Brewbound Podcast

Latest Episodes:

A Changing of the Guard at Oxbow Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Two months into her role as president of Portland, Maine-based Oxbow Brewing Company, Bri Warner is finding her groove and taking on more of the hands-on, day-to-day operations. The leadership transition allows founder Tim Adams to spend more time evangelizing for Oxbow and Rising Tide, which the company acquired in early 2025. Warner joined the brewery from Atlantic Sea Farms, the largest kelp farming operation in the country. The duo joined the Brewbound Podcast for a conversation recorded at Oxbow's Portland taproom. Before the interview, the Brewbound team details the latest beer industry news, including Tilray's acquisition of BrewDog's Australian operations. Four Loko's proposed sale and George Clooney and buds' new NA brand, Crazy Mountain.

42 North on Delivering a Total Guest Experience; Plus Tilray Acquires BrewDog's UK Operations Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

New York's 42 North Brewing has entered its second decade with a new mindset about what it means to be a craft brewer, founder John Cimperman said on the latest episode of the Brewbound Podcast. 42 North Brewing celebrated its 10th anniversary last September. Business at its taprooms in East Aurora and downtown Buffalo has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels with some changes. Food and events make up a larger portion of revenue, and 42 North has embraced both by enlisting a restaurant partner to manage service and booking standing live music performances. Before the interview, Zoe and Jess break down Tilray Brands' acquisition of BrewDog's Scotland brewery, global brand and IP and 11 pubs in the U.K. and Ireland, plus the closing of BeatBox's sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev and the new leadership of the Brewers Association's board of directors.

The Oregon Beverage Collective Finds Power in Numbers Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

The pack mentality isn't going away anytime soon in craft brewing. The Oregon Beverage Collective (OBC) – the tie up of Crux Fermentation Project, Cascade Lakes Brewing, Silver Moon Brewing, Goodlife Brewing and Tumalo Cider – launched a couple of weeks ago as one of the latest additions to this crowd. OBC president Andy Rhine joined the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast to share how those five brands are looking to build strength in numbers. Rhine explained that OBC's formation wasn't out of necessity even in a Pacific Northwest market facing challenges through distributor consolidation. Instead, the collective's foundation was built via long-time relationships among brewery owners in Bend. And it was those relationships that led to Rhine acquiring Crux in a separate deal from founders Larry Sidor and Paul Evers. Even with a portfolio of five brands and efforts to consolidate production, sales and marketing, Rhine said maintaining each brand's "unique identity" will be key to the future of the collective. The conversation also covered Rhine's view of OBC's future and whether more members will be added to its ranks. Before the interview, Justin and Zoe break down the latest headlines, including the fallout from Dry January, the Brewers Association's 2025 financial results, Tilray's licensing deal with Carlsberg, the Left Hand Collective's newest member and the Supreme Court's ruling on reciprocal tariffs.

Reinventing Home Brewing: How Pinter Is Bringing Draft Beer Home Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

In this Brewbound Podcast Interview, Ray Latif sits down with Paul Benner, U.S. CEO of Pinter, to explore how the company is reinventing the at-home beer experience at a time when traditional home brewing and craft beer growth have slowed. Benner explains how Pinter's all-in-one brewing and tapping system eliminates the biggest barriers to entry — cost, time, space, and inconsistent quality — enabling consumers to make fresh, draft-quality beer at home in just 10–14 days. He also highlights how the brand is tapping into powerful consumer trends around at-home entertaining, DIY hobbies, and direct-to-consumer purchasing.

The conversation also dives into Pinter's strategy of positioning itself as an alternative to packaged beer, supported by partnerships with breweries like Guinness, Lagunitas Brewing Company, and Great Lakes Brewing Company. With a subscription-based model, an expanding portfolio of styles, and a growing roster of brand collaborations, Pinter is building a new platform for enjoying beer at home. To learn more or get started, visit Pinter's website and explore how the system works.

A Supplier's Guide to Middle-Tier Consolidation Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

As the distribution tier continues to shrink, what must brewers and bev-alc brands do to protect their routes to market? ArentFox Schiff partner Nichole Shustack and senior associate Isabelle Cunningham joined the Brewbound Podcast to discuss how suppliers can navigate the turbulence that comes with wholesaler consolidation. Shustack and Cunningham also share updates on the uncertain future of the intoxicating hemp industry, which is slated for prohibition in November 2026. Before the interview, Justin and Zoe discuss a bevy of beer news, including the formation of the Oregon Beverage Alliance, year-end shipments data from the Beer Institute, BrewDog's looming liquidation, Constellation Brands' incoming CEO and global layoffs at Heineken. Editor's Note: While the guests featured in this conversation are attorneys, the discussion does not constitute legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel as needed.

Long Drink Face & Brand Soul: CEO Evan Burns on Winning the US Market Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

How did a drink that was concocted for the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games find relevance in the U.S. today? Finnish Long Drink co-founder and CEO Evan Burns explained on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast how the gin-based ready-to-drink (RTD) brand has connected with modern consumers through sampling, storytelling and authentic celebrity partnerships. Burns shared that first-time Long Drink consumers often get "Long Drink Face" – a range of emotions that start with confusion for what the product is, to surprise after they try it, to ultimately delight. That starts a domino effect with the newfound fan turning their friends and spouses on to the product, Burns said. It also opens them up to the story of the cocktail made from gin, grapefruit juice and water more than half a decade ago for Finland's Olympic moment. During a conversation with Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata, Burns emphasized how the Long Drink has stayed true to its citrus roots and isn't a product to be spun off into 30 flavors. "It's about building brands with soul," he said. Burns also discussed how a celebrity partnership with actor Miles Teller led to other celebrities organically signing on with the brand, how the Long Drink leverages social media and tips for any CPG brands seeking growth.

