Brewbound Podcast

In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, 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. For a limited time, Pale Ale packs are sporting art featuring four parks: Yosemite, Big Bend, Yellowstone and Great Smoky. Drinkers are “treasure hunting” to collect them all, Preslar said. “It’s been really overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “It fits really well, right with who we are, the values that we’ve held dear for so many years. Consumers are really loving it, and we’re starting to hear a little bit of the treasure hunt mentality. Since the four parks that were highlighted are all mixed out there on shelf, people are searching and seeking.” Then, New Trail chief operating officer Mike LaRosa joins Brewbound managing editor Jessica Infante for a chat about the fast-growing brewery’s volume gains, IPA-heavy innovation slate and debut on the Brewers Association’s top 50 list. The Williamsport, Pennsylvania-based brewery will be spending 2025 happily dedicated to the status quo. “To be honest with you, it’s been seven crazy years, and we’re excited to have another really promising year as far as growth is concerned, but this is the first year that we’re not adding additional infrastructure into buildings,” LaRosa said. “So there’s no new tanks, new canning lines, new brewhouse, new whatever. We finally have a spot where we have breathing room to grow into ourselves.” But first, Jess and Zoe break down all the beer industry news, including distributors’ not-so-sunny outlook on the category as we enter summer, DoorDash’s findings that more people want booze delivered to their homes and the latest brands to leave RNDC in California. They also discuss new Masshole Light Lager in depth and reveal appreciations for greater Boston’s gruff reputation and … seagulls. Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice.

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. Executive Order Me a Beer is Right Proper’s second time supporting federal employees as they navigate staffing struggles. The first was Pay It Furloughed during the 2018-2019 federal government shutdown that left many employees without paychecks for a stretch, Cheston said. “It’s community first, and D.C. is hard, right?” she said. “You have to find the balance between we’re not political, we’re a brewery first, right? But we are a community hub, and we’re purpose-driven, value-driven. And so sometimes it is hard to find where that fits in.” So far, 700 beers have been purchased, but federal workers have only claimed about one-third of them, so in addition to offering the beers, Right Proper has been hosting networking happy hours to boost pint redemption. Cheston also discussed life as a brewery-owning parent and the division of labor between her and her husband and Right Proper co-owner Thor Cheston. Due to a now-defunct quirk in Washington, D.C.’s licensing laws, the licenses for the brewery’s two locations needed to be split up between the Chestons, so one was listed as Leah’s and the other was Thor’s, meaning their children thought their parents – and everyone else’s – just had their own breweries. “They don’t know any other way, and they love it,” Cheston said. “And for a while, I think they did not realize that every kid’s parents don’t have their own breweries.” Then, Charnack discusses the recovery process of Hi-Wire’s flagship location in Asheville in the wake of Hurricane Helene with senior reporter Zoe Licata. The brewery’s facility in the city’s River Arts District is “back in full swing and we’re fully operating,” he said. “This is what Asheville is like, generally,” Charnack explained. “Everything looks fully functional and back to normal, but under the surface is six months of pain that is a real deep wound.” In addition, Zoe and Jess discuss the last gasp of Q1 earnings season, the cooler selection at Zoe’s parents’ most recent gathering and Instacart’s new party platform, Fizz. Listen here or on your preferred podcast app.

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 Prairie Malt to offer a wide catalog of over 60 malts while keeping costs down through a streamlined, internal supply chain. Customers benefit from this efficiency, especially during times of international instability, with consistent pricing and reliable access to high-quality malts sourced globally. Looking ahead, Prairie Malt is expanding its catalog with several exciting new offerings, including German Vienna and Munich malts, and a Czech-inspired “Bohemian Rhapsody” pilsner malt. These additions cater to brewers looking to innovate and differentiate their products in a maturing craft beer market. For those interested in sampling these new malts or learning more, visit prairiemalt.com or follow @prairiemalt on Instagram to stay connected and request samples.

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. Watson also discussed why the growing number of closures has hit the long-tail of craft breweries – those making fewer than 500 barrels of beer – the hardest. “Running a small business is hard,” Watson said. “They’re just on the smallest line of, ‘OK, the landlord changes the rent when our lease is up.’ … Main Street gets torn up because the city is doing construction. It disrupts our traffic.’ “A 2,000-barrel brewery is going to have resources and options to weather that; a 500-barrel brewery might not,” he continued. “Those are members that we’re trying to think about how we help, how we drive foot traffic and what we can do to improve their conditions.” The conversation touches on several topics, including: How the BA is advocating for its members with the Trump administration in Washington, D.C., and why it’s important for brewery owners to connect with lawmakers; Why full-strength spirits are being added to the Great American Beer Festival and how that’s manifesting in a way to support BA members; Whether the event could move away from Denver in the future; Why there is a perception versus reality issue with consumers when it comes to the flavors that craft offers beyond IPA; And his overall read on the vibe of CBC. Ahead of the interview, the Brewbound team also discusses recent headlines, including Rhinegeist’s NA beer venture and Tilray CEO Irwin Simon’s honest thoughts on the company’s stock price. Plus, the team plays Another Round or Tabbing Out on the commercialization of B.O.R.G.s, and Zoe dishes on her motorsport adventures. Listen here or on your preferred podcasting platform.

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 club. Listen here or on your preferred podcasting platform.

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 uncertainty, small business owners really don’t like uncertainty,” he said. “That is the environment that we’re in right now. There’s a lot of products that go into beer making and [the] operating of a brewery [that] can be bought from within the U.S., but the supply chain is so complex and so global that certain tariffs are going to have an impact on pricing of brewery inputs. “So not being able to plan too far into the future because of how things have been changing so quickly has made it really tough for brewery owners to make great beer and feel like they can make a solid business plan for the year and years ahead,” he continued. Which brings us to the 2025 edition of the Craft Brewers Conference taking place in Indianapolis next week (April 28-May 1). Gacioch anticipates that many of the conversations inside and outside of the Indiana Convention Center will center on those factors and strategies for pushing forward, including his own seminar (1:15 p.m. ET Tuesday, April 29) discussing case studies from breweries who tapped into growth drivers in 2024. Gacioch also touches on new breweries making this year’s top 50 craft list, potential opportunities and challenges for breweries adding food service and why he’s excited for CBC. Plus, more conversation about kicking field goals than you’d expect. But first, the Brewbound team recaps the latest news, including the BA’s recent webinar on tariffs and the NBWA and Fintech’s Q1 2025 webinar on beer category sales trends. Justin, Jess and Zoe play Another Round or Tabbing Out on copycat designs infiltrating the hard lemonade and iced tea space, with a hat tip to Fingers’ Dave Infante. Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform. Read More: Brewbound’s Guide to the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference Craft Brewers Conference Heads to Indianapolis Amid Industry Headwinds, Organizational Changes at the Brewers Association A Round With … BA Board Treasurer Audra Gaiziunas, Part 1 CBC 2025 Pre-Conference Reading List

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 Ibotta, on how brewers can work with the tech and date insights firm. Listen here or on your preferred podcasting platform.