...

  Worth Brewing co-owner Peter Ausenhus has some advice for fellow craft brewers looking to become innkeepers (or just short-term rental hosts): digital keypad locks and a reliable cleaner.   “It's absolutely hands-off for me,” he said of Worth’s two-bedroom apartment, which is available for rent on Airbnb.    In Episode 3 of the Brewbound Podcast’s Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Ausenhus discusses the ins and outs of adding on-site accommodations to the Northwood, Iowa-based brewery.    Since listing it for rent last summer, the apartment pulls in roughly $1,000 in monthly revenue. Guests have included people visiting family in the area or passing through during...

Red Bus Brewing owner Erik Schmid is candid about what changed his mind about adding hard slushies to the Folsom, California-based craft brewery’s summer menu: “bottom line.”   In Episode 2 of the Brewbound Podcast’s Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Schmid shares that since Red Bus purchased a slushie machine, the fruity drinks have become 10% of Red Bus’ beverage sales and 5% of its overall business. He described their popularity from May through September as a “pleasant surprise,” attracting consumers who wouldn’t otherwise visit the brewery and offering others an alternative to beer.   Schmid walks through pricing, margin and profitability, production and the...

When Death of the Fox Brewing Company opened eight years ago, co-founder Chuck Garrity wanted to make sure its Clarksboro, New Jersey-based taproom stayed busy day and night.    So to “maximize” Death of the Fox’s taproom investment and utility, the company launched by also offering coffee service, Garrity shared during the first edition of the Brewbound Podcast’s Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series.    Offering coffee was part of a total beverage mindset that covered an overlap between beer drinkers and coffee connoisseurs, while adding a revenue stream in one of the strictest operating environments for craft brewery taprooms.    “My goal was to alwa...

With Republic National Distributing (RNDC) winding down distribution operations in California ahead of September 1 exit and consolidation continuing among craft wholesalers, this week’s Brewbound Podcast explores the fallout of both in the Golden State.   Ferron Salniker, BevNET spirits editor, and Dave Infante, founder of the Fingers boozeletter, join Brewbound’s Justin Kendall and Jessica Infante to look back on how one of the top distributors in the country’s California business crumbled, the effect on smaller bev-alc producers in RNDC’s book and the trickle-down effect on craft brewers.   They also explore multistate distributor Hand Family Companies' entry into the state...

How can you get the most out of your supply chain relationships? Communication is key, and not just when the headwinds hit.   Matt Potts, founder of Normal, Illinois-based Destihl, and Ron Schroder, Briess director of marketing, share how they’re navigating supply challenges and how craft brewers can mitigate issues by maintaining lines of communication.    Potts also explains why Destihl has supplemented its own growth with partner brands, including the Wrexham Lager, Hanson Brothers’ Mmmhops IPA, an Evel Knievel-branded beer and collegiate beers, including with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini.     Plus, U.S. Beverage VP of brand development Kris Sjolander...

How can brewers preserve freshness and extend their beer’s shelf life without breaking the bank?   Upslope Brewing founder Matt Cutter believes he’s found the answer with BevBoost, a Colorado company that has developed a patented dual-chambered widget that the company says is “food-safe, recyclable insert that holds fresh flavor compounds, functional ingredients, vitamins or even mood-enhancing additives such as THC and CBD, and unleashes them right when a carbonated drink is cracked open.”    In the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, Cutter explains why his attempts to maintain an IPA’s flavor led to the founding of BevBoost and gives Bre...

Merchandise remains an important piece of Rhinegeist Brewery’s business, and the Cincinnati brewery is leveling up under the guidance of merchandise director Jenny Morrissey.    Morrissey and Rhinegeist VP of marketing Tracey Ireland share the evolution of the company’s merch strategy from “marketing tool,” to an individual business unit.    After hitting its peak in the late 2010s, Rhinegeist’s merch business started to decline. Morrissey, who joined the company a year ago, has brought a fashion background and a new approach to the business, from assortment planning to limited-time offerings.   Morrissey and Ireland share how they’re working to engage Rhinegeist...

The team at 3 Tier Beverages breaks down hot trends in bev-alc heading into the summer selling season on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.   3 Tier Beverages founder Donn Bichsel, consultant Danelle Kosmal and CGA VP Matthew Crompton share a complete look at trends in the off- and on-premise, including continued momentum for non-alcoholic beer, hard juice’s rocketing growth and the growing simplicity movement within craft.    “The biggest opportunity for this summer and within the next year is just engaging new consumers and creating new drinking occasions,” Kosmal said of NA beer.    Kosmal also covers why craft lagers are working, ho...

