Brewbound Podcast

Incoming Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson joined the Brewbound Podcast this week to share how he’s approaching the new role with the trade group.

The Brewbound team breaks down the choice of Bart Watson as the Brewers Association’s next president and CEO, recaps the 2024 Brewbound Live business conference and catches up with the outlet’s 2024 Person of the Year, Highland Brewing president Leah Wong Ashburn.

Brewbound revealed the winners of its 2024 awards during the Brewbound Live business conference this week in Marina del Rey, California. This week’s Brewbound Podcast features interviews with three of those award winners: The 2024 Craft Brewery of the Year, Coronado Brewing Company; the 2024 Large Brewery of the Year, Narragansett Beer; and the 2024 Beyond Beer Company of the Year, Surfside.

The Brewbound team returns from Thanksgiving breaks to discuss the pre-turkey day news dump, including Molson Coors’ agreement to purchase the intellectual property of Cruz Blanca and why the Mexican-inspired, Chicago-produced brand is now on the clock.

After a packed news week, the Brewbound team breaks down the latest headlines, including leadership reorganization and staff cuts at the Brewers Association and an impending CEO change at Heineken-owned Lagunitas. Jess, Zoe and Justin also preview the Brewbound Live business conference.

Stout Collective founder and CEO Matt Tanaka walks us through expected design trends for 2025, including why he believes mascots and maximalism will be a feature of beer labels in the new year.

This week the Brewbound Podcast crossed the 200th episode milestone. Insider’s Week in Beer newsletter writer Sean McNulty joins to celebrate. The Brewbound team recaps the latest headlines, including the Lord Hobo-Lone Pine merger, the Beer Institute’s Annual Membership Meeting and layoffs at Molson Coors’ remaining craft facilities.

Highland Brewing owner and CEO Leah Wong Ashburn provides an update on how Asheville, one of the country’s great craft beer cities, is recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

The Brewbound team dives into the top stories in the beer business, including the “strategic partnerships” made by Maui Brewing parent company Craft ‘Ohana to hand off leadership of Modern Times Beer’s daily operations and hospitality businesses. Plus, this week’s episode features a pair of conversations recorded during the NBWA’s Annual Convention.

Chula Vista Brewery co-founder Tim Parker shares how meditation, mindfulness and taking care of your mental health can help your business on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.

Lester Jones, chief economist and VP of analytics at the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), joins the Brewbound team to discuss the importance of the on-premise, and how tides may be shifting in draft beer’s favor. Plus, Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and reporter Zoe Licata also recap the reimagined Great American Beer Festival.

Brewers Association VP of marketing and communications Ann Obenchain joins this week’s Brewbound Podcast to discuss how the trade group reimagined the Great American Beer Festival. The refreshed GABF takes place Thursday through Saturday in Denver, and attendees should expect a more experiential feel this year.

The 87th Annual NBWA Annual Convention wrapped up earlier this week, and the Brewbound team recaps the themes of this year’s event. Jess, Zoe and Justin break down the buzzy topics, including a push to support the on-premise channel (especially draft beer), the growing presence of intoxicating hemp beverages and how those products should get to market.

Kimberly McKinnish, SVP and chief operating officer of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), joins the Brewbound Podcast to preview Making Moves 2024, taking place October 1-2 in San Diego immediately following the NBWA’s 87th annual convention.