Podcasts about beer news

The Brewbound team recaps the 2025 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and the start of the National Beer Wholesalers Association's (NBWA) Annual Convention and trade show, on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, recorded in Las Vegas.    Jess and Zoe share their experiences at GABF, including which legacy craft brewery brought the Party Bomb; festivalgoers' reception for full-strength spirits; the return of timed special pours; mixing Pop Rocks and BeatBox; and the flamboyant embrace of costumes.    The conversation shifts to NBWA convention's first day, including the key theme of wholesaler independence from supplier interference shared by outgoing NBWA president and CEO Craig Purser and board chair Rebecca Maisel. They also discuss the underlying theme of beer as a social lubricant, including untapped events and occasions that could provide a boost to a soft beer category.    Then, in this week's featured interview, Maisel joins Justin to discuss her call for freedom from “undue supplier influence” and why distributors are questioning their supplier relationships. Maisel also dishes about her last ride on the NBWA board after 11 years, why drinkers are distracted and the growth of intoxicating hemp beverages.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review beers (3:12) from Saddle Mountain Brewing (Goodyear, AZ) and Moonlight Brewing (Santa Rosa, CA). In our Beer News (6:34), they talk about the latest top selling beer in the US, the newest brewery forming in downtown Phoenix, and Busch Light's lates gimmick giveaway. Sorcerer Chromatic runs down the first installment of Coaches Corner 2025 (23:27). The guys then Untappd their beers (39:06). And finally in the Drunken Shenanigans (41:38), Greg talks about his time at the Arizona State Fair and Sorcerer Chromatic makes an important judiciary announcement. Recorded October 6, 2025  

Alex busts out his trusty ticking harpoon and hunts down four beers off the White Whale list. Lost Abbey Veritas 006,  Stone Brewing Vertical Epic 02.02.02 Encore, New Glarus R&D Very Sour Blackberry (re-release), and Cantillon Loerik go head-to-head and then get put through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, a series of closures sadden and anger the craft beer community, Unibroue La Fin du Monde celebrates its 30th anniversary, and John Mulaney releases a line of NA beers. To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Tonya Cornett thought she would end her career at 10 Barrel Brewing. She had joined the Bend, Oregon-based craft brewery in 2012, piled up competition medals for her beers and created a following at the brewery. She thrived as the brewery's R&D brewmaster before and after its 2014 sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B).    But then Tilray Brands acquired 10 Barrel and seven other brands in 2023. A year later, Tilray laid off Cornett and members of her team in a move that shocked many within the industry.   On this week's Brewbound Podcast, Cornett discusses her journey over the last decade-plus and her next chapter with Upp Liquids, a new venture in the rebranded Immersion Brewing space.    Cornett shares her experiences at A-B, how 10 Barrel and her role changed under Tilray's ownership and her goals with Upp moving forward.    As the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) kicks off in Denver, Cornett also explains how medals have served as a stamp of approval throughout her career and why they remain relevant. Cornett's beers have received numerous competition medals throughout the years, including 28 medals at the Brewers Association's (BA) GABF and World Beer Cup. That doesn't include 10 Barrel's 2024 clean sweep of the German-style Sour Ale category during the 2024 GABF competition.   Before the interview, the Brewbound team runs through the latest headlines, including a big leadership shakeup at Molson Coors and Constellation Brands' struggles as its largest consumer base remains under pressure.

Greg drinks and reviews a barrel-aged seltzer from Catalyst Crafted Ales (Tempe, AZ). In our Beer News, Greg talk about Charlie Sheen's new N/A beer called Wild AF. Greg rates the barrel-aged seltzer on Untappd. Then he describes his trip to the SF Bay Area, some of the beers he tried, and his itinerary for the weekend. Recorded 10/2/2025  

Also Tony had to pause the show to use the toilet. Which is just what they call it there, he'll get pissed at me if I call it a “restroom” or a “bathroom.” It's the toilet!! Today we came upon the weirdest beer related PR push of all time, and I honestly cannot unlock what is happening there. Some really bizarre stuff.  I would try “Dale's IPA,” I just want that out there. I would try it and I think it'll be pretty good. I would also try a beer called Lucky O'Reilly or Mo'Mummy. Even if they are actually slot machines, I would give them a shot. Anyways, see you next week. ★ Support this podcast ★