National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) executive director Kevin Asato explains how obstacles have mounted for the trade group’s members as diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have come under fire during the Trump administration.    “The beautiful thing is, I was Black yesterday. I’m Black today. And god willing I wake up tomorrow, I’ll be Black tomorrow,” he said. “The point being, just because there isn’t a tagline like DEI available, doesn’t mean our challenges and our need for diversity and our need to help our Black brewers in this space has gone away. Nothing has changed. Not a sin...

Leaders from Sierra Nevada and New Trail discuss their craft portfolios, innovation, packaging and recent wins during the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference.   Sierra Nevada chief commercial officer Ellie Preslar and chief brewing officer Brian Grossman sit down with Brewbound editor Justin Kendall for a chat about new offering Pils, Pale Ale’s limited edition National Parks packaging and Big Little Thing’s recent glow-up.   Then, New Trail chief operating officer Mike LaRosa joins Brewbound managing editor Jessica Infante for a chat about the fast-growing Pennsylvania brewery’s volume gains, IPA-heavy innovation slate and debut on the Brewers Association’s top 50 list.   But first...

Brian Clayton, CEO of Clayton Hops, discusses the company's growth to four farms in New Zealand and their innovative hop products. He highlights their Amplifire™ pellets and oil, which boost flavor and aroma, increase beer yields, and offer environmental benefits like a low carbon footprint due to direct oil extraction from wet hop cones. These products are ideal for cold-side applications and also work well in hop waters and non-alcoholic beers.

Clayton also shares their rapid processing of T90 hop pellets, achieving completion within seven days of harvest. The company is introducing new hop varieties in partnership wi...

  Craft Brewers Conference conversations continue on the Brewbound Podcast with a pair of interviews featuring Right Proper Brewing co-owner and Brewers Association board chairwoman Leah Cheston and Hi-Wire Brewing co-owner Adam Charnack.   Cheston and Brewbound managing editor Jessica Infante discuss Executive Order Me a Beer – Right Proper’s pay-it-forward program to support laid off federal employees with beers and networking – and the unique experiences of parents in the beer industry. Charnack discusses the recovery process of Hi-Wire’s flagship location in Asheville in the wake of Hurricane Helene with senior reporter Zoe Licata.   In addition, Zoe and Jess discuss the last gasp o...

In this Brewbound Podcast episode, Prairie Malt's Regional Craft Manager for North America, Liam Colford, discusses the company's bold rebranding efforts and the motivations behind them. Recognizing that ingredient suppliers often appear traditional or outdated, Prairie Malt decided to inject more personality and creativity into its brand. The refreshed look includes new logos, packaging, apparel, and a revamped website, aiming to align more closely with the dynamic and colorful world of craft brewing.

Liam also highlights the advantages of Prairie Malt being part of Boortmalt, a global malting company with extensive reach and infrastructure. This connection allows...

Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson entered the Brewbound Podcast studio last week fresh off stage from giving his State of the Industry speech at the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC).   Watson discussed key takeaways from his speech, including why the 4% volume decline for craft last year wasn’t everyone’s experience, as 43% of craft breweries found growth last year.   “You can have a number where yes, the middle it is negative, but there’s still lots of people on the positive side,” Watson explained during a conversation with Brewbound’s Jess Infante and Justin Kendall on the Brewbound Podcast.   W...

The Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference has taken over Indianapolis, and the Brewbound team gives a vibe check on the first day of the largest meeting of craft brewers in the U.S.    Justin, Jess and Zoe recap early presentations from BA board chair Leah Cheston, president and CEO Bart Watson and Trillium founders JC and Esther Tetreault and the overarching theme of resilience in the face of adversity.    Plus, Jess interviews Liz Nicol, the founder of Drawdown Brewing in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, on her brewery’s embrace of women’s sports, community building and running a membership c

When Brewers Association (BA) staff economist Matt Gacioch is asked whether craft brewers are optimistic or pessimistic, his response is “brewers are realistic.”   “They are understanding that this is a new environment that they are operating in,” Gacioch said during the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast. “Mid-April 2025 is very different than mid-April 2015.”   Gacioch, who is in his first year as a full-time employee of the BA, described a maturing and challenging craft beer market for a variety of factors, from consumer consumption shifts to increased competition and variety to economic pressures and tariffs.    “The way that consumers and markets don’t like uncerta...

