Brewbound Podcast

The California Craft Brewers Association’s Lori Ajax and Chris Walker discuss a pair of bills awaiting the governor’s signature that would benefit the state’s craft brewers. Those bills — expanding the number of satellite locations and bonafide eating places, and adding on-sale privileges — were among the CCBA’s priorities this year. Ajax and Walker also dish on middle tier consolidation, direct-to-consumer sales, supply chain issues and much more. “Over the last 10 years, the growth in the industry has really doubled,” Ajax said. “For small and mid-sized brewers that’s what they really excel at: being community gathering spaces – even with all of the crazy things that go on in California with fires and whatnot, being that community gathering place where people can enjoy their neighbors and talk about things and also enjoy great beer.” The Brewbound team also discusses supply chain updates, Sierra Nevada’s termination of three California wholesalers and Dogfish Head’s closure of its Miami taproom. In addition, the team shares news about speakers added to line ups of the upcoming Brew Talks meetup in Denver and Brewbound Live business conference in Santa Monica. 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].

Simply Spiked – the hard lemonade Molson Coors launched this summer in partnership with Coca-Cola – has taken the FMB corner of the bev-alc world by storm. Joy Ghosh, VP of marketing for above premium brands and FMBs at Molson Coors, joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the company’s launch strategy, new campaigns and plans to recruit new drinkers. Plus, the Brewbound team breaks down July 4 off-premise sales and craft beer at the midpoint of 2022. 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].  

The Brewbound team recaps the 2022 Craft Brewers Conference and shares their big takeaways from the gathering of 10,000 beer industry professionals in Minneapolis. Justin, Jess and Zoe discuss the push on direct-to-consumer sales, focus on brewery cultures and the overarching themes of positivity and back-to-business mentality of the show. 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].  

Rabobank beverage analyst Bourcard Nesin joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss his report breaking down e-commerce alcohol sales in 2021 and the opportunities that await brewers in the space and tips for how to succeed. The Brewbound team also discusses the latest headlines, including a leadership change at the top for Deschutes Brewery, 2021 off-premise sales, the postponement of Russian River’s Pliny the Younger release 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 for the new year? Email [email protected].

On one of the final Brewbound podcasts of 2021, Jeff Carroll, general manager of Avalara for Beverage Alcohol, joins the Brewbound team to discuss his predictions for 2022, from e-commerce growth and evolution to state DTC shipping changes (or lack thereof). Carroll predicts continued growth in the e-commerce channel as online shopping for alcohol becomes more normalized across generations of 21+ adults. In particular, marketplaces such as Drizly and Instacart that connect consumers to licensed retailers will continue to expand their reach. “Not only do you see the spikes in volume and sales, but you also see the spikes in investment – Drizly being one of the the recipients – but there’s been billions of dollars that have poured into some of these companies,” Carroll said. More than half (54%) of online alcohol shoppers in the U.S. made their first purchase during the pandemic, Carroll said, citing drinks research firm IWSR. “That tells me that the attitudes and behaviors are changing, and there’s new buyers out there to be had,” he said. The team also runs down recent beer news, and shares an exciting Brewbound team announcement! Listen to the episode above and on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. New episodes of the Brewbound Podcast are published about every week. Email [email protected] with questions and feedback.  

Agustin Ruelas and Ray Ricky Rivera join the Brewbound Podcast to discuss how the SoCal Cerveceros homebrew club is helping build a pipeline of professional brewers. Ruelas and Rivera share their own aspirations, including Ruelas’ Brewjeria Company in Pico Rivera and Rivera’s contract brewed Norwalk Brew House brand and self-distribution business. The Brewbound team also dishes on Halloween Drizly sales, the closure of Stone Brewing’s Napa outpost, and Chicago’s Pilot Project helping entrepreneurs break into the beer business. Listen to the episode above and on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. New episodes of the Brewbound Podcast are published about every week. Email [email protected] with questions and feedback.

On the heels of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States’ annual convention in Austin, Chris Swonger, the trade group’s president and CEO, joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the growth of ready-to-drink spirits-based canned cocktails, and the organization’s efforts to even the tax rates for RTD products with beer, as well as efforts to add direct-to-consumer sales privileges and much more. Swonger outlines the trade group’s priorities heading into 2022 and dishes on the organization’s recently released Luxury Brand Index, which tracks top shelf products that retail for $50 or more for a 750 mL bottle. Also in this edition of the podcast, the Brewbound team analyzes Boston Beer Company’s Q3 earnings report, including the $133 million in costs the company took due excess and out-of-code Truly Hard Seltzer. The team also hits the top headlines, including Deschutes’ planned closure of its tasting room in Roanoke, Virginia; Reyes’ acquisition of Powers Distributing in Michigan; and a proposed excise tax increase on alcoholic beverages in Massachusetts. Listen to the episode above and on popular platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. New episodes of the Brewbound Podcast are published about every week. Email [email protected] with questions and feedback.