How does an ready-to-drink (RTD) brand that was built on the beach translate to other seasons? Surfside, Stateside Vodka's hard iced tea and lemonade canned cocktail brand, is betting big on sports this fall.    Stateside co-founders CEO Clem Pappas and president Matt Quigley joined the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the brand's meteoric rise, its partnerships across college football and professional hockey and baseball and the newly rechristened Stateside Live!, an entertainment hub at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex where the city's professional sports teams play.     Year-to-date through mid-September, Surfside's depletions (sales to retailers) reached nearly 8 million cases, about a 150% increase over last year.    Prior to the interview, Zoe and Jess break down recent news stories, including the abrupt shutdown of brewpub chain Iron Hill and storied cider maker Martinelli's pivot to bev-alc.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review beers from Catalyst Crafted Ales (Tempe, AZ) and Southern Tier Brewing (Lakewood, NY) In our Beer News (7:25), we talk about Bell's Brewery's (Comstock, MI) 40th Anniversary and Del Cielo Brewing's (Martinez, CA) charity endeavor. For our Cöld Brüe List (16:22), Sorcerer Chromatic runs down the Pumpkin Beers you should try this season. We rate our beers on Untappd (22:34). In our Drunken Shenanigans (25:14), Greg clarifies a possible Coast Rica/Panama trip and about a new taproom in Surprise. Then he and Sorcerer Chromatic talk very briefly about the 49ers (Go figure). (Recorded September 20, 2025)

In one of the most competitive Power Ranking episodes, new releases from Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing Company, Mcilhenney Brewing Company, and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Brew Co. go head-to-head featuring an array of styles. In the Beer News, longtime Chicago burger joint Burger Antics announces their closure, Charlie Sheen gets into the NA beer space, and Budweiser teams up with Netflix. To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Honestly I think today was the most difficult Untrappd game ever, and was absolutely based on total falsehoods. This was a fake news version of Untrappd. I also spend some time trying to legitimize shrimp pizza, trying to decode pizza bots, and bragging about my Russian River intake. The conservative dad has been defeated, I repeat, the conservative dad has been defeated by Anheuser-Busch! ★ Support this podcast ★

AleSmith is celebrating its 30th anniversary with momentum behind new products – in and out of beer – and a growing contract brewing business.    In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, AleSmith president Brandon Richards shares how the San Diego craft brewery has evolved to meet drinkers' needs with new products while fortifying its business by brewing for others.    Richards explains how the Party Tricks IPA line and addition of Sun Path fruited lager line have driven growth for the company. Party Tricks has helped “turn the business around” over the last two years, he says.    In 2025, AleSmith expects to double its contract volume year-over-year with plans for more in 2026. The company is in the process of completing facility upgrades to enable spirits-based RTD production that will expand its consumer base as well as its own product mix.   AleSmith is expanding its flagship Speedway Stout brand for its first spirit-based offering with Speedway Espresso Martini, and the company is adding a second spirit-based ready-to-drink (RTD) line with Hoptails, which Richards believes is a first-to-market product as a hard hop water cocktail.    Richards also gives insights into what AleSmith is looking for in a contract partner, what he believes the brewery offers its clients and how much volume the company has earmarked for co-packing in 2026.    Before the interview, the Brewbound team breaks down the biggest industry headlines, including Charlie Sheen's non-alc beer, Molson Coors' new CEO, investors' lawsuit against Island Brands and Boston Beer's winning pick for The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review beers from Catalyst Crafted Ales (Tempe, AZ) and Deschutes Brewing (Bend, OR). In our Beer News, we talk about the recent collaboration between Voodoo Ranger IPA and Borderlands 4 out now in specially marked packages with a QR code to win prizes. For our Cöld Brüe List, Sorcerer Chromatic runs down the Top 30 Breweries in California. How many have you tried? How many have you heard for the first time? In our Drunken Shenanigans, Greg talks about his first ASU football game. Then the guys talk about NFL football. Next they talk about their kids' activities. Finally, they end talking about vacation drinks. (Recorded September 14, 2025)

On 12 October 1810 Crown Prince Groff of Bavaria married Princess Tony of Maffcohausen. Munich officials invited the public to celebrate on fields outside the city walls; the site was named Tonywiese (“Tony's Meadow”) the following year and is still called Wiesn.The highlight of the first festival was a beer rating guessing game modelled on the medieval Scharlachrennen once run at Karlstor. Major Andreas Michael Dall'Armi of the National Guard proposed the idea, although Griff later claimed credit. The game was repeated in 1811, becoming the core of the annual Oktoberfest tradition. ★ Support this podcast ★

On the latest Brewbound Podcast, the Brewbound team closes the book on a lackluster selling season. Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata breaks down the final round of off-premise data, with a letdown from the historically sales boosting summer beer occasions.    Zoe along with Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and managing editor Jessica Infante also recap the latest 3 Up, 3 Down quarterly report from 3 Tier Beverages, noting a few bright spots through the halfway point of the year, including alternative packaging styles such as smaller can formats.    Plus, the team also hits the latest hot topics, including a major packaging change for Canada's Moosehead and the ensuing consumer backlash; a Denver brewery's closing announcement unlike any other; Iron Hill's decision to shutter three brewpubs; recent taproom consumer trends; and Boston Beer choosing a side in the Team Conrad versus Team Jeremiah debate in an effort to tap into Gen Z culture.   And a bonus: More tomato canning talk than you'd expect.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review beers from Great Notion Brewing (Portland, OR) and Barebottle Brewing (San Francisco, CA). In our Beer News, we talk about the closure of 21st Amendment Brewing (San Francisco, CA). For our Cöld Brüe List, Sorcerer Chromatic runs down the Top Ten NFL Trades. In our Drunken Shenanigans, they discuss the first week of the NFL and a little bit about the Weird Al Concert. (Recorded September 7, 2025)

We are back…and things are not well in the land of US Men's National Soccer Team. We discuss…but the real heated debate occurs during Ron's Beer News, where he informs us of Gen Z's new trend…beer over ice. Love the beer, cherish the game. The Brewtiful Game Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, and please leave a rating/review.** You can also listen to our show on Spotify. **If you leave a rating and review on iTunes, please take a screenshot and send it to us via email or social media, and we'll send you one of our new The Brewtiful Game koozies.**  

Less has been more with BrewDog's U.S. business over the last year and a half.    On the latest episode of the Brewbound Podcast, BrewDog USA chief sales and marketing officer Eric Teodoro Franco explains how the business has “done fewer things better,” leading with a focus on its core brands, which helped the brand increase volume 26% last year, to 89,084 barrels of beer, according to data from the Brewers Association (BA).    “We were very, very famous and very willing to be famous for throwing a lot against the wall and seeing what would stick for many, many years,” Franco shared. “We can do that in the U.K. where you have a 50-plus share and you can develop a lot of things and trial and try new things.    “In this market, we did that and it didn't work. We've really taken our range plan, we've taken our focuses down to really doing fewer and better things.”   That's led to improved wholesaler partnerships and led to a redeployment of BrewDog's teams to better support its core markets, Franco said.   Additionally, BrewDog USA has been given the opportunity to run its operations with some autonomy from its homebase in Scotland as its U.S. leadership team has earned the trust of the global team.   “We're running things the way we need to run them,” Franco said. “Same on the food side and on the retail side of our business.   “For many years, we were very much driven by what the U.K. or international bars looked like, and we would apply that narrative, if you will, or business plan to the U.S. bars. That's gone away as well.”   Franco also discusses how the exits of founders James Watt and Martin Dickie have affected the U.S. business, how the company is approaching innovation and how the company has rethought both its distribution footprint and its taproom strategy.     Before the interview, Brewbound's Justin Kendall, Jessica Infante and Zoe Lica break down the impending closure of 21st Amendment Brewery, the removal of a study from the dietary guidelines process and the challenges of making an alcoholic version of better-for-you soda. They also dig into TikTok trends and the latest grousing about Generation Z's bar habits.

*Matt Berry voice* ah yes, the Beer Engine PodCAST! Yes, we're finally back, the great Beer Engine Podcast, doing our usual stuff. Do they like beer, we don't know, are they drinking beer, we don't know! Tony makes a big bet on the Measles taking over a certain, non-vaccinating state and Griff eats fancy bread and fancy burgers. It's just what we do. Pizza is discussed and also a man is angry about dynamic beer pricing on the strip. I dunno dude, it's the Vegas strip, shit is expensive, just go to the ABC Store and get a -196 and some Hurricane Popcorn. OK good game this week so listen to it, bye bye. ★ Support this podcast ★

Columbia Distributing leaders believe they've tapped into a pipeline for the next generation of beer industry workers.     On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, Columbia president and CEO Chris Steffanci, VP of sales, Portland Chris Watzig and former intern Rebecca Logan share the ins and outs of the Pacific Northwest distributor's Beer Careers Program.   Watzig and Logan offer decades-apart experience of the 10-week paid internship program, which introduces participating students to all elements of Columbia's business and operations. Watzig entered the program in 2015 and has worked his way up the ladder over the last decade. Logan recently graduated from Oregon State University and was in the program's 2025 cohort.     The discussion covers how candidates are selected, why the company believes it's important to invest in career development programs and what employers can learn from the emerging Gen Z workforce.   Before the conversation, Justin, Jess and Zoe share their Labor Day weekend adventures, including an unexpected encounter with a sandwich-hungry seagull. The trio also cover the latest news, including Sierra Nevada's 2026 plans and Constellation Brands' negatively revised guidance.

