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

We'd love your feedback!

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

We'd love your feedback!

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  

We'd love your feedback!

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

We'd love your feedback!

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

We'd love your feedback!

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)

We'd love your feedback!

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

We'd love your feedback!

How many beverage companies started by making their product in a 53' tractor trailer that traveled the country? That was the question we asked ourselves upon hearing the origin story of the Wynk THC-infused seltzer brand, which initially competed in the state-by-state regulated cannabis industry. In our conversation with co-founder and CEO Angus Rittenburg, we talk about where the brand started, how they have evolved, the ways they're navigating a highly fragmented (and increasingly regulated) category in terms of marketing and distribution, and lastly, how they intend to compete in a space that is only expected to continue explosive growth in 2025.

Mentioned in this episode:
Wynk Seltzers
Countdown by Wynk
Ceria Brewing (brief mention)
BERO Brewing (brief mention)

We'd love your feedback!

In a category still getting its footing in the consumer consciousness, creating a perfectly flavored cocktail infused with THC/CBD is a task with many layers to it. So explains today's guest, Ben Kennedy, who along with his wife Kristen founded Fable Libations, a Denver-based brand in the growing hemp-derived beverage space.

In our conversation Ben talks about how his background in advertising and marketing helped him lay the groundwork for building a brand, and the meticulous process he and his team followed to create the right combination of flavors. He also touches on the challenges in creating a recipe not based on an alcohol counterpart, but a unique drink that requires consumer education and adoption. Finally, we touch on the many legislative changes taking place that impact decisions around distribution and product development, and what's ahead for Fable.

Mentioned in this episode:
Fable Libations

We'd love your feedback!

How can a mountain town, hundreds of miles from the ocean, be expected to defend itself from a major hurricane? That's what the residents of Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains had to be asking themselves on Friday, September 27th, the day Hurricane Helene took a devastating path through the region.

In this episode we return to the story of our first-ever N/ATION road trip back in February. On that day we experienced the AVL that we know and love; clear blue skies, and a cold, crisp air that only the mountains can deliver. We happily strolled through The Marquee during that trip in the artist-haven River Arts District, also home to the Southeast's first non-alcoholic bottle shop, NoLo.

Fast forward to today. We sit down for a remote discussion with NoLo's new owners Jennifer and Jason Phillips, who had helmed the business for all of 57 days before Helene's arrival. In our conversation we talk about what the situation on the ground looks like one month out from the storm, which decimated an estimated 80% of the structures in the River Arts District, including The Marquee, as part of a wider impact to WNC. We also talk about the value of community in times like these, and how that has helped them begin the recovery process. Lastly, we talk about what's next for NoLo as well as the city after the "biblical" event. While the storm may have washed away the physical store, it hasn't dampened the Phillips' passion for serving the sober and sober curious community in their beloved town.

Links/Resources for those who would like to responsibly visit or support Western North Carolina: 

• VisitNC.com 
• DriveNC.gov (up-to-date road conditions and closures)
• Explore Asheville  (shop, support and donate to AVL businesses)
• Bright Barrel Brewing (fellow WNC NA business now helping to supply water)
• Jeter Mountain Farm

Recommended options to support the local community (from NoLo):  

• MANNA FoodBank - Asheville NC
• Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
• World Central Kitchen (still on the ground feeding WNC every day)
• American Red Cross North Carolina (home and disaster support for WNC)
• RADA Hurricane Relief Fund (River Arts District Artists, Inc.)
• Always Asheville Fund (helps small independent travel/hospitality businesses)
• Global Empowerment Mission Small Business Relief Fund (You Tube video)
• Rebuild Marquee Asheville (NoLo's original space, home to 300 artists) 

How to support NoLo:

• Follow them on IG
• Visit their website, and subscribe to Nolo News
• Visit WNC and stock your VRBO/Airbnb with NA. 

We'd love your feedback!