3 Ways For Breweries to Stay Engaged in the Absence of a Wave

When it comes to beer industry podcasts, I usually steer clear of history that looks backward. My wheelhouse is the present, and especially the future. So when I saw a recent episode of John Holl’s Drink Beer, Think Beer titled, “Talking 30 Years of Allagash Brewing With Rob Tod” I hesitated, but ultimately love the company too much, so I gave it a listen. Instead of a victory lap or brewery lore, I got something far more urgent.

When host John Holl asked if he’d been reflecting on the early days, Rob didn’t hesitate: “…as you’re aware, and anyone that follows the craft beer business or even beer business is aware, it’s [a] challenging landscape right now, and I think everyone really needs to be just very engaged and in tune with everything that’s going on. It’s all hands on deck time.”

Rob’s warning hit like a flare. It got me thinking about the quiet cracks forming in every corner of the craft beer business: from taprooms that have lost their spark, to distributor relationships on autopilot, and flagships fading into the background. I dug in and mapped out three blind spots that are draining momentum right now and the practical fixes that can turn still water into forward motion.