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United We Drink
With years of experience under their belts Mike and Kevin discuss the beer industries highs, lows and everywhere in between.
Total 101 episodes
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129 - Shootin' the Shit with Neil Witte

129 - Shootin' the Shit with Neil Witte

Neil Witte has literally written the book (or manual) on draft beer. Between his years at Boulevard/Duvel to the Cicerone Program and his own company, Craft Quality Solutions he knows how to design and manage proper draft systems. The guys welcome Neil on to talk about beer education, proper draft systems and his appearance on Bar Rescue. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
02:03:0314/11/2024
128 - Tim's Mistakes

128 - Tim's Mistakes

After missing the last episode, Tim is back to talk about his mistakes in the beer world. Take a break from alcohol with Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:48:0931/10/2024
127 - Mistakes

127 - Mistakes

We can often times sound like we are sitting on a high horse of perfection in the industry but the truth is that everyone makes mistakes. Mike and Kevin dive into some of those they have made over their careers. Take a break from alcohol with Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:29:3617/10/2024
126 - Shootin' the Shit with Luis Brignoni

126 - Shootin' the Shit with Luis Brignoni

Luis Brignoni founded one of the original Miami breweries at Wynwood Brewing. Today Luis is the CEO for The Tank Brewing, also in Miami. How did this come to be? Listen to his crazy journey. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:25:4803/10/2024
125 - THC Beverages

125 - THC Beverages

As the Beyond Beer segment of adult beverages continues to climb a surprising entry into the game has been seeing some significant leaps. THC beverages (seltzer, tonics, sodas, etc) have been catching people's interest in states that allow them and they are seeing impressive sales. The guys discuss this segment and how high they see them going. Take a break from alcohol with Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:38:1319/09/2024
124 - Shootin' the Shit with Kelly McKnight and Matty Smooth

124 - Shootin' the Shit with Kelly McKnight and Matty Smooth

New Belgium has found ways to reinvent itself time and time again in an every changing beer market. Kelly McKnight and Matty Gilliland (aka Matty Smooth) have been integral parts to those changes. Kelly and Matty join the show to talk about R&D brewing, stories behind some of the brands that went up to full production and you get the first glimpse at the future (pending) Kelly McKnight Show. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
02:19:4722/08/2024
123 - Shootin' the Shit with Spencer Wills

123 - Shootin' the Shit with Spencer Wills

Spencer Wills, Head Brewer at Sceptre Brewing Arts, joins the show to talk about being a former Florida brewer, his struggles with mental health and bad brewery owners to finding a place in the industry. It's a great conversation filled with fun and a bit of shade. Cook like a pro with Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
02:28:4508/08/2024
122 - All the Rules Out the Window

122 - All the Rules Out the Window

Prepare for a wild ride as Mike takes Kevin and Tim to task on their beer knowledge with BREW YOU KNOW! Then after the wheels come off that ride the guys talk about the news. Take a break from alcohol with Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:46:1125/07/2024
121 - Shootin' the Shit with Joel Suarez

121 - Shootin' the Shit with Joel Suarez

Joel Suarez, of Niche Brands NYC, is a kid from the Bronx with a dream. His love for craft beer may only be exceeded by his love of community and the people that make them. We talk with Joel about his rise through the beer world and how it became important to him to work with breweries, bars, restaurants and drinkers that look beyond the standard white dudes with beards image in the industry. Get coffee delivered to your door with Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:47:3811/07/2024
120 - Sustainability

120 - Sustainability

The beer industry contributes, both directly and indirectly, to a lot of environmental issues that we often overlook. Some of these things aren't accounted for because of the sheer cost of implementation while others might be pure ignorance. The guys look into some of the things the brewing world isn't doing from a sustainability standpoint and what they can do, even if it's small. Take a break from alcohol with Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:31:1220/06/2024
119 - Craft Beer is the New Balance of Alcohol

