Is the craft brewing industry in serious decline, or just in a state of transition to what it may look like tomorrow? We traveled to Indianapolis for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo to get answers to that, as well as to better understand the broader landscape of beverages, including THC and non-alcoholic beer.

Interviewed in this episode:

Julie Rhodes, Co-Owner, Kick Beverage Company, Inc.

Jason Pickle, President, Volunteer Botanicals

Also mentioned:

Bart Watson, Brewers Association

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After a hospitality career that included stops at some of the most exclusive brands in hospitality, Ian Blessing is no stranger to world-class food and beverage experiences. In this episode, we sit down to talk about how he and his wife, Carly, have built a unique, handcrafted product set around non-alcoholic bitters, a category that lends itself perfectly to collaboration. Using what he learned at legendary establishments like The French Laundry and the esteemed Opus One winery in Napa Valley, Ian's approach is to deliver that experience to All The Bitter's customers, leaning heavily on the community of bottle shops and small retailers that help them market the brand.

In our conversation, Ian shares his thoughts on paying meticulous attention to detail, focused on quality ingredients with a dash of created memorable moments. We explore how this goal shapes everything from product development to the overall customer experience in their new bottle shop under the same name, even down to the delightful toy dinosaur surprise in every shipment that started with their kids. We'll also get a taste of current offerings and some exciting news about a new flavor on the horizon. Finally, we discuss the parallels between creating a premium in-person experience with a compelling online presence, and how All The Bitter aims to blend these worlds seamlessly. 

Mentioned in this episode:

All The Bitter

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It's been quite a year in the U.S. hemp market, which is still just getting started. The explosion of hemp-derived THC/CBD beverages has, not surprisingly, collided with regulations that have come fast and furious at the state level. In an effort to make sense of it all we sat down with David Spang, Founder of Coastal Green Wellness, a hemp/CBD retailer with locations in South Carolina and Georgia, as well as a new line of THC beverages, Nine Dot. As someone who straddles the line between retailer and beverage producer, David has a unique perspective on the industry.

In our conversation we start with David's founder journey to starting Coastal Green Wellness with his wife, Crystal. Given the ongoing legislative battles involving hemp in numerous states, particularly across the Southeast, David also shares his take on the current regulatory landscape and why at least some of what's happening is a net positive for the industry. We also delve into his reasons behind launching Nine Dot, exploring how its emergence is influencing new consumers as they enter the THC category through the accessible beverage format.

Lastly, true to his passion for education, David provides important guidance for newcomers curious about trying THC, addressing common misconceptions surrounding dosage and effects, and emphasizing how the ability to absorb THC is completely different from alcohol. This episode offers a blend of industry insights, entrepreneurial experience, and essential education for anyone interested in the evolving world of THC beverages and the broader hemp landscape.

Mentioned in this episode:

Coastal Green Wellness

Nine Dot

American Healthy Alternatives Association

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Craft beer's evolution includes a spectrum of new and mindful choices. This episode captures the vibrant atmosphere of the fifth installment of Little Beer, a festival held in Duluth, Georgia celebrating lower-gravity brews such as English Ales and Lagers. In this bonus episode we chat with industry leaders there who understand the need for a full spectrum of beverage options to meet the changing needs of today's consumer. First up, two members of Asheville, North Carolina-based Burial Beer share details of their various beverage programs, and their hometown's post-hurricane resilience. Next, Jon Eberhart of Resident Culture unpacks their thriving THC program, which along with their award-winning NA series, NARC, offers consumers a new set of options. We close with a brief conversation with Halfway Crooks co-founder Shawn Bainbridge, who goes into detail on how they made their Brevet Pils NA, as well as the critical importance of maintaining safety in non-alcoholic brewing. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Burial Beer

Devil's Foot Beverage Company

Zillicoah Beer Company

Resident Culture

Cumulo

Halfway Crooks

Chiber for Beverages

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The origin story of Spiritless begins deep in Kentucky Bourbon country, where the trio of co-founders initially bought large quantities of Old Forester at their local Total Wine, while enlisting the services of a sump pump to help power their early experiments. Alongside her two other co-founders, Lauren Chitwood's brand journey dates back to before the pandemic, and in those early days they sought to craft a brand and liquid that would come to resonate with those seeking moderation.