A Decade of Craft and Community: Inside the 10th Annual New England Craft Brew Summit Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

In this Brewbound Podcast interview, host Jess Infante sits down with Sarah Bryan, Executive Director of the Maine Brewers Guild, to preview the 10th Annual New England Craft Brew Summit, taking place Friday, March 6 in Portland, Maine. The one-day conference, New England's largest B2B gathering for the craft brewing industry, brings together brewers, brewery owners, suppliers, and industry partners for a jam-packed day of education, collaboration, and connection. Bryan describes the summit as a distinctly New England event: independent, no-nonsense, and intentionally designed to deliver maximum value in a short amount of time for busy operators.

Bryan highlights what's new for the milestone year, including an expanded and modernized trade floor, longer educational sessions, and a keynote address from Natalie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Company. Anchored by the theme "The Brewer's Compass: Finding Focus, Crafting with Purpose," the program reflects an increasingly mature craft beer landscape, with advanced sessions covering topics like AI in the brewing workplace, modern PR and earned media, supplier innovation, employee wellness, and navigating today's complex market conditions. Beyond the conference floor, the summit also features a full slate of networking events, brewery collaborations, and celebrations throughout Portland, reinforcing the event's reputation as both a business-critical conference and a cornerstone gathering for the New England beer community. For more information and registration details, visit the New England Craft Brew Summit website.

Monday Night Brewing Founders on Knowing the Right Time to Make a Leadership Change Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Monday Night Brewing co-founder and CEO Jeff Heck had an Office Space moment a couple of years ago after returning from a three-month sabbatical in the South of France. "When I came back, I realized the company was generally doing great," he said, adding he had a moment straight from the movie's famous meeting-of-the-Bobs scene and asked himself: "What is it that you say you do here?" "If you can leave your job for three months and things are generally fine, it's worth asking what would you do here," Heck explained. "I've just never wanted to be the old guy who comes in with a newspaper and puts his feet up on the desk because he's 80 years old and just wants to be at the office. I like working. And I like having something meaningful to do." That moment spawned the beginning of a succession plan for the CEO role, which transferred to Monday Night co-founder Joel Iverson last month. On the latest Brewbound Podcast, Heck and Iverson shared that their eventual succession plan was a reflection of Monday Night leaders' overarching cultural philosophy of working to make their jobs irrelevant and identifying the coworkers next in line to take the reins. "That's true for everyone – from our general managers at each of our six locations to our production team – 'Hey, if someone gets hit by a bus tomorrow, who is it that's ready to step into your role?'" Heck said. "And the answer is not always clear, but if there's not a clear answer, your job is to start working on that. "The reality is that we've never had a concrete, explicit plan for what transition looked like," he continued. "But the core was how do we make sure we're culturally and missionly aligned across our leadership team so that in the event that Joel, Jonathan and I all went down in a plane crash that there would still be torchbearers for what we want to be as a company and a brewery if we're long gone." Getting there took Monday Night 12 years, Heck and Iverson shared. In the episode, they discussed how they eventually arrived at a transition plan, the importance of the culture they're built at the brewery and their vision for the future. Before the interview, Justin, Jess and Zoe discuss the latest bev-alc news, including the re-emergence of hard sodas, the Great American Beer Festival's move outdoors and surprisingly positive scans to open the year.

Minneapolis' Insight Brewing on Supporting a Community in Crisis Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Minneapolis has dominated national headlines for weeks as area residents protest the Department of Homeland Security's heightened crackdown on Minnesota's large immigrant population. Tensions have intensified as agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have killed two American citizens in shootings that have been recorded by observers. Local businesses such as Insight Brewing have taken a stand against ICE's occupation of the city. Insight marketing manager Joey Steinbach joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss how the brewery has stepped up as a community hub by collecting food and other donations to distribute to mutual aid groups, supporting neighbors who participated in last week's general strike and emphasizing its role as a friendly third space. Before the interview, Zoe and Jess discuss recent news, including takeaways from the Beer, Wine & Spirits Summit and a sneak peek at Budweiser's upcoming Super Bowl commercial.

How pFriem Family Brewers and New Trail Win the Home Games Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

How can a craft brewer expect to win away games if they're not winning at home? That's the sports analogy pFriem Family Brewers co-founder and CEO Rudy Kellner used to describe the Hood River, Oregon-based brewery's strategy when it comes to expanding its distribution footprint. This week's Brewbound Podcast highlights a stage conversation from Brewbound Live featuring Kellner and New Trail Brewing (Williamsport, PA) COO and partner Mike LaRosa. Both breweries have secured impressive volume growth within footprints that don't stretch far beyond their neighboring states. Before the featured conversation, Justin – freshly returned from parental leave – and Jess discuss recent headlines, including the return of Dos Equis' Most Interesting Man in the World, and whether or not nostalgia can bring in new beer drinkers.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected