Brewbound Podcast

The 87th Annual NBWA Annual 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 beer companies, including online gambling and health tracking apps. Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.

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 Alliance for Women in Beer. The two-day event includes presentations, panel discussions and networking designed to help women advance their careers in the beer industry. Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice.

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 association’s members. Plus, the Brewbound team breaks down recent news, including insights for connecting with Gen Z from Zoe’s trip to the Stout Collective’s BOPP Beer Design Conference, a look at IPA’s dollar share across the country and the forthcoming non-alc Michelob Ultra Zero. Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice.

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 discuss the latest news, including JuneShine’s non-alcoholic kombucha play, job openings at the Brewers Association and California Craft Brewers Association and why the numbers say your brewery will likely survive. Plus, deep thoughts on greetings and F1. Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.

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 beer news, including Firestone Walker’s annual business plan, Anderson Valley being up for sale, and production shifts and job cuts at Modern Times. Listen below or on your podcast platform of choice.

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 into the process. Arthur also gets into whether there are some products that are too iconic to touch, how nostalgia may factor into redesigns and what CODO might do for a certain San Francisco brewery rising from the ashes. Plus, the Brewbound team talks Labor Day and muted post-pandemic wholesaler beer purchasing in August. Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.

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 beverages and other state legal updates. Plus, the Brewbound team reconvenes to break down the latest headlines, including Colorado’s Left Hand Brewing’s efforts to raise money for a brewery platform, another sale of San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing and BeatBox Beverages’ big deal with Shaquille O’Neal. Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.