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.

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.

Coronado co-founder Rick Chapman discusses how Weekend Vibes IPA was the catalyst for spurring the San Diego brewery’s growth.   Narragansett Beer owner Mark Hellendrung shares how the Rhode Island legacy brand reversed fortunes and is now producing over 100,000 barrels.    And Surfside co-founder and CEO Clem Pappas breaks down the growth of the canned cocktail brand, which was the fastest growing spirits brand in the U.S. in 2024.

The Brewbound 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.   Jess, Zoe and Justin also break down the results of the Brewers Association’s board election and why this one was a bit out of the ordinary.    The conversation then turns to Olde Mecklenburg’s recent global collaboration, Americans’ dream of brewery ownership (at least in five states), Rogue’s new Pacific Northwest IPA and Krampus’ reappearance in Jess’ spooky town.

After a packed news week, the Brewbound team breaks down the latest headlines, including leadership reorganization and staff cuts at the Brewers Association, an impending CEO change at Heineken-owned Lagunitas Brewing and Sapporo-Stone ceasing exports for the craft beer brand.    Jess, Zoe and Justin also preview the Brewbound Live business conference coming up December 11 and 12 in Marina del Rey, California. The team shares highlights of the on-stage talks and surrounding events, including networking parties, the Pitch Slam competition and retailer and wholesaler one-to-one conversations.

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.    Tanaka also breaks down the goals and experience of Stout Collective’s BOPP Beer Design Conference, held annually in Chicago. He shares how his firm tries to keep the conference fresh and the conversations uninhibited.    But first, Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata shares insights from the Beer Marketer’s Insights summit in New York City. Zoe recaps New Belgium CEO Shaun Belongie’s energetic presentation, highlighting the addition of Mini Ripper 7.5 oz. cans of Voodoo Ranger Juice Force and Tropic Force, the occasion smaller cans are meeting, the launch of alcoholic sports drink LightStrike, some shade for amber ales and an admission that the reformulated Fat Tire didn’t go well.

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, layoffs at Molson Coors’ remaining craft production facilities and Monster’s Q3 financial results.    Plus, the gang plays Another Round or Tabbing Out, recalls Episode 100 (we think) and time capsules recent life moments for the next podcast milestone.    It’s a fast-moving show, with an unexpected Real Housewives detour.