119 - Craft Beer is the New Balance of Alcohol

The Brewers Association provided a state of the industry at the Craft Brewers Conference that included the grim news that 2024 has reported more brewery closures than openings for the first time. The guys digest this news and talk about some other perceptions of the industry almost half way through the year. Get coffee delivered to your door with Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:22:1506/06/2024
118 - More Horror Stories

118 - More Horror Stories

The show has covered horror stories working in the brewery and dealing with customers but today's episode takes a different direction to frustrating stories. The guys talk about dealing with vendors, solicitors and other folks that think they should be doing business with breweries. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:18:1123/05/2024
117 - Events

117 - Events

There was a time when you could find beer related events going on almost every day of the week at local bars and restaurants. A tap takeover here. A pint night there. Today those events seem almost extinct. The guys talk about these events, why they don't seem to happen anymore and if there is room for beer events in the market anymore. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:13:4409/05/2024
116 - Pay

116 - Pay

Pay for brewery employees has been a subject talked about in circles for years. In comparison to similar trade and manual labor jobs many brewery salaries don't match up. High overhead, low margins and poor market portrayal (affordable luxury) have been reasons given for why breweries can't provide higher wages. The guys tackle this subject. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
02:00:0025/04/2024
115 - Grab Bag

115 - Grab Bag

Grab bag time! The guys talk about a variety of topics including hefeweizens, branding and Cigar City. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:26:4411/04/2024
114 - Beer Awards

114 - Beer Awards

Tim Johnson joins the podcast as a new co-host and the guys talk about beer awards. Do they actually mean anything? Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:17:2521/03/2024
113 - Why

113 - Why

The word "why" can begin a lot of questions in relation to the beer industry. Mike and Kevin propose a number of these questions to each other to see what they think is the right answer. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:11:2207/03/2024
112 - Taprooms

112 - Taprooms

Taprooms, or tasting rooms to some, have evolved considerably over the last decade for breweries. A spot that was once considered, by many, to be a place to introduce people to their beer that can then be bought out in the market have turned into full scale bars and restaurants with the goal of keeping people coming back and spending. Mike and Kevin dive into own premise and taprooms and what they have become. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:18:5522/02/2024
111 - Catching Up with Tim Johnson

111 - Catching Up with Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson returns to the show to talk about his move from the beer industry to the spirits industry. He discusses the similarities and differences in an adjacent adult beverage field. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:36:0708/02/2024
110 - Pricing

110 - Pricing

Kevin tells the story of a voicemail he received from someone upset about his beer's availability and price. The guys talk about what goes into pricing of beer once the consumer sees it in a retails store. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:11:0525/01/2024
109 - Craft Brewers Conference

109 - Craft Brewers Conference

The Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) is an annual conference put on by the Brewers Association filled with educational seminars, an expo hall and lots of beer. It has seemed over the years that the core reasons for the conference have been lost and instead have turned into a yearly vacation for brewery personnel to get drunk in a new city. Mike and Kevin discuss this on today's new episode. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:00:3811/01/2024
108 - Distribution Revisited

108 - Distribution Revisited

The last time the show specifically talked about distribution the world hadn't fallen apart yet from Covid. A lot has changed with the middle tier since then. Mike and Kevin talk about what it's like being a distributing brewery in 2023. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:22:2214/12/2023
107 - Does Quality Sell?

107 - Does Quality Sell?

Does quality matter when it comes to sales? Do good quality beers outsell bad ones? Do consumers notice? Mike and Kevin discuss on today's episode. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
59:5230/11/2023
106 - Friction Points

106 - Friction Points

Friction points pop up to almost any business. They slow down how things are run and grow. Breweries are no different. Mike and Kevin talk about some of the most common friction points in the beer biz and different ways you can approach them. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:09:0816/11/2023
105 - Regulations

105 - Regulations

Breweries face a lot of different regulation bodies, on the federal and state level. Many brewers will say there is too much restrictions while others say there is not enough. Mike and Kevin dive into this topic and see if maybe it's really somewhere right in the middle. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:15:0202/11/2023
104 - A Chat with Dustin Jeffers

104 - A Chat with Dustin Jeffers

Dustin Jeffers has gone from working in breweries to working with breweries. He talks to Mike and Kevin about his transition from brewery to working for Next Glass, the parent company of Untappd, and what it has done for him. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:30:4819/10/2023
103 - Where Did All the Seasonals Go?

103 - Where Did All the Seasonals Go?

Over the years the tradition of season beers has changed a lot. Some have gone away while others have changed with no emphasis on the actual climate of the season. Mike and Kevin discuss this on today's episode. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:09:3905/10/2023
102 - Old Market Nostalgia

102 - Old Market Nostalgia

In the early days of craft Mike & Kevin would peruse the shelves of our locals stores and find brands from breweries like Avery, Great Divide, North Coast and more making up the majority of the space. Today many of these brands of old don't exist anymore or aren't distributed in these necks of the woods. The guys get nostalgic and talk about the love of many of these beers and what they meant to them. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:21:4821/09/2023
101 - Have Beer, Will Travel

101 - Have Beer, Will Travel

A lot of people travel with beverages and food in mind. Going to wine country, the Bourbon Trail and Oktoberfest are all popular trips. Mike and Kevin talk about their travels centered around adult beverages and how they planned them plus how they tackle these things now with families. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:09:0707/09/2023
100 - The 100th One

100 - The 100th One

100 episodes! Mike and Kevin make it a pretty open format and discuss many things completely unrelated to beer and the beverage industry. Life, art and the MCU are just some of the things they get into. Thanks for the last 4 years! Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:15:0424/08/2023
099 - A Chat with Ralph Reneau

099 - A Chat with Ralph Reneau

Ralph Reneau is the head brewer of Barrel of Monks Brewing and a true student of the game. Ralph joins the show to talk about recipe development including reformulating existing beers while trying to maintain some connection to the past. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:19:2810/08/2023
098 - We Were Wrong

098 - We Were Wrong

Mike and Kevin have made a lot of claims and predictions over the years. Sometimes they are right and other times they are wrong. Maybe wrong more than right. They decide to look at some of the times they were wrong and what changed their minds. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:16:5727/07/2023
097 - Catching Up with Joel Kodner

097 - Catching Up with Joel Kodner

Friend and former co-host Joel Kodner joins Mike and Kevin to talk about what life has been like since leaving the show and leaving the beer industry. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:24:0913/07/2023
096 - NA Beer

096 - NA Beer

Non-alcoholic beer has had a substantial rise in sales and popularity over the last couple years with a large segment of drinkers becoming more conscious of their health. But NA beer has a lot to overcome including a stigma of bad taste, expensive equipment to make it and small market shares. The guys talk about what they think of modern NA beers and how much growth they think it could see. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:13:5429/06/2023
095 - The Death of Craft

095 - The Death of Craft

Over the last few months some big beer companies have sold off craft acquisitions they previously made while some legacy brands have sold to newer, younger companies. What does this mean for the craft segment and industry. Is it the death of craft in the making. The guys discuss. United We Drink loves Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
59:3615/06/2023
094 - A Chat with Craig Thorn

094 - A Chat with Craig Thorn

Craig Thorn is the creator of the BAOS Podcast in Canada where he talks about beer and other shit. Get it? Mike and Kevin welcome Craig on to talk about the Canadian beer scene, hip hop and his strange love for the Sunshine State. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:24:2901/06/2023
093 - Who Are We Selling Beer To?

093 - Who Are We Selling Beer To?

With a beer market that has become saturated and stagnant many are asking "Who is our target market?" Things aren't easy with competition from ready to drink (RTDs) cocktails, seltzer, hard juices and spirits themselves. Mike and Kevin discuss where breweries are looking to in order to grow sales. United We Drink loves Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:05:4018/05/2023
092 - Does Local Matter?

092 - Does Local Matter?

