Taplines

In this engaging discussion, Maureen Ogle, a historian and author known for her expertise in American beer history, joins the conversation to look towards the future of the beer industry. They discuss how consumer behavior and e-commerce will reshape distribution in the coming decades. Ogle examines the impact of alcohol regulations and the rise of THC-infused beverages. Corporate influence and antitrust laws also take the spotlight as they explore the balance of power within the industry, reflecting on challenges and opportunities for small and family-owned breweries.

Journalist Charlie Warzel joins the show today for a wide-ranging, cross-discipline episode to discuss how the GamerGate style of extremely online grievance politics has become the dominant format for conservative backlash today, why it works so well, and why companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev — with all the resources in the world and a decade to learn how to brace against bad-faith attacks — keep falling for it. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Esquivel, co-founder of Four Corners Brewing Company in Dallas, shares his remarkable journey navigating the brewing industry. He reveals the highs and lows of selling his brewery to Constellation and spending five years in a corporate environment. Esquivel candidly discusses the complexities of maintaining brand identity amid corporate dynamics and the thrill of reclaiming independence in 2023. With insights on the craft beer landscape, he emphasizes the importance of community, authenticity, and strategic branding in achieving success.

Kimberly Clements, co-founder and managing partner of Pints LLC, joins Taplines today to talk about Anheuser-Busch's introduction of a little beer called Michelob Ultra, which August Busch III personally tapped her family's Arizona distributorship to help test out in 2002 in advance of a national release. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Thompson, a veteran of the drinks industry and founder of Independent Beverage Group, shares his insights on the evolution of beer distribution. He recounts the transformation of Coors’ and Miller’s networks into the Molson Coors powerhouse. Topics include the challenges faced by middle-tier distributors against giants like Anheuser-Busch, the impact of franchise laws, and the rise of craft beers. Joe also discusses the historic significance of distributor relationships and the philanthropic contributions of this crucial sector.

Steve Luke, founder and head brewer of Seattle’s Cloudburst Brewing, joins Taplines today for a freewheeling conversation about an iconic moment — arguably, the iconic moment — of the 2018 Great American Beer Festival, which he single-handedly engineered both literally and figuratively with the help of a DIY t-shirt that read “F*CK AB-INBEV” across the front. There’s a backstory there, more so than the standard David vs. Goliath dynamic that was popular to describe the relationship between craft brewers and macro brewers last decade. Tune in for the full scoop, as told by the man himself. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Taplines, we're going cross-category with our pond-crossing pal from Cocktail College: VinePair's managing editor, Tim McKirdy. Tune in for a genre-breaking conversation about how the hard seltzer boom gave way to a bust that cleared the board for Twisted Tea’s decades-in-the-making moment in the sun — and paved the runway that vodka-based interloper and VinePair Next Wave 2024 Rising Drinks Brand of the Year finalist Surfside is currently speeding down. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re putting our normal Taplines format on the shelf today for a very special reunion episode of sorts with journalists Kate Bernot of Sightlines, and Jess Infante of Brewbound, to talk about two turning points in the national suds saga. Some of you listening may know the three of us as the Beer Byliners, the name of a Twitter Space (man, remember those?!) that we hosted in the early days of the pandemic. Well, we’re getting the gang back together today, and you’re coming with. Stay tuned for a chat about the unveiling of the Brewers Association’s Ozymandian “20% by 2020” mantra, the dark side of Cleveland’s infamous, Stroh's-fueled 10-Cent Beer Night catastrophe, and much more. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Taplines, meet Annie Johnson. She’s a longtime homebrewer, the self-avowed Queen of Beer, and an old source of mine from way back. Annie has been brewing her own beer since the mid-’90s, and winning first-place ribbons for ‘em nearly as long. The woman has enough these days to make a damn cape out of ‘em — and she did. We talked about that, and so much more. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Keith Villa, the visionary behind Blue Moon, and Mitch Steele, co-founder of New Realm Brewing Co., as they navigate the tension between craft brewers and giant corporations like Anheuser-Busch. They discuss innovative strategies that tackled the rise of microbrews, the collaborative spirit in brewing, and the evolution of the Michelob brand. Mitch shares insights from his time on a skunkworks R&D team, aiming to impress distributors and satisfy beer lovers alike, revealing the delicate balance between creativity and market demands.