Brewbound Podcast

Wisconsin Brewing’s Paul Verdu and Move Ukraine’s Ken Shearer join the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the Move Ukraine collaboration beer project aimed at helping rebuild Ukraine.

What’s it like to attend a hard seltzer festival in 2023? Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata shares her first-person experience at Seltzerland in Boston. Plus, BevNet spirits editor Ferron Salniker joins the podcast for the first time, detailing everything that went down at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United State’s annual meeting.

The Brewbound team breaks down the latest headlines, including Ken Grossman’s return to Sierra Nevada as interim CEO, Bayou City Hemp’s acquisition of 8th Wonder in Houston, and Wall Street analysts’ survey of distributors that paint a bleak picture for Bud Light.

Funky Buddha Brewery co-founder Ryan Sentz discusses what it’s like to buy back the business he and his brother KC sold to Constellation Brands in 2017. Buying back the brewery has been a several-years-in-the-making process, Sentz shares.

The Brewbound team, along with Brewbound Weekend Insider newsletter writer Sean McNulty, reviews the Brewers Association’s annual craft beer volume data. The team also discusses the latest craft brewery deals, including Funky Buddha and Appalachian Mountain Brewery returning to independent brewery status, and FX Matt buying the Flying Dog Brewery brand.

Fishers Island Lemonade founder Bronya Shillo shares why she sold the nearly decade-old brand to Spirit of Gallo, the spirits division of E. & J. Gallo. The show turns into an unofficial M&A episode as the Brewbound team discusses FX Matt’s planned acquisition of Flying Dog Brewery, and the founders of Appalachian Mountain Brewery buying back the North Carolina craft brewery from Anheuser-Busch InBev.

The Brewbound team reunites to dish on the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC). Jess, Justin and Zoe discuss the Brewers Association’s state and federal ambitions, the beer trade groups’ union against canned cocktail market access and tax breaks, and trade practice reform.

This week’s Brewbound Podcast rebroadcasts two Brew Talks conversations from the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference. The first is an introduction to the National Black Brewers Association, a newly formed trade group. Then, three brewery leaders share their experiences with expanding their taproom presences in out-of-state markets.

Rhinegeist co-founder Bryant Goulding and interim CEO Adam Bankovich explain the change in leadership at the Cincinnati craft brewery that led to Bankovich’s promotion. They share their vision for the brewery’s next phase and how to tap into its full potential.

Brewers Association president and CEO Bob Pease previews the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference, which will be held May 7-10 in Nashville. Pease offers tips to first-time attendees, shares his message to craft brewers as the segment matures, and offers his perspective on small brewery mergers and acquisitions and craft’s conflicting growth drivers.

Finback Brewery co-founder Basil Lee shares how the New York craft brewery is preparing for the 2023 Whale Watching festival in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Plus, Lee discusses plans to expand with another taproom in Long Island City and a farm brewery.

Jeffrey Stuffings, co-founder of Jester King, discusses 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 – and shares why the Austin, Texas-based brewery is encouraging its followers to oppose it.

The Lost Abbey is in the process of scaling down the business. Tomme Arthur discusses the process of growing by getting smaller, the opportunities he sees ahead for the Southern California-based brewery and the evolution of the craft brewing industry.

On this special bonus episode of the Brewbound podcast, the Brewbound team talks with Full Circle Brewing and Societe Brewing live at the California Craft Beer Summit in Sacramento.