January 2025 was a record month for non-alcoholic (NA) beer in grocery stores. NA beer claimed a 4.2% share of beer grocery sales during the month, according to NIQ food store data shared by Bump Williams Consulting.    The Brewbound team discusses how Dry January shook out, plus why industry leaders are bullish on regional cider; how the dots connect between the Consumer Price Index for beer at home outpacing overall inflation and beer’s 2024 summer slump; and who is keynoting the Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis.   Plus, Justin, Jess and Zoe play Another Round or Tabbing Out on a surprise bev-alc platform and the We Love LA collaboration beer effort.

2025 marks a milestone year for Lawson’s Finest Liquids and its flagship Sip of Sunshine IPA. How will the Vermont craft brewery celebrate? CEO Adeline Druart shares details on the latest Brewbound Podcast.    Druart, who took over as CEO in June 2023, shares the keys to keeping Sip growing, including a commitment to cold-chain distribution. She also discusses the crossover of her previous life in dairy, with the addition of cheese to Lawson’s taproom.    The conversation also covers Lawson’s expansion into North Carolina and Virginia, if more markets will follow, additions to the Sunshine family, B-Corp status and the brewery’s Airbnb.    Plus, the Brewbound team discusses Zoe’s trip to CiderCon and her Super Bowl celebration, more ad talk and play a game of Another Round or Tabbing Out on Anheuser-Busch’s American versus domestic and Ball recycling its aluminum cup business.

Super Bowl LIX (59) kicks off on February 9 in New Orleans. What’s life like for the Anheuser-Busch distributor in one of the country’s biggest party towns ahead of one of the beer industry’s biggest days?    Brandon Frederick, VP of sales; Greg Naquin, director of off-premise sales; and Kris Cutrell, director of on-premise sales walk through the preparations for the game, the expectations placed on them, the biggest pain points and much more.    Plus, the Brewbound team recaps the latest news, including why beer is expected to be the winner on Super Bowl Sunday, how many Dry January adherents stuck to their abstinence pledges and a first-hand report from Lagunitas’ annual Dog Pile distributor meeting.   This week’s game of Another Round or Tabbing Out tackles the slate of Super Bowl ads from Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch, as well as Splitting the G copycats.

Hurray’s Girl Beer won Brewbound’s 2024 Pitch Slam competition during the Brewbound Live business conference last month in Marina del Rey, California.    Founder Ray Biebuyck joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss how Hurray’s Girl Beer is working to reclaim the term “Girl Beer,” the brand’s post-ironic, satirical and humorous vibe and why it’s attempting to create a discourse about women and beer.    Biebuyck explains why she’s interested in bringing women into the beer category, while getting her beer to stand out both on shelf and in social media algorithms.     Hear more from Biebuyck in this week’s featured interview. Plus, the Brewbound team dives into the latest news, including the split between the Brewers Association and the American Homebrewers Association and hard times at Sapporo-Stone and Monster Brewing.   Also, Another Round or Tabbing Out returns with discussions around “faux-stalgia” lager brands, cannabev advertising and a surprising cameo by Angry Orchard.

A tough year for craft. Big changes at the Brewers Association. A billionaire saving Anchor from the abyss. Looming dietary guidelines for alcoholic beverages …   2024 was a whirlwind.   To wrap up the year that was, the Brewbound team is joined by Christopher Shepard, senior editor of Beer Marketer’s Insights, and Dave Infante, author of the Fingers newsletter and a contributing editor and columnist at VinePair.    The quintet gives the inside scoop on covering some of the year’s top stories, and dives into the news to watch in 2025.

New Belgium Brewing resumed brewing at its Asheville, North Carolina-based production facility this week for the first time since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on the region and shut down the brewery’s operations.    It was a significant stoppage for the company as the Asheville brewery accounted for around 40% of New Belgium’s total output. In the wake of the hurricane, the brewery was flooded with around 20 inches of storm water.    More than three months after being knocked offline, Voodoo Ranger Juice Force will be the first beer going into the tanks in Asheville, with packaged products expected to follow in March.    New Belgium CEO Shaun Belongie joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the comeback in Asheville, the company’s still-unfolding contingency plans and the road ahead.    Belongie also shares New Belgium’s 2025 plans, including the introduction of “Mini Ripper” cans of higher ABV Voodoo Ranger Force offerings; LightStrike hard refreshers; and Bell’s Oberon Light. He also explores going into year eight of Voodoo Ranger, the opportunities for Bell’s, building brands outside of the craft beer bubble and taking over sales, marketing and production of Kirin Ichiban.   Plus, the Brewbound team talks Zoe’s trip to the Beer Summit, 2024 off-premise scans and Tilray Brands’ Project 420.

Leaders of the newly former Barrel One Collective shared their vision for the new platform, which was formed from the merger of Harpoon Brewery’s parent company Mass. Bay Brewing and Smuttynose’s home of FinestKind Brewing.    Harpoon co-founder and CEO Dan Kenary and FinestKind CEO Steve Kierstead explained how the platform came together, how open they are to adding to the collective and the types of partners they’d welcome, and how they’re approaching innovation with a portfolio that now boasts 14 brands.    Kenary also discussed the circumstances that led to the end of Harpoon’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Moving forward, Kenary will lead Barrel One as CEO, while Kierstead will move into the role of chief commercial officer.    Plus, Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and managing editor Jess Infante share their history covering Mass. Bay and Smuttynose and dive into the latest headlines, including the surgeon general’s advisory calling for cancer warnings on bev-alc labels and WWE’s investment in Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer.

This week’s Brewbound Podcast features a pair of interviews with 2024 Brewbound Award Winners. Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver shares why fonio is a game-changing ancient grain for brewers. Brewbound named Brooklyn’s Fonio Rising series of beers its 2024 Best New Product.    Plus, Breeze Galindo, director of operations of the Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling, discusses the work of the grant-making and mentorship organization, which pays for technical education scholarships for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the brewing and distilling industries looking to continue their education.   But first, Brewbound editor Justin Kendall and reporter Zoe Licata are joined by weekend newsletter writer Sean McNulty to review the latest headlines, including Jim Koch’s succession plan at Boston Beer and President Jimmy Carter’s impact on craft brewing’s history.   Sean also quizzes Justin and Zoe for his “Week in Beer Awards.”

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.    Watson, the BA’s VP of strategy and membership, was named as the successor to long-time leader Bob Pease, who will retire on January 3. Watson will take the post on January 6.    On the podcast, Watson explains how the trade group representing small and independent craft brewers will be “ruthlessly member centric” moving forward and serve as a problem-solving organization.   He also discusses how his leadership style may differ from Pease, the benefits of having a front-row-seat over the last 12 years, his approach to the BA’s “big tent” membership and who gets in that tent, and the biggest opportunity ahead for the trade group.

The Brewers Association has tapped Bart Watson to lead the trade group for small and independent brewers, following the planned retirement of Bob Pease. The Brewbound team breaks down the choice and the challenges ahead for Watson in his new role, as well as the larger industry after last week’s release of the “Year in Beer” report.    Plus, Jess, Zoe and Justin share highlights of the Brewbound LIve business conference and the underlying theme of “focus,” the primer on intoxicating hemp and a new long-time partnership between Dogfish Head and the Grateful Dead. They also discuss the winner of the 2024 Brewbound Pitch Slam competition, Hurray’s Girl Beer.    The show wraps up with an interview with Brewbound’s 2024 Person of the Year, Highland Brewing president Leah Wong Ashburn, who shares details of a new beer release that will help North Carolina hospitality workers in the wake of Hurricane Helene.