In this episode we talk with Lauren on a variety of topics, including: 

• The company's role in the evolving landscape of drinking habits, and how they’ve always focused on appealing to those moderating, not just abstaining. 
• The "full circle" moment of seeing the product on Total Wine shelves after the initial Old Forester experiments purchased from the same store. 
• How Lauren and her co-founders are grappling with whether to enter the THC-infused beverage space, which brings with it many regulatory and distribution considerations. 
• The experience of being a female-founded brand in a male-dominated spirits industry, and why they would much rather talk about being data-driven entrepreneurs.

Mentioned in this episode:

Spiritless

Total Wine & More

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While the non-alcoholic beverage space is booming, the low and no-alcohol wine category has had its own unique set of challenges. This episode features an in-depth conversation with Brandon Joldersma, CEO of Surely, and the Founder/CEO of Arlow, two brands at the forefront of this emerging space. In our discussion Brandon shares his candid thoughts on the low-alcohol wine category he's trying to help create, explaining the potential he sees for its future compared to the fully non-alcoholic side. We dive into the specific wine styles that are resonating with their consumers, and unpack the demographics driving this shift toward healthier drinking habits. We also try and tackle the crucial question of how the wine industry can better connect with Gen Z, a generation that is reshaping traditional wine consumption overall, or even if it should. Lastly, we explore the broader movement toward mindful drinking and a greater focus on wellness, the effects of which are felt across the full spectrum of wine.

Mentioned in this episode:

Surely

Arlow

Dad Strength Brewing  

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While the hemp-fueled THC beverage category may be just getting started, it's been a more complicated path for an over-arching industry still waiting on perceptions and legislation to catch-up with consumer preferences.  Today's episode features a sit down with Ricardo Baca, named one of the 7 Most Powerful People In America's Marijuana Industry, and founder/CEO of a leading integrated communications firm, Grasslands. In our conversation Ricardo talks about how his journalism work helped educate the mainstream on cannabis, and where we are in the current environment with the industry essentially split into two factions. We also touch on what he's hearing on legislation at the federal level, and how that may or may not impact a THC beverage category that's currently taking off. Lastly, we talk about the future, and how the industry has really become one with the broader health and wellness movement that has shaped more mindful drinking habits.

Mentioned in this episode:

Grasslands

Fable Libations

U.S. of N/A Episode/Ben Kennedy, Fable Libations

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As mindfulness and moderation in drinking continues to become a bigger thing, so too are festivals that celebrate discovery in the non-alcoholic world, along with finding holistic wellness and community. In this bonus episode we recap our visit to Bluffton, South Carolina for the first-ever Lowcountry Dry Fest. Hear from the three principals behind this new event; Kayla Lewis of NAPS Chicago, Jessa Frances De La Rosa of Untoxicated World, and Jane Harmon of Amethyst NA Spirits.

Mentioned in this episode:

NAPS Chicago (IG: napschicago)

Jessa Frances

Untoxicated World

Amethyst NA Spirits

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While Athletic Brewing may today be known as one of the fastest-growing breweries the craft beer industry has ever seen, its origins were more deliberate and intentional, with a rollout strategy that stayed local for as long as possible. Bill Shufelt's founder story goes back nearly a decade, and in those early years he carefully constructed a foundation that would serve the company well as it emerged as one of the faces of a new mindset around adult drinking.

In this episode we talk with Bill on a variety of topics, including: 

• Athletic Brewing's role in today's evolving drinking habits, and how quality and culture are table stakes for the company.
• The 18-24 month process they went through to come up with the brand name (including what the backup name would have been had "Athletic" not been available). 
• The importance of Dry January in getting in front of a new audience, regardless of how consumers may choose to interact with the category.
• Which Athletic brews and seasonals Bill enjoys the most, and what's in his refrigerator at home.
• Advice for fellow NA entrepreneurs on the best way to achieve scale, balancing the need to learn from mistakes with a desire to grow quickly.

Mentioned in this episode:

Athletic Brewing
How I Built This Podcast (Bill Shufelt episode)
Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA)

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Entrepreneurial from a young age, Busty Lush founder Laurel Harrop has always been open to trying something new. Little did she know when starting a successful lighting recycling business that her next venture would involve creating a stylish icon of the non-alcoholic drinking movement. In our conversation, we talk with Laurel about a number of topics related to Busty Lush's first four years in business, including:

• What drew her into the NA category initially.
• Why being female-driven, owned and operated was so important to her.
• How the brand's personality and uniqueness has been critical to competing alongside larger players.
• What's next for Busty Lush, both on the shelf and behind the scenes.
• What new channels Laurel is trying to push the brand into in 2025.

Mentioned in this episode:

Busty Lush
Chambers Austelle
Recess

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