Brewbound Podcast

2023 was a sea-change year for several craft breweries who underwent leadership changes. Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Rhinegeist Brewery were among the companies who underwent CEO transitions that year. Lawson’s CEO Adeline Druart and Rhinegeist CEO Adam Bankovich discuss entering Year 3 of their respective tenures at the top of those companies in separate featured interviews on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.In the first conversation, Druart dives into the “ongoing conversation” at the Vermont brewery of “what makes a Lawson’s Finest beer a Lawson’s Finest beer” and defines what makes a Sunshine brand.“Really for us, it’s IPAs – clear IPAs using Citra hops, and with a very bold flavor profile,” she said. “The more conversations we have like those – defining who we are, the more I’d say clear we are moving forward what’s on brand, what’s off brand.”Druart also discusses the impact of Lawson’s community giving programs, accelerating business by moving distribution to Baker Distributing in its home state, the launch of Hop Wired hazy and juicy IPA and much more.Then, Bankovich explores the anniversary of launching the Cincinnati craft brewery’s first NA beer line Ghost, with new offerings to follow. He also explains why launching Fuzzy Bones, a sparkling THC drink, has been a challenging and educational “crash course,” following Ohio’s ban on intoxicating hemp beverages.Fuzzy Bones launched in six states, with three additional states expected to follow. Rhinegeist is “trying to stay nimble with it,” as a federal ban looms in November. “I wish that our government officials could learn enough from the past to act quickly because this industry developed so quickly, seemingly out of nowhere,” he said. “We just really need a chance to not fall into the trap of Prohibition and instead write proper regulation now and in real time as consumers want these products instead of prohibiting them for years and years and years.”Bankovich also dishes on Rhinegeist’s daily hospitality efforts to make guest experiences’ special, the growth of the company’s core Truth and Cincy Light brand families and several expedited new additions: Half Truth session IPA, limited-time summer offering Cincy Light Watermelon and Sea Salt and Cincy Vodka Soda, the company’s first spirit-based offering.Before the interviews, the Brewbound team reviews that latest news, including:A recent Bump Williams Consulting report on long-tail craft brands finding success;Leadership changes at the American Cider Association;And Boston Beer’s 15% ABV Lytt beyond beer creation in glow-in-the-dark, lightbulb-shaped 6.8 oz. containers.Zoe also catches us up on the drinks scene during the Miami F1 race.

Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) continues to unwind, so BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker joined the Brewbound Podcast to break down the latest.RNDC, once the country’s second-largest wine and spirits distributor, has been selling-off markets piecemeal to competitors from coast to coast. Announced deals have included 11 markets to the Reyes Beverage Group, brand rights and some assets to Columbia Distributing, operations in 17 control states to Martignetti. (Note: this conversation took place before Breakthru announced it would acquire RNDC operations in Kentucky and Indiana or that it was revealed Quality Beverage would buy RNDC assets in Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.)RNDC’s current state can be traced to the butterfly effect of a host of suppliers leaving its California operations over the last several years, resulting in the company exiting the state.“It’s no surprise that if your biggest suppliers leave your biggest state and beyond, then the rest of your business is going to be affected,” Salniker said. “What’s happening now is no surprise, but it feels like it’s happening all of a sudden.”In addition to her analysis, the episode features conversations with Eco Beverages co-founder Anna Nadasdy and Russian River Brewing co-owner Natalie Cilurzo. Nadasdy discusses her organization’s push to help craft beverage manufacturers navigate Extended Producer Responsibility laws.Cilurzao recapped her brewery’s recent Pliny the Younger launch and Russian River’s latest push to share its sustainability work.Justin and Jess also break down recent beer news, including Lord Hobo and Lone Pine’s pivot to contact production and Q1 earnings from Boston Beer and Molson Coors. 

The Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) rolled into Philadelphia this week – and so did the Brewbound Podcast On Location Studio. In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, the team shares their early reads on a week in which the vibes seem high compared to previous years. Zoe recaps the opening keynote speech by Unreasonable Hospitality author and former restaurateur Will Guidara, including his hyper-experiential approach to customer service and what a “dream weaver” is and whether you should be concerned that your server is eavesdropping on you. But first, Justin provides details on Firestone Walker and Duvel USA striking an agreement to acquire the Stone Brewing brand and four California taprooms from Sapporo USA – just under four years after the Japanese brewing giant acquired the San Diego craft brewery. Justin, Jess and Zoe dig into what the deal means for craft market share in California, how the combined company plans to approach distribution and which taprooms are on the move, as well as what this means for Sapporo in the U.S. and what happens with the Escondido production brewery. The trio also share takeaways from Brewbound’s party at Love City Brewing.