Brewbound Podcast

The Brewbound team discusses the closure of TRU Colors, the craft brewery that hired rival gang members to work together but whose mission was marred by violence. The team also looks at two big distribution deals — Reyes entering its 10th market and Scout and Columbia teaming up in Idaho — and Allagash’s future plans to move its taproom. Listen to the episode above or on popular platforms iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Have questions, feedback, or ideas for podcast guests or topics? Email [email protected].

Editor’s Note: This podcast interview was recorded before TRU Colors announced it would cease operations on September 9. New Yorker staff writer Charles Bethea discusses his story on TRU Colors in Wilmington, North Carolina, A Brewery’s Anti-Violence Mission, Complicated by a Killing. Bethea deep dives into TRU Colors’ struggle to balance its mission to end gang violence by hiring rival gang members with its for-profit mission to first sell beer. Further complicating that mission was a double homicide at the home of George Taylor’s son, George Taylor III, that led to charges against three individuals. Listen to the episode above or on popular platforms iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Also, the Brewbound team and Insider newsletter writer Sean McNulty discuss the end of the summer selling season, craft’s reliance on IPA, and Truly’s new campaign starring fruit flies. Have questions, feedback, or ideas for podcast guests or topics? Email [email protected].

In this Brew Talks replay, Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Dan Kenary of Harpoon’s parent company Mass. Bay Brewing and Suzanne Schalow of Craft Beer Cellar share their views on the evolution of the beer category with the addition of fourth category offerings such as hard seltzers, spirits-based canned cocktails, hard kombuchas, hard teas and more. “We try to treat products at our stores like we treated beer on Day One, and we’re embracing the things that are coming at us and we’re trying to carry forward that craft, sort of curated selection of beverages,” Suzanne Schalow, Craft Beer Cellar co-founder and CEO, said during the conversation. Dogfish Head co-founder Sam Calagione and Mass. Bay Brewing co-founder and CEO Dan Kenary also explored how they’re differentiating. “Keeping our proposition relatively simple in this moment where that category looks like just packaging confetti has been a factor in our growth,” Calagione said.“ Meanwhile, Kenary said each Mass. Bay venture, via partnerships and collaborations, must be “a unique approach to the marketplace.” Listen to the full conversation below for more insights. Plus, the Brewbound team discusses the results of the Brewers Association’s latest Harris Poll consumer survey, the growth of Big Grove Brewery in Iowa, Twisted Tea’s importance to Boston Beer and Labor Day plans. Also find the episode on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Have questions, feedback, or ideas for podcast guests or topics? Email [email protected].

The supply of CO2 is tightening in the U.S. What’s it mean for craft brewers? Dorchester Brewing director of operations James Haugh and Earthly Labs CEO Amy George join the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the situation and alternatives available to brewers. Plus, the Brewbound team dives into the latest news, including MIkkeller shuttering its U.S. brewing operations and returning to contract brewing, the booming growth of New Belgium’s Juice Force IPA, Allagash adding a year-round IPA to its portfolio, and beer industry vet Neal Stewart’s essay on the mental health challenges facing many workers in the beer business. Listen to the episode above and on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Have questions, feedback, or ideas for podcast guests or topics? Email [email protected].

Boston Beer’s head of cannabis, Paul Weaver, discusses the Truly Hard Seltzer and Twisted Tea maker’s foray into cannabis-infused beverages in Canada. Weaver shares why tea was the perfect vehicle for a THC-infused drink, how the July launch of Teapot has gone, and how the narrative of cannabis stealing occasions from beer has changed. “We want Teapot to be a social cannabis brand,” Weaver explained “Something you can stay engaged with your friends. You don’t have to break the rhythm.” Weaver goes into the parallels between cannabis and tea, with different strains and teas corresponding with day parts, and how group occasions of five or more could be the brand’s “sweet spot.” “That’s where we really have an interesting opportunity to be disruptive is the group setting where drinks are present but maybe a different vehicle,” he said. Also on this episode, the Brewbound team discusses the latest headlines. Listen to the episode above and on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Have questions, feedback, or ideas for podcast guests or topics? Email [email protected].

This week’s Brewbound Podcast features a replay of a Brew Talks conversation on strategies for expanding taproom and retail outlets, featuring leaders from White Lion, Medusa Brewing, Castle Island and Boston Beer Company. White Lion founder Ray Berry, Castle Island founder Adam Romanow, Medusa Brewing director of business operations Sarah Lee and Boston Beer Company senior director of local brands and taprooms Scott Hempstead shared their experiences during Brewbound’s Brew Talks meetup last month at the Samuel Adams Jamaica Plain brewery. Plus, the Brewbound team reunites to discuss New Belgium’s Voodoo Ranger amusement park hoax and trolling of wine country; Ball closing two can manufacturing plants and blaming customer price increases for a lack of growth; the shaky Hard MTN Dew rollout; and Boulevard’s Quirk Hard Seltzer sampling boat. Listen to the episode above and on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Have questions, feedback, or ideas for podcast guests or topics? Email [email protected].

National Beer Wholesalers Association chief economist Lester Jones joins the Brewbound Podcast to explain why he’s bullish on the beer category despite the current economic climate. “It’s important to divide the short-term impacts versus the long-term impacts,” Jone said. “What’s happening short-term with the relationship between beer prices and gas prices and rent and interest rates, and ‘Am I going to lose my job tomorrow’ and other stuff, with what do we see down the line. And I am still incredibly optimistic about beer and the beer space for what’s coming because there’s so much opportunity here.” Plus, Jess and Justin discuss a nightmarish week, recap Brew Talks, and break down the latest headlines, including Night Shift’s CO2 woes, the last gasp of Stone and Molson Coors’ legal fight, Maui’s plans to acquire Modern Times and more. Listen to the episode above and on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Have questions, feedback, or ideas for podcast guests or topics? Email [email protected].