159. Bart Watson, President & CEO of the Brewers Association, on the Mature Craft Beer Market, Co... скачать в хорошем качестве

159. Bart Watson, President & CEO of the Brewers Association, on the Mature Craft Beer Market, Co...

Craft beer transformed American tastes—so how does the industry stay relevant in a crowded, flavor-filled beverage market? How can associations support their members during a time of economic uncertainty and competition from larger players? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association. Bart discusses: • How the Brewers Association represents over 5,000 small and independent craft brewers across the U.S. • The evolving landscape of the craft beer industry as it enters a mature, stable phase • The impact of competing beverage innovations like hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and THC beverages on market share and consumer attention. • The recent spin-off of the American Homebrewers Association and how both organizations benefit from their independence. • The importance of renewed consumer education to engage new generations and promote local craft breweries. • Why the Brewers Association continues to invest in consumer-facing platforms like CraftBeer.com and large-scale events like the Great American Beer Festival. • How the association is rethinking its convention (Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®) to focus more on business acumen, total beverage strategies, and meaningful networking. • The significant challenges small brewers face with supply chain inflation, especially with aluminum and barley, and the association’s advocacy work on tariffs. • Why gathering and analyzing data is a key member benefit, and how it helps level the playing field for smaller breweries. • The role of local breweries in community life, especially during events like Oktoberfest, and how fresh hop beers are a seasonal must-try. References: • Brewers Association Website (https://www.brewersassociation.org/) • Great American Beer Festival (https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival...) • CraftBeer.com (http://craftbeer.com) • Episode 131 with Julia Herz (https://www.matrixgroup.net/associati...)