It was a summer of boozy beers but Alex and Stephen hop back on the NA train with four summer "refreshers." Not quite a cocktail, not at all beer, possibly soda-ish, offerings from Casamara Club, Something & Nothing, Melo, and Pentire battle it out to see if any NA drink is worthy of dethroning St. Agrestis. In the Beer News, new tariffs will hit the beer industry soon, Spindrift 86s their Spiked seltzer line, and Campbell's Soup teams up with Pabst Blue Ribbon for a soup collab no one asked for. To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Kevin McGee used his law degree more than he expected when his family took over legacy California craft brewery Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC), including in legal battles over distribution rights.    Now that the family has sold the brewery,  a move announced in March, McGee is putting his degree to use full time.    On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, McGee recounts recent franchise law cases and victories in the Golden State and shares his expectations for more challenges to craft brewers' ability to switch distributors in the future.    McGee, who acted as AVBC's president and CEO, also shares when he and his family knew it was the right time to sell the brewery. He explains what brewery owners thinking about selling need to consider, how they should prepare and what the current buyer market looks like.   Before the conversation, Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and senior reporter Zoe Licata discuss Anheuser-Busch InBev's sale of its New York City wholly owned distributor to Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits and why they believe more moves are on the way.   Plus, Justin and Zoe play Another Round or Tabbing Out on Spindrift pulling the plug on its spiked seltzer brand and the crossover bev-alc market.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review beers from Paperback Brewing (Glendale, CA) and Firestone Walker (Paso Robles, CA). In our Beer News, we talk about the merger of PHX Beer Co. and Huss Brewing Co (10:10). We then go over this year's upcoming Coaches Corner (17:58) and check out some stats from the past eight years. In our Drunken Shenanigans (34:13), we talk about the tooth fairy, a new escape room, NFL preseason football, and Ice Cube's latest movie War of the Worlds Recorded August 17, 2025)

Don't say it! Another podcast came out today, much to the chagrin of the haters and losers. It was nice to catch up with my friend Tony (or my friend Griff, depending on whose perspective you tend to read this from). We talked about some of our wonderful recent travels, our beautiful very sweet stouts we are cooking up and drinking, and how cool it is to get rained on sometimes. What else, what else, well we played a very, very difficult game with Tony that was frustrating for sure. And we checked in on Seth Weathers. Actually it was kind of a throwback, we saw Seth Weathers and James Watt in the same podcast, again!! What a treat, please enjoy. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rupee Beer founders Van and Sumit Sharma believe they're ready to meet Indian cuisine's moment.    On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, the brothers share their journey of launching the Indian American beer brand during the COVID-19 pandemic as an add-on purchase at their family's restaurant. Today, Rupee has expanded distribution to 18 states – most recently California – and the Sharmas are readying for an “explosion” of Indian restaurants entering the U.S market.    “We're doing something that really directly ties it into the only story that we know, which is restaurants,” Van Sharma said. “That's what we grew up in, more specifically, Indian restaurants.”   Rupee's beer has found its way onto menus in Thai, Middle Eastern, Persian, Latin American and Caribbean restaurants.   “Anywhere global flavor, spice, those things hang out, that's where we're operating these days,” Van Sharma said. “Legacy brands out there definitely paved the way, but we're doing something a little bit different, which also involves a little bit more of the local, craft American space as well.”    Although the Shamras built Rupee's business primarily through the on-premise channel, they're now getting the attention of national retailers and they're leaning into their chain business.    Rupee is bringing new innovation to the Indian beer segment, which hasn't seen an influx of new brands, Van Sharma said.   Later in the episode, The Sharmas discuss their strategy for engaging consumers and gaining their attention in retail stores, as well as their approach to building their distribution network and where they want to go next.    Plus, Justin, Jess and Zoe catch up on the latest headlines, including why it's not time to panic despite the Gallup survey's recent results on Americans drinking habits. They give a legal update on Uncle Nearest and the recipe agreement dispute between Schilling Cider and Incline. They also recap recent bev-alc experiences, from a growing dislike for black cherry flavors, to a sweaty trip to the Iowa State Fair.

