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Looking for a niche podcast in the beverage alcohol industry? The Beverage Information Group Insider podcast ”On & Off” looks at the U.S. and global alcohol industries, with a focus on retail trends and best practices. We speak with business leaders in retail, branding and marketing to keep a pulse on the state of the alcohol industry. Download or subscribe to our podcast to remain current in the business of booze.
81 Episodes
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While the beer industry has been going through a rough patch in recent years, there are some bright spots. In this episode we talk with Master Cicerone Neil Witte, a consultant to the Beer Institute, on what to look for this year, from lighter lagers and flavored brews to small packaging and an increase in no- and low-alcohol beer.
With the alcohol industry facing plenty of challenges this year, we turn to food & beverage lawyer Oren Bitan, a partner at Buchalter in Los Angeles, for insight on the biggest issues. Our discussion covers everything from tariffs and cannabis beverages to consumers cutting back on alcohol and the outlook for celebrity beverage endorsements in 2026.
What’s going to be hot for 2026? We discuss with the folks at af&co. and Carbonate, the agencies behind the 18th annual Hospitality Trends Report. Tune in to hear why modern Mexican mixology is the drink trend of the year, what wine varietals people will be looking for, the tropical flavor that will be popping up in cocktails, and why we’re excited that Minneapolis is the food city of the year for 2026.
What is the impact of AI in the beverage alcohol industry? For answers, we talk with Ryan Malkin, Principal Attorney at Malkin Law, which specializes in the beverage alcohol industry. Malkin also discusses the recent changes in the hemp-derived THC drinks business and what the future holds there.
What is the future of THC drinks, after the U.S. government scheduled the hemp loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill to close on Nov 13, 2026? For answers, we speak with Xander Shepherd, co-founder of the THC beverage brand Artet.
Aurum Maui, a new restaurant from Destination Hospitality Group, weaves sustainability into every detail of the bar and beverage program, from repurposing citrus peels and fruit offcuts to composting and using reusable or compostable straws. In this episode Aurum Maui’s bar manager Ryan Dunton shares some of the restaurant’s sustainable practices.
In this episode, we’re joined by David Mandell, co-founder and CEO of Whiskey House of Kentucky, a new, state-of-the-art sourcing house in Elizabethtown, KY, about 30 minutes west of Bardstown. David discusses the state of sourced whiskey, industry technology, and the whiskey market in general.
We’re joined by Dan Kleinman, Chief Brand Officer at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, to discuss one of the biggest trends in 2025: zebra striping, or swapping back and forth between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages while drinking. What generations are leading this behavior? What does it say about the future of nonalc vs. alc drinking?
In this episode, we interview Sadr Amir, CEO of Downtown Spirits and Esquin Wine & Spirits in Seattle, Washington. These two off-premise brands remain at the forefront of industry trends. Amir discusses the importance of tech and date, experiences and events, the latest alcohol trends, and the scale and nature of the ongoing industry correction.
Ian Blessing and his wife Carly recently opened All The Bitter, a comprehensive zero-proof tasting lounge in Chico, CA. In this episode Ian shares the story of how they went from former French Laundry sommeliers to launching a cocktail bitters brand to opening the no-proof bar/bottle shop, along with some general NA trends and recommendations.
In this episode, we’re joined by Quinton Jay, founder and owner of Bacchus Wine & Spirits, a Top 100 Retailer based in Millbrae, CA. Bacchus is a leader in the beverage alcohol retail industry in terms of using data and analytics to shape successful business strategies.
There’s a lot to love about rum, but many consumers don’t understand all that the storied cane spirit has to offer. We chat with rum expert Chase Lanier, beverage manager at The Bamboo Room Tiki Bar in Savannah, GA, about some of his favorite brands and styles, popular cocktails and what he’s been doing to get guests into the spirit.
We interview the first government ganjier, Joe Audette, who's certified position is the legal cannabis equivalent of a sommelier. Audette is also Alcohol Retail Operations Manager for the City of Elk River, which is a control jurisdiction in Minnesota. He bridges the gap between legal alcohol and cannabis, representing the future of the THC industry. Tune in to hear his unique, insightful thoughts on the current state of legal cannabis! (We also hear briefly from Starr Sorheim, City of Elk River Senior Communications Coordinator.)
The popularity of Asian culture, flavors and cuisine stands to boost interest in sake, but what exactly is this ancient Japanese beverage? How do you serve it and what do you pair it with? We pose these questions and more to “Sake Samurai” Tim Sullivan, the director of education for the Sake Studies Center at the American craft sake brewery Brooklyn Kura.
In this episode we discuss The Good Pour, a Central Florida-based beverage alcohol retailer with philanthropy in the DNA of everything they do. Joining us is Carly Hollowell, VP of Marketing of The Good Pour, who also talks about how the retailer has succeeded on social media through savvy modern strategies.
What alcohol trends drove growth for wine and spirits in the past year? For answers, we interviewed Marina Velez, research director for our sister company, The Beverage Information Group. Especially during a difficult time for the alcohol industry, recognizing these winning trends is extremely important.
In this episode, we talk industry trends and data with David Jackson, Chief Operating Officer for the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. Also known as NABCA, this is the official organization representing the 18 states and jurisdictions that operate with a government control model. Major topics include the continued rise of RTDs and THC drinks, which categories are in decline, and whether the alcohol industry is currently in a correction or something deeper and more worrisome.
Beer has faced no shortage of headwinds in recent times, from changing consumer tastes to global tariffs. What does all that mean for the industry moving forward? For answers, we spoke with Kris Sjolander, Vice President Brand Development at United States Beverage (USB). USB is a leading independent beverage company in the U.S., specializing in imported and U.S. craft beer, ciders, and specialty beverages.
Unfortunately, U.S. craft distillers once again face the economic threat of global tariffs and trade wars. What exactly does this mean for the industry? We discuss with Becky Harris, Past President of the American Craft Spirits Association, and president of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company in Purcellville, VA.
Asian flavors may be a top beverage trend for 2025, but Ashley Castillo, food and beverage director of the Westin Atlanta Gwinnett hotel, was ahead of the curve on this one. She joins us in this episode to talk about what she learned from a year spent in Asia and how she has been translating that to the hotel's beverage program, as well as the drinks her guests are enjoying now and general trends she's seeing.
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