The terms craft beer and local have been synonymous with each other since craft became a thing but what exactly does it mean? And does local really matter int he scheme of things with customers? The guys talk about that. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:02:3504/05/2023
091 - Catching Up with Phil Palmisano

091 - Catching Up with Phil Palmisano

Our friend and former co-host Phil Palmisano from Canarchy stops by to catch up with us in the year plus since he left the show. We talk about his position within the company plus what he is seeing in the market, sales wise. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:23:5720/04/2023
090 - Activism

090 - Activism

Over the last number of years businesses have started to become more open about making statements in regards to social and political issues. Breweries are amongst them. Mike and Kevin discuss breweries taking activist roles in their social media and core values. United We Drink loves Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:03:5006/04/2023
089 - Social Media

089 - Social Media

Social media is an unavoidable avenue in marketing. The guys talk about how important it is not just for the delivery of the brand's message but if it is necessary for the collection of information about the trends and news of the industry. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:21:2124/03/2023
088 - A Chat with Sam Phanor of Savage Lyfe Beer Co

088 - A Chat with Sam Phanor of Savage Lyfe Beer Co

Sam Phanor has had quite a journey in starting Savage Lyfe Beer Co. He served 2 tours of Iraq, worked in law enforcement and created a non-profit raising money for survivors of human trafficking. Now he is focused on creating all barrel aged beers in South Florida. Listen to our conversation with Sam and his love of community and giving back. Get coffee delivered to your door with Trade. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:11:1809/03/2023
087 - Who's an Authority?

087 - Who's an Authority?

Everyone seemingly wants to be a critic. When you have Yelp, Untappd, Google and a plethora of blogs almost anyone can play an authority of a specific thing. Mike and Kevin discuss this and who really should hold weight on ratings. United We Drink loves Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:16:3723/02/2023
086 - Besides Beer

086 - Besides Beer

The show is called United We Drink not United We Drink Beer so Mike and Kevin decided to talk about adult beverages that they enjoy outside of beer. The guys talk whiskey, tequila, wine and seltzer and offer up what they see going on in those segments. United We Drink loves Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:19:1609/02/2023
085 - A Chat with Tommy Kelley

085 - A Chat with Tommy Kelley

Tommy Kelley has worked for Free State Brewing, in Lawrence, KS, for his entire brewing career. He started as a busser in the brewpub and over 17 years has worked his way through the ranks to being Head Pub Brewer today. Tommy talks about the storied history of Free State, his own struggles with mental health in the industry and the art of being a beer judge. United We Drink loves Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:35:4126/01/2023
084 - A Chat with Bobby Bump

084 - A Chat with Bobby Bump

Bobby Bump brewed beer for over a decade in 3 different states and 1 district. Today he is a stay at home parent and sober. We talk to Bobby about the toll the brewing industry took on him, his battles with addiction and his motivation to get clean and have a better life. United We Drink loves Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:44:2012/01/2023
Holiday Break

Holiday Break

We are taking a break from new episodes during the holiday. Thank you once again to everyone that donated on the Charity Fundraiser. Enjoy your holidays!
01:3219/12/2022
083 - Adjuncts

083 - Adjuncts

For years the guys have made off hand comments about adjuncts in beer but they have never devoted any time to the controversial subject. On this episode Mike and Kevin dive into the culture in beer that Kevin is only slightly responsible for. United We Drink loves Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:08:1408/12/2022
082 - Private Labeling

082 - Private Labeling

Have you ever walked into a bar, restaurant or hotel and see a beer that appears branded towards them? A brewery makes that beer. Sometimes it's made just for that place while other times it is a rebrand of an existing beer. Kevin and Mike talk about the practice of private labeling in the beer industry. United We Drink loves Athletic Brewing. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:14:4823/11/2022
081 - Branding

081 - Branding

A good brewery needs good branding. That means a company name, logo, beer names, label design. It's all important. Mike and Kevin dive into the branding in the beer world and what they think is important with it. United We Drink loves Made In Cookware. Follow United We Drink on their social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
01:17:4010/11/2022