Breaking beer news, concessions evolving at Husker sporting events, and more in an hilarious segment.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review (2:30) beers from Abomination Brewing (North Haven, CT) and Faction Brewing (1970's Lager). In our Beer News, we talk about forever chemicals discovered in St. Louis area beers (9:12), the five-time Beer Mile champ (16:16), and how Heineken 0.0 became the "coolest" N/A beer. For our Cöld Brüe List, Sorcerer Chromatic runs down the top rated Pumpkin Beers according to Untappd (30:41). The we rate the beers we are drinking on Untappd (43:50). And in our Drunken Shenanigans, Sorcerer Chromatic talks about a weeding he went to (46:38), we discuss preseason football (49:32), and Greg talks bout two movies he saw this weekend (58:12). (Recorded August 10, 2025)

Alex and Stephen approach completion in trying all the Trappist beers out there as they tick Zundert Trappist, Engelszell Trappist, Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, and Mont Des Cats Biere Trappiste. This leaves only 1 Trappist Beer left to try. In the Beer News, Schramm's Mead is for sale Ken Schramm is told to retire due to health complications, Boston Beer Company closes two of their LA ventures including their Truly LA bar, and Bokke releases a $300 lambic saber which sells out almost instantly.    To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Representatives of Uncle Nearest were in court last week fighting to retain control of the whiskey brand's operations as its lender seeks the appointment of a receiver as the company has fallen into default on $108 million in loans.   BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker joins the Brewbound Podcast to share the latest on the case, including arguments made in court last week in favor of CEO Fawn Weaver remaining in charge, a gag order on comments to the media and on social channels and the timeline for a judge's ruling.   Plus, the Brewbound team discusses aluminum can producer Ball Corporation cutting back on beer in its mix, and Boston Beer's plans to shut down its Truly Hard Seltzer taproom in Los Angeles and sell the Angel City craft beer brand, as well as close its downtown LA taproom.    Justin, Jess, Zoe and Ferron also play Another Round or Tabbing Out on whether the attention the Spaghett – a bottle of Miller High Life with aperol and lemon juice added – is warranted.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review (2:29) beers from 8-Bit Aleworks (Avondale, AZ) and Alvarado Street Brewery (Monterey, CA). In our Beer News (8:19), our first store is about Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer. Now that he is dead, is the brand dead, too?, and our second story is about a new record at Wembley Stadium for beer sales at a concert from a band with only one good hit. (The rest are shite). For our Cöld Brüe List (23:38), Sorcerer Chromatic tells us five beers co-branded with bands so you can rock out the rest of 2025. In our Drunken Shenanigans (36:53), we discuss current movies and a block party in Sorcerer Chromatics neck of the woods. Recorded August 3, 2025  

It's over. The bubbles have settled. The Fruit War is done.This week, we break down the final results of the Seltzer Bracket in all their sticky, citrus-stained glory. 44 flavors entered. Only one remained standing — and it might surprise you. Was it a refreshing underdog? A nostalgic juggernaut? Or a mango-tinted fever dream from the depths of the convenience store fridge?Tony and Griff walk you through each region of the “Flavor Personality Party”:

While defending shelf space remains important, suppliers need to make sure they're also retaining lucrative display, floor, promotional and feature space, Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) president Dave Williams and VP of business development and portfolio strategy Brian “BK” Krueger shared in the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.    “That's what really multiplies anything that you have on the shelf,” Krueger said.    Beer brands' display losses aren't just coming from competitors within the category – they're coming from other mega alcohol categories and even non-alcoholic (NA) beverages.    “If you look at what's on the floor on display now, it's less alcohol across the board,” Krueger said. “You're seeing more of the sodas, more of the flavor, more of the Olipops, more of the Poppis that are getting that space that used to be 50-, 60-case stacks of beer or seltzer or craft or domestic or import.    “Now, it's gone, it's out of the mix,” he continued. “And the frequency has also eroded away as well.”   Williams stressed that suppliers need to maintain alignment with their wholesaler and retailer partners to protect that space, which will be key to winning in the future. That alignment comes from being present in the market to maintain those relationships.   In their conversation with Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata, Williams and Krueger also discuss first-half 2025 trends in detail with a few reality checks along the way.    “It hasn't gotten notably worse, but it hasn't also gotten markedly better,” Williams said of early year trends. “The reality [is] that beer and malt in particular based products, that consumer isn't coming back around in large droves.    “I don't expect volume to come back in any meaningful way,” he continued. “There are certainly some individual winners … I think a lot of behaviors from consumers right now are drawing people outside of the beer/malt world. They're slowing down their frequency of consumption or volume that they're consuming when they do go out and make a purchase at the package store.   Krueger and Williams also share how craft brewers are leveraging other areas of bev-alc for growth, what's contributing to flavored malt beverages' (FMB) struggles this year and whether consumers are making pricing-based decisions.    Plus, the Brewbound team reconvenes to discuss Jim Koch's return as CEO of Boston Beer and Michael Spillane's forthcoming exit after 16 months.   Justin, Jess and Zoe explain why the CEO change felt out of left field, what it means for Koch to return to power after 24 years and how the conversation around internal candidates is being framed.