The Brewbound team catches up on the latest headlines, including the Brewers Association's release of its top 50 breweries lists and updated data; the newest craft-on-craft merger between Fort Point Beer Co. and HenHouse Brewing in California; the closure of another Monster-owned production brewery; the surprise shutdown of a craft-centric distributor in Vermont; and the retirement of Molson Coors longtime CEO. 

Jess, Justin and Zoe also play Another Round or Tabbing Out on a shower beer collaboration. 

Plus, Jess and Justin interview Chris Riedy, chief revenue officer for cashback rewards app a...

In this Brewbound Podcast interview, Ray Latif sat down with Ron Nelson, VP of Sales at Arryved, to discuss how the Boulder-based technology company is revolutionizing the craft beverage industry with its brewery-first approach to POS systems and now, funding.

Originally founded out of Avery Brewing Co., Arryved was created to solve a challenge that many breweries still face today: finding a point-of-sale solution specifically designed for the unique operations of a taproom or production brewery.

Arryved’s dedication to the craft community doesn’t stop at software. With the launch of Arryved Capital, the comp...

Tariffs and economic uncertainty were hot topics during the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States’ (DISCUS) annual meeting in late March.    BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker joins this week’s Brewbound Podcast to share the scuttlebutt from the meeting, including trends to watch, distributor consolidation and supplier jumps to beer distributors.    Plus, Justin and Zoe share their experiences after attending Bell’s Oberon Day in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They also break down the latest craft-on-craft deal activity in Colorado with new partnerships between Left Hand-Dry Dock and Wilding Brands-Great Divide.   The show wraps up with Another Round or Tabbing Out on brewerie...

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, which will enhance the quality of their finished products.

Steve discusses his experience brewing with HPA’s Galaxy hops, particularly in the new collaboration beer "Yay Space," set to debut at the CBC. He explains how the...

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 episode kicks off with Maine Brewers’ Guild executive director Sarah Bryan. Bryan dishes on the hottest topics impacting Maine brewers right now – including concerns over decreased tourism from Canada – as well as goals for her second year as executiv...

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 event space by raising an Oberon flag.    Hundreds of Michiganders and fans from neighboring states, many wearing costumes, lined up and waited for hours for the taphouse to open and to drink this year’s Oberon and sev...

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 Infante on the latest episode of the Brewbound Podcast. “I shipped eight kegs of Allagash White to Nappi Distributors on June 29, and July 1 I worked at the brewery all day and my plan was to...

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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 Guinness pour and consumer learnings in recent months.   Plus, the Brewbound team discusses the latest news coming out of Constellation Brands’ Gold Network Summit with distributors, the New England Craft Beer Summit and the financial picture for the Brewe...

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 from Boston Beer, Monster and Anheuser-Busch InBev, including standout quotes from Boston Beer founder Jim Koch.    And Another Round or Tabbing Out returns with the recent news that some major brewpub chains will begin selling domestics and impor

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 beer news, including Brown-Forman’s upcoming move to the Reyes network in California; proposed legislative changes in Georgia, Idaho and Maryland; and an upcoming departure from the Michigan craft scene (we miss you already, Carrie).

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 home outpacing overall inflation and beer’s 2024 summer slump; and who is keynoting the Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis.   Plus, Justin, Jess and Zoe play Another Round or Tabbing Out on a surpris...

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 dairy, with the addition of cheese to Lawson’s taproom.    The conversation also covers Lawson’s expansion into North Carolina and Virginia, if more markets will follow, additions to the Sunshine family, B-Corp status and the brewery’s...

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 on them, the biggest pain points and much more.    Plus, the Brewbound team recaps the latest news, including why beer is expected to be the winner on Super Bowl Sunday, how many Dry January adherents stuck to t...

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.    Biebuyck explains why she’s interested in bringing women into the beer category, while getting her beer to stand out both on shelf and in social media algorithms.     Hear more from Biebuyck in this week’s featured intervi...

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 columnist at VinePair.    The quintet gives the inside scoop on covering some of the year’s top stories, and dives into the news to watch in 2025.

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 with around 20 inches of storm water.    More than three months after being knocked offline, Voodoo Ranger Juice Force will be the first beer going into the tanks in Asheville, with packaged products expected to follow in March. ...

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 types of partners they’d welcome, and how they’re approaching innovation with a portfolio that now boasts 14 brands.    Kenary also discussed the circumstances that led to the end of Harpoon’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). M...