Brewbound Podcast

3 Tier Beverages’ Mary Mills and Stephanie Roatis break down the early year data, including positive cider trends in convenience, non-alc trends, hard seltzer rationalization and much more. They also get into the growing trend of private label hard seltzer and whether anyone can break through the hard coffee curse. Plus, the Brewbound team discusses the potential strike at Anheuser-Busch InBev’s U.S. breweries (note: this was recorded before the tentative agreement was reached Wednesday evening), and they play Another Round or Tabbing Out on the chances of Michelob Ultra challenger brands staking a claim of the better-for-you beer market. Listen here and on all popular podcast platforms.

Firestone Walker CMO Dustin Hinz and brand director Hannah Barnett explore the marketing approach to the Paso Robles, California-based craft brewery’s biggest brand, 805, as well as its portfolio of other brands, including Cali Squeeze, Mind Haze and the F Brands. Hinz and Barnett break down Firestone Walker’s Authenticos partnership program and how the black-and-white film work the brand does with its ambassadors plays with wholesalers. Plus, the Brewbound team reviews the latest news, including Iowa’s Big Grove Brewery taking a majority stake in non-alcoholic, THC-infused sparkling water brand Climbing Kites and the union strike at Molson Coors’ Fort Worth facility. The team also plays Another Round or Tabbing Out on the Brewers Association’s decision to pause Homebrew Con and shift activities to the Great American Beer Festival. Listen here and on all popular podcasting platforms.

MikMak founder and CEO Rachel Tipograph joins the Brewbound Podcast to analyze what’s next for beverage-alcohol e-commerce in a post-Drizly world. MikMak is a software analytics company that helps alcohol companies funnel their business to retailers in compliance with regulations. Tipograph shared that bev-alc companies found out about Uber shutting down Drizly at the same time as the general public. In the aftermath of Drizly, Tipograph believes Uber Eats, Instacart and ReserveBar will absorb Drizly’s market share. As for alcohol companies, many have quickly transitioned away from the platform, she added. In addition to this conversation, the Brewbound team talks about the latest headlines, including lawsuits against Boston Beer over its employee non-compete clause, independent craft brewers’ growth in the convenience channel, and Two Robbers’ shift from hard seltzer to spirits-based canned cocktails. The team also plays Another Round or Tabbing Out on 1990s hip-hop nostalgia permeating RTDs. Listen here and on all popular podcasting platforms.

Breakthru Beverage Nevada beer division VP Deacon Nauslar joins this week’s Brewbound Podcast to share how the distributor is preparing for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Nauslar dishes on when preparations began, how much of a bump the distributor is expecting, how the event will compare to the Formula 1 race earlier this year, and how the biggest football game of the year measures up to a normal week servicing Sin City. The Brewbound team also breaks down the early week headlines, including a potential end to the Sheehan family lawsuit and a sale of the business, two former Boston Beer employees’ lawsuits against the company over non-competes and why soda may be a threat to beer shelf space. The team also plays Another Round or Tabbing Out on the latest big beer Super Bowl ads – including a mea culpa to the Chill train. And Justin does an impromptu round with a tasting of Truly Hot Wing Sauce hard seltzer. Listen here and on all popular podcasting platforms.

Naomi Neville is departing Allagash Brewing after 14 years of leading and building its sales team. She has helped turn the Portland, Maine-headquartered craft brewery into a regional powerhouse and the Allagash White brand into a flagship with relevance across the country. Neville shares her experience building the Allagash brand, reflects on the last decade-plus of craft and dishes on where she sees the segment going and what’s next for her. The Brewbound team also discusses the latest news, including Anheuser-Busch’s taproom closures and craft strategy, the growing issues between breweries and landlords, and beer’s relevancy problem. Jess, Zoe and Justin also play Another Round or Tabbing Out on the latest Super Bowl ad fare from A-B. Listen here and on all popular podcasting platforms.

The Brewbound team reconvenes after a week of West Coast travels to discuss the latest bev-alc industry news. Zoe reports back on the themes coming out of this year’s CiderCon in icy Portland, Oregon, and then she and Jess share takeaways from the Beer Industry Summit in San Diego resort city Coronado. Justin joins the duo to break down the big news of the last week, including a craft-on-craft deal in New England, a private equity firm selling part of its stake in Mikkeller, a CEO change at Sapporo-Stone Brewing, another Heineken exec joining Lagunitas’ c-suite and an update on the bidding for Anchor, including a Fritz Maytag sighting. Plus, the team plays Another Round or Tabbing Out on the return of the Coors Light train for the Super Bowl and a comparison of ready-to-drink offerings to craft beer. Listen here and on all popular podcasting platforms.

Drizly will be no more as of March. The week started with Uber announcing plans to shut down the e-commerce alcohol delivery platform. Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and weekend newsletter writer Sean McNulty discuss the decision and why it’s another blow for brewers. (Co-hosts Jess Infante and Zoe Licata are on the road this week.) Plus, the duo discuss full-year 2023 craft beer scan data, the narrative (or lack thereof) for craft heading into 2024, and why the early read isn’t great. Other topics include New Jersey finally giving the state’s craft breweries a break, Tilray wilding out with new products and Lawson’s trying to get the low-ABV Beach Party started. Listen here and on all popular podcasting platforms.