Julie Rhodes

Jul 8, 2024 | porchdrinking.com | Julie Rhodes

Times are tough for craft beer. Once the darling of the tap walls and shelf sets, double-digit sales growth and taprooms springing up on every street corner like that green and white coffee giant. Things seemed like good times would never end, but every party has a pooper, and 2024 is looking like one of the most brutal years so far for craft brewery brands since 2020. Yes, breweries are still opening, but many are closing their doors for good.

Jun 11, 2024 | porchdrinking.com | Julie Rhodes

Craft beer has always been a staple of local communities, serving as a gathering point for people to share stories over a pint. The sense of belonging and support from local patrons fueled the growth of craft beer during its peak years. However, there’s a significant opportunity yet to be fully realized—the untapped potential of Black consumers and brewers in the craft beer industry.

May 7, 2024 | porchdrinking.com | Julie Rhodes |Bart Watson

With more curves than a Bart Watson data chart, the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas did not disappoint for the 9,000-plus attendees who braved the lights and sounds of The Venetian Expo Center and cacophony of Phish fans pouring into The Sphere. (Talk about fantastic people watching!) The conference provided a sanctuary for industry professionals to discuss the myriad challenges and emerging opportunities within the craft brewing world.

Apr 1, 2024 | porchdrinking.com | Julie Rhodes

Earlier this month, two US Congressmen introduced H.R. 7577, the Creating Hospitality Economic Enhancement for Restaurants and Servers (CHEERS) Act, designed to invigorate and further support local hospitality businesses, like bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, by providing tax incentives to organizations that invest in upgrades for their draft beer systems.

Mar 8, 2024 | porchdrinking.com | Julie Rhodes

“Where’s your bomber section?” — said no Millennial or Gen Z craft beer shopper ever in the past 4 years. So is the once revered 22-ounce craft beer bomber dead? In short, not really. Most consumers can find plenty of high-end, special release large format bottles from a multitude of brewers on shelves nationwide. But the format of choice, and one of the fastest growing package segments in the alcoholic beverage space, is now the 19.2-ounce single serve can, a.k.a. the stovepipe.