Brewbound Podcast

Burial Beer Company’s Doug Reiser discusses the culmination of a three-year project to open a rooftop wine bar for the company’s Visuals wine brand in Asheville, North Carolina. For Burial, it’s about creating “immersive experiences” at its venues, Reiser explains. He discusses reviving once-abandoned spaces, how the company got into beer and then moved into the wine space and how much overlap there is between the company’s beer drinkers and wine consumers. But first, Jess, Zoe and Justin also discuss the key pieces Anchor Brewing is going to need in its resurrection. They also discuss the effectiveness of Brooklyn Brewery’s European ad campaign, and pour over Voodoo Ranger’s scans trends, with some brands in decline and others still on the ascent. Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice.

Bump Williams Consulting’s Dave Williams and Brian “BK” Krueger explore Q1 beer category trends, the stickiness of 2023’s shifts caused by the Bud Light fiasco, the creep up of pricing, regional cider growth and the dampening of Dry January but continued growth of non-alc beer. They also share what they’re watching for the remainder of the year. Plus, the Brewbound team reports from the floor of the Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas and recap the first day of the largest meeting of craft brewers. Jess, Justin and Zoe also recap the new strategic alliance between Black-owned breweries Full Circle and Crowns and Hops. Listen here and on all popular podcast platforms.

This week’s Brewbound Podcast features a 3-pack of conversations from the California Craft Beer Summit. Topa Topa founder and CEO Jack Dyer discusses what’s working for the fast-growing, Ventura-based craft brewery. Then, Match Point Brewing co-founder Simon Chen shares the Albany-based brewery’s path to opening a taproom and also connecting with consumers in his hometown. Finally, That’s Delicious Financials founder Drew Kearns explains why he’s optimistic about the craft brewing industry, as well as the most difficult conversations he’s hearing on the financial side of the business. The Brewbound team also reviews the latest headlines, including positive beer category trends and Tilray Brands’ Q3 earnings report. On Another Round or Tabbing Out, Jess and Justin answer whether they’d buy a $1,300 fridge for their cross-category chilling needs. Then Zoe shares why it might be lemon’s time, if it ever isn’t. Listen here and on all popular podcast platforms.

Ray Latif of the Brewbound Podcast interviews Andy Diacetis, North American Sales Manager for Lallemand Brewing. He discusses Lallemand’s role as a global manufacturer of yeast and bacteria for various industries. Andy highlights industry trends, including a focus on non-alcoholic beverages and juicy double IPAs. He discusses Lallemand’s commitment to innovation, citing the successful launch of Elona, a yeast strain for low and non-alcohol beer production. He teases a new product to be unveiled at an upcoming industry event, the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), showcasing Lallemand’s collaboration with brewing partners. Andy expresses his passion for his job, which involves visiting breweries, collaborating with partners, and innovating in the industry. He invites those interested in Lallemand Brewing to visit their website or contact him directly. Andy Diacetis graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Fermentation Science in 2001. He spent six years working at BridgePort Brewing Company – three years as a brewer and three years as the Brewery Microbiologist. In 2007 he started selling filtration equipment which led him to starting a mobile wine filtration business which was sold in 2023. Andy also co-founded 503 Distilling which was one of the first RTD cocktail companies in Oregon. During this time, he was the Technical Sales Rep for Enartis for four years selling enological products to wineries in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. In 2022 he started his most recent position as the Regional Sales Manager in North America for Lallemand Brewing. Supported by decades of long-standing industry experience, an extensive support network, and strong technical expertise, Lallemand Brewing is positioned to help your brewery achieve its growth and quality goals. Beyond unparalleled global technical support and expertise, we offer an extensive range of products, services, and education. Whether you are a startup, a global leader in beer production, or anywhere in between, we have something for you. At Lallemand Brewing…We Brew With You™ !

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.