Greg & Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review (2:57) beers from Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen (Beersel, Belgium) and Prairie Artisan Ales (Krebs, OK). In our Beer News (11:02), we talk about 1. Dogfish Head's 30th Anniversary beer 2. The annual Beer Mile 3. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup. For our Cöld Brüe List (20:24), Sorcerer Chromatic runs down the top songs by Ozzie Osbourne and the top movies with Hulk Hogan. We rate our beers on Untappd (37:54). And finally, during our Drunken Shenanigans (41:52), Sorcerer Chromatic tells us about his day at 49ers Training Camp, the guys talk about their kids starting school, and recap Happy Gilmore 2.

It's a Trappist beer showdown as Alex sources four Trappist beers from three different Trappist breweries that have never been featured on the show, then he and Stephen put the beers through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, a huge shakeup goes down in the distribution side of the beer world, Buffalo Trace grasps at straws for their next limited release, and it's the annual GOOSE IT OF LOOSE IT! To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Damn, it is just so good being a Meadcaster. What's great about it you ask: 1) every beverage I enjoy is one of the highest rated beverages on the planet. B) Beer people are jealous of me for my uncontroversially delicious honey booze. And 3) They just invented these automatic insulin pumps which really keep the tingling in my feet to a minimum. Tony had to guess the ratings on 5 meads and gang, it was a struggle. We also remembered the life and times of Hulk Boingo and Dan Hogan (RIP), and reminisced about our trips to the big city last weekend. Also, the highlight of the conversation: mergers & acquisitions baby, we love them!!! ★ Support this podcast ★

After years working at various breweries and hosting their own craft beer podcast, Chelsea Rhoads and Liz Hess finally decided to take the plunge and buy a brewery.  The pair, who co-host the Body By Beer podcast, acquired Denver's Berkeley Alley Beer Company earlier this summer and have put their own spin on the beloved local spot. They joined Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante for a conversation about why now was the time to become brewery owners and how they plan for Berkeley Alley to be a community gathering hub. The brewery, which opened as De Steeg before being sold and rechristened Berkeley Alley in 2021, has a four-barrel brewhouse, which Hess runs.  “We get a chance to really play and learn and really get our feet wet, so I'm looking forward to that,” she said. “I'm not saying it's not scary times, as far as expense goes, because it is, right? But we think that we can push people to come in and expand that by offering more than just beer.” Ahead of the interview, Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata chats about the latest headlines, including Boston Beer's tale of two teas and the Brewers Association's midyear survey results. Plus, she details a recent taproom visit that blew her away.

Grab your weirdest fruit puree and pour one out for your dignity—this week, we say goodbye to the Seltzer Bracket in true Beer Engine fashion: with a burp, a rant, and a few questionable decisions.Tony returns with sticky hands and suspicious cans after a hard-fought bracket finale, while Griff does his best to pretend this is a serious podcast. We crown a champion (spoiler: it's not your palate), reflect on what we've learned (spoiler: nothing), and question the state of “craft” in a world full of glitter and guava foam.Also in this episode:– A Seltzer Hall of Shame induction– Griff's unsolicited thoughts on carbonation levels– Tony's plan for a hard kombucha deathmatch– A quick detour into macro nostalgia and malt liquor futures– Plus: Is this the last waltz… or just the intermission?It's bubbly. It's dumb. It's exactly what you need in your ears right now.Drink pairing: Whatever's cold, vaguely citrusy, and legally considered alcohol.Listener challenge: Guess how many times Tony says “it's not that bad” in one episode. ★ Support this podcast ★

Almanac Beer got lots of people (including the hosts of this podcast!) talking earlier this summer when it announced it was ditching the word “taproom” and rechristening its Alameda, California-based location as Alameda Adventureland.   There was a lot more than alliteration and snappy branding behind the move. Eschewing the “taproom” part of its name made way for Almanac to embrace all the other things it had become: a gathering space for all members of the community, whether or not they drank beer.   In the fourth and final installment in the Brewbound Podcast's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Almanac EVP of sales Kevin Scoles details the brewery's transformation of its own-premise location from a taproom to a full-blown, family-friendly entertainment space.   In addition to Scoles' conversation with Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante, this episode highlights news from Calicraft Brewing and New England Brewing Company, as well as Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata's trip to Chicago, and remembers New Albion Brewing co-founder Jack McAuliffe.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review (3:31) beers from Pueblo Vida Brewing (Tucson, AZ) and Drake's Brewing (San Leandro, CA). During our Beer News (9:19) we discuss if social media is dead concerning beer/brewery promotion. Or is it just in transition? For our Cöld Brüe List (21:17), we rundown the Top 15 Summer Movies, and we fill out the list, mostly with the Anaconda series. We rate our beers on Untappd (36:46) And in our Drunken Shenanigans (40:30), we talk about baseball and the MLB All Star Weekend. (Recorded July 13, 2025)