The Brewbound Podcast this year featured conversations with industry leaders on hot topics to strategies for navigating craft brewing’s mature era. The Brewbound team of Justin Kendall, Jess Infante and Zoe Licata discussed the closure of Anchor Brewing, data trends in craft and non-alc, leadership changes and refocused strategies. Those stories and more were reflected in the most listened to Brewbound Podcast episodes of 2023. Here’s a look at the most popular episodes of the year, in reverse order. 10. Jester King Speaks Out About Anti-Drag Bill in Texas As the controversy around Bud Light’s partnership with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney heated up, craft breweries came under fire for hosting drag shows. Jeffrey Stuffings, co-founder of Austin, Texas’ Jester King, shared why his brewery was encouraging its fans to oppose a bill in the Texas Senate that would fine businesses $10,000 for hosting “sexually oriented performances” – which includes drag events, if people under age 18 are present or on public property. Dave Infante, editor of independent drinks newsletter Fingers and VinePair columnist, joined the conversation to share why brewery owners hosting similar events need to be prepared for potential backlash. 9. Tomme Arthur on Growing The Lost Abbey By Scaling Down The Lost Abbey’s Tomme Arthur explained why his revered brewery is in process of scaling down in order to secure its future. The conversation was especially pertinent given smaller craft breweries’ struggles in 2023. 8. Farewell to Anchor (For Now) A week after Sapporo announced plans to shut down historic Anchor Brewing and liquidate the business to pay off creditors, the Brewbound team and Dave Infante discussed the effect on the brewery’s union workforce and what’s next for the San Francisco institution, including how likely it is to be saved as a turnkey operation. Plus, Justin and Zoe chatted with Paradox Brewery’s Devon Hamilton and Katie Etherton about the 10-year-old New York craft brewery’s brand refresh and reinvention. 7. The Aftermath of Dry January, Plus CiderCon Road Report Partake Brewing founder and CEO Ted Fleming and then-Lagunitas CMO Paige Guzman discussed what’s next for adult non-alc offerings following the 2023 Dry January, as competition increases and more retailers adopt NA products. Also, Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata provided a field report from the 2023 CiderCon conference in Chicago. 6. Sarah Bettman on the DEI Topics Facing Beverage Alcohol Companies Leadership development speaker, coach and consultant Sarah Bettman explored the diversity, equity and inclusion topics facing beverage alcohol companies and how they can avoid just “checking off boxes.” 5. Rhinegeist Leaders Discuss Leadership Shakeup, Path Forward In a year of leadership changes, Rhinegeist co-founder Bryant Goulding and interim CEO Adam Bankovich discussed the leadership overhaul at the Cincinnati craft brewery. They shared their vision for the brewery’s next phase, which would later be fully fleshed out when Bankovich was officially named CEO and keynoted the 2023 Brewbound Live business conference. 4. What’s Up – and What’s Down – in Beverage Alcohol to Start 2023? Following Dry January, 3 Tier Beverages consultant Stephanie Roatis shared how the month of abstinence performed in this episode. Roatis also discussed the rise of imperial ciders and the upward trajectory of regional cider brands. The Brewbound team also dished on the Drake’s-Bear Republic craft-on-craft merger, broke down Boston Beer’s full-year earnings report and called for a moratorium on the use of “drinkable.” 3. A Rough Week For Acquired Craft Brands, Plus, How PPP Funds Helped Breweries The Brewbound team discussed the fallout of Anheuser-Busch InBev shuttering operations of Platform Beer Co. in Ohio and laying off employees at other Brewers Collective brands. The episode also featured economist Aaron Staples, who broke down the effect the Paycheck Protection Program had on the craft beer industry. 2. Octopi Has 8 Arms in the Contract Brewing Game Contract brewing no longer carries the stigma it does in the craft brewing industry. Isaac Showaki, founder and president of Wisconsin-based contract brewer Octopi Brewing, shared that his facility is targeting 7 million cases in 2023, and a lot of that product isn’t beer. 1. Early 2023 Beer Trends with Bump Williams Consulting Data is tops with Brewbound Pod listeners. After the first quarter of 2023, Bump Williams Consulting’s Dave Williams ad Brian “BK” Krueger joined the pod to discuss early year retail trends, how competition was playing out in the cold box, the accelerated life cycle of brands and how Dry January and the Super Bowl shook out. Worth a re-listen as we head into 2024 to look back at what changed over the course of the year.

Garage Beer’s new owner, Andy Sauer, and VP of marketing, Corey Smale, join the Brewbound team to discuss taking over the craft lager brand following a deal with Kentucky’s Braxton Brewing earlier this year. Sauer and Smale share how they’re building the brand, expanding to new markets, speaking to consumers and creating and nurturing the brand’s voice. The Brewbound team also breaks down the latest legal news in the beer space, including a lawsuit among Tree House owners and the dismissal of a shareholder lawsuit against Boston Beer amid the slowdown in Truly Hard Seltzer trends. The team also play Another Round or Tabbing Out on the growing number of craft doomsday stories. Listen above and on all popular podcasting platforms.