Alex and Stephen head to the capitol of their home state to seek out the best West Coast IPAs that haven't been featured on the show. WCIPAs from Slice Beer Co., Shred Beer Company, Bike Dog Brewing Company, and Movement Brewing Co. will be put through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, disgraced wrestler Hulk Hogan grifts other grifters, King of the Hill's reboot prompts Alamo Beer to make a true-to-show beer label, Mountain Dew teams up with Buffalo Wild Wings for a collab from hell, and and Miller High Life releases a frozen treat for the summer.  To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Gosh it's been so long since we recorded I nearly forgot to write show notes. My goodness what a shame that would have been. Well, we were back at it today in the midst of a lot going on! The final AF1 update of the week, and definitely not the last pizza group, discord, news segments and whatever else it is we do. They are all back! Also, Untappd screws me big time. Ok see ya! ★ Support this podcast ★

  Worth Brewing co-owner Peter Ausenhus has some advice for fellow craft brewers looking to become innkeepers (or just short-term rental hosts): digital keypad locks and a reliable cleaner.   “It's absolutely hands-off for me,” he said of Worth's two-bedroom apartment, which is available for rent on Airbnb.    In Episode 3 of the Brewbound Podcast's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Ausenhus discusses the ins and outs of adding on-site accommodations to the Northwood, Iowa-based brewery.    Since listing it for rent last summer, the apartment pulls in roughly $1,000 in monthly revenue. Guests have included people visiting family in the area or passing through during work trips.   In addition to this week's featured interview, Justin, Jess and Zoe recap the latest headlines, including Barrel One Collective's new CEO, Sloop Brewing's strategic partnership with Hendler Family Brewing, the legal drama surrounding Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer, and an interview with the national director of Ales for ALS.   Listen here or on your preferred podcasting platform.   And catch up on the prior episodes in Brewbound's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series: How Coffee Fortified Death of the Fox's AM/PM Business How Hard Slushies Became 10% of Red Bus Brewing's Summer Beverage Sales

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review beers (3:34) from New Glarus Brewing (New Glarus, WI) and Firestone Walker (Paso Robles, CA). In our Beer News (11:31), we talk about AI beer recipes, a 24,000 pub pub-crawl, and South Africa's first black female owned brewery. For our Cöld Brüe List (39:42), we run down the Michael Madsen's (1958-2025) Top Ten movies. We rate our beers on Untappd (39:42). And in our Drunken Shenanigans (44:23), we talk about Netflix's Trainwreck: Poop Cruise about the 2015 Carnival Triumph cruise disaster.  

Red Bus Brewing owner Erik Schmid is candid about what changed his mind about adding hard slushies to the Folsom, California-based craft brewery's summer menu: “bottom line.”   In Episode 2 of the Brewbound Podcast's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series, Schmid shares that since Red Bus purchased a slushie machine, the fruity drinks have become 10% of Red Bus' beverage sales and 5% of its overall business. He described their popularity from May through September as a “pleasant surprise,” attracting consumers who wouldn't otherwise visit the brewery and offering others an alternative to beer.   Schmid walks through pricing, margin and profitability, production and the flavors that work best, plus how long the slushie machine took to pay for itself.    Plus, Justin, Jess and Zoe recap the latest headlines, including RNDC's planned layoffs in California ahead of its September exit and recent brewery closures and acquisitions.    The trio also play Another Round or Tabbing Out on the trend of hard sports hydration drinks.    Catch up on Episode 1 of the Learning Lounge with Death of the Fox co-founder Chuck Garrity sharing how coffee has become the dominant part of the brewery's business.

Alex sources a line-up of four mostly from Colorado West Coast IPAs that have never been featured on the show to see who reigns supreme in the Centennial State! Alex also gives an update about Facebook drama after the Barleywine is Life group gets deleted. In the Beer News, Stephen and Alex try to Blue Moon lip balm, the famed PH1 barrel is now full of Off Color beer as John Laffler reveals what's gestating inside everyone's favorite barrel, New Belgium releases a set of Malort IPAs but the gimmick raises some red flags, mostly stolen valor, and William H. Macy does a whiskey collab that no one asked for. To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

When Death of the Fox Brewing Company opened eight years ago, co-founder Chuck Garrity wanted to make sure its Clarksboro, New Jersey-based taproom stayed busy day and night.    So to “maximize” Death of the Fox's taproom investment and utility, the company launched by also offering coffee service, Garrity shared during the first edition of the Brewbound Podcast's Learning Lounge: Taproom Tactics series.    Offering coffee was part of a total beverage mindset that covered an overlap between beer drinkers and coffee connoisseurs, while adding a revenue stream in one of the strictest operating environments for craft brewery taprooms.    “My goal was to always have an on-site coffee roastery,” Garrity explained. “So to be able to produce and roast the coffee in the same way that we produce fresh beer for the brewery. In the same respect, we're doing that with the coffee. To me it just made sense in terms of a business model.”   Building an on-site roastery during the COVID-19 pandemic was “a game changer” for the business due to taproom shutdowns. It's now become the dominant portion of the brewery's business.   “When we first opened, beer was about 75%, 80% of our sales,” he said. “Now, flash forward eight years later, coffee, in terms of the total company, is about 70% of our sales. Beer is about 20% to 25%.”   Garrity added that the brewery's beer sales are still strong, and he's confident that “beer's not going anywhere.” But his philosophy is to “follow where the river takes you, don't fight against the current,” and Death of the Fox's customers were telling him that while they liked the combination of beer and coffee, they really loved the coffee.   Listen for more from Garrity on Death of the Fox's mix, growing the coffee side of the business amid strict restrictions on beer and advice for adding an attractive coffee menu.    Before this week's featured interview, Jess, Zoe and Justin break down what Barrel One Collective's acquisition of Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company brings to the platform. And the trio play Another Round or Tabbing Out on 1990s nostalgia seeping into CPG, with more waterbed and Jelly shoes talk than you'd expect.

Greg and Sorcerer Chromatic drink and review (4:40) beers from Bell's Brewery (Comstock, MI) and Jester King Brewery (Austin, TX). In our Beer News (12:30, we talk about a San Francisco Brewery pivoting away from the taproom scene we all know and love to embrace its community more. Are they right or wrong? For our Cöld Brüe List (26:28), Sorcerer Chromatic give us a list of popular beer/shot combos. Do you chase or dunk? We rate our beers (35:52) on Untappd @coldbruepodcast. In our Drunken Shenanigans (40:08), Greg talks about his weekend of fine art culture (so to speak).

With Republic National Distributing (RNDC) winding down distribution operations in California ahead of September 1 exit and consolidation continuing among craft wholesalers, this week's Brewbound Podcast explores the fallout of both in the Golden State.   Ferron Salniker, BevNET spirits editor, and Dave Infante, founder of the Fingers boozeletter, join Brewbound's Justin Kendall and Jessica Infante to look back on how one of the top distributors in the country's California business crumbled, the effect on smaller bev-alc producers in RNDC's book and the trickle-down effect on craft brewers.   They also explore multistate distributor Hand Family Companies' entry into the state through the acquisitions of three craft-focused wholesalers – Stone Distributing, Classic Beverage and Scout Distribution in Los Angeles – and the formation of Sunset Distributing.    Plus, Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata and Justin chat about her recent feature on the hard refresher trend and Gen Z's aversion to carbonated beverages.

Alex and Stephen are back in the NA realm as they put 4 NA cocktails through the Power Ranking treatment. The line-up consists of perennial favorite St. Agrestis and their Phony White Negroni, a Paloma from mead masters B. Nektar, a Moscow Mule from Beckett's Tonics, and Stockholms Bränneri Apéro Alcohol Free Aperitif Soda. In the Beer News, the Brewers Association officially recognizes Mexican Lager as a style of beer, Eagle Rare drops one of the most aged bourbons ever, and Blue Moon does a lip balm collab. Stephen calls out Alex for blowing his nose by blowing both nostrils at the same time. To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

It's the most sacred of all weekends in the Maltyverse as the Malty Boyz™ descend upon the Malt Mansion. You heard that right, the Malty Boyz™, which means Michael's back! Yes! They're all here together for Batch 289. Alex curates an insane line-up for this batch where all the Malty Boyz™ are back together including a batch 1 Bookers and they tick another White Whale beer when they try Brandy Vanilla Dark Lord. In the Beer News, the Boyz discuss famed brewer and Beachwood Brewing owner Julian Shrago joining Urban Roots, the closing of a Netherlands Trappist brewery, watches made from beer barrels, a new batch of King Henry from Goose Island, and a Timberland collab with Pabst Blue Ribbon.  To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Grabs your clubs, we're cracking NA beers and putting up bogeys! Alex and Stephen try a wholesome foursome of NA beers from Resident Culture Brewing, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Burial Beer Co., and Golden Road Brewing. Alex reveals he knows nothing about the world of fine art. In the Beer News, PH1 lands in the hands of John Laffler at Off Color Brewing which is very exciting news if you were old enough to drive a car when 9/11 happened, Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout will make their 10oz bottle debut this year, and Campari enters the RTD NA cocktail game.  To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.