Barrel-Aged Bliss: 3 Beers That Will Shock Your Taste Buds

Plus: State by State: The Craft Brewing Powerhouses You Need to Know. Michelle Lam on Merging AI with Public Relations: What You Need to Know

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Beverige Chronicles, your front row seat to the
stories behind the SIPs. I'm your host, Gary Monterros, bringing
you the latest in craft beer and occasionally fine wines,
creative cocktails, and everything in between. Whether you're a seasoned
connoisseur or just curious about what's pouring, We've got something

(00:26):
for your taste. Let's raise a glass and dive in.
And let's start today with a little bit of news
from the Brewers Association, and they report that California, probably
no surprise to you, is still at the forefront of
craft brewing in the United States, having the most craft

(00:47):
breweries and the highest production volume.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Now.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
The Brewers Association reported that California boasts nine hundred and
sixty one craft breweries, placing it at the top nationally.
The state also excels in production, with close to four
million barrels of craft beer made in twenty twenty four,
showcasing its strong role in the national craft beer scene.

(01:16):
The Brewers Association yearly stats indicate that craft beer maintains
a loyal and enthusiastic consumer base. As breweries look to diversify,
many are discovering growth opportunities in the hospitality industry and
by offering more than just traditional beer. The Brewers Association

(01:37):
is dedicated to ensuring that all brewers have access to
a free market and the tools they need to adapt
to consumer preferences and evolving market trends, stated Julian Schrego,
chairman of the California craft Brewers Association. Besides leading in production,

(01:59):
californiascas craft breweries significantly boost the economy, contributing over eight
billion dollars to the state. These breweries not only create
tens of thousands of jobs, but also act as community
gathering spots, uniting people from various backgrounds. We take pride

(02:19):
in being the national leader in craft beer once again
and in driving economic growth in communities throughout California, remarked
Kelsey McQuaid craig, the executive director of the California craft
Brewers Association. Additionally, several California breweries have been recognized among

(02:40):
the top fifty craft brewers in the US, highlighting the
state's dynamic and impactful brewing culture. And perhaps you're wondering
who some of the top craft brewing companies in fact are,
and I'll give you a listing of a few in
the top three. For example, number three is Sierra Nevada
Brewing Company out of Chico, California. Number two craft brewing

(03:05):
company would be Boston Beer Now they make Sam Adams
and they're out of Boston, Massachusetts. And number one is DG,
Yangling and Sun out of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. So again there's
the number one, two, and three craft brewing companies. Now,
if you're wondering about overall brewing companies, I can give

(03:27):
you the and give you the top ten, and number
ten is Boston Beer Company. Number nine is Fifth Co
Fifco USA out of Rochester, New York. Number eight is
Kieran Lyon from Fort Collins, Colorado. Number seven DG, Yangling

(03:48):
and Sun Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Six is The Audio out of Norwalk, Connecticut.
Five is Paps Brewing Company based in Los Angeles. Number
four is Heineken USA from White Plains, New York. The
third overall brewing company top brewing companies Constellation from Chicago.

(04:09):
Number two Molson Cores from Chicago, and number one, to
no surprise, I'm sure, is Anheuser Busch based in Saint Louis, Missouri.
I also want to tell you about a couple of
beers that I want to recommend you. First, I want
to talk about something called barrel aging, which is not
a new concept for brewers, and it's clear why. The

(04:34):
time a beer spends in a barrel brings a level
of complexity and flavor that can't be replicated otherwise. While
whiskey or bourbon barrels are often the go to, aging
beer in barrels that once held wine introduces an entirely
new layer of flavor. And I'm going to share three

(04:55):
specific ones that I highly recommend. And the first is
Interlude by Aligash Brewing. Now portion of this award winning
Belgian style ale is aged in red wine barrels, which
lend to a plum character with an almost tannic like finish.

(05:16):
Next this Sunset Saison from Harpoon Brewery. Now, this beer
gets a slightly tart and mild sweetness from the time
aged in Savignon blanc barrels. The beer has a taste
of peach, orange peel, sour dough and Belgian spice. And
next is Cloaking Device from Brooklyn Brewery. Now, this is

(05:40):
a porter in which brewers opted to age in French
oak red wine barrels for nine months. It's a very
limited release beer that has notes that are earthy with
hints of vanilla and cacao. It's clear to me that
brewers will continue to explore the world of wine barrel

(06:01):
aging and push limits. And next, let's welcome my co
host to the show, and that is Michelle Lamb, who
is the founder and CEO of Brooklyn Night Media. She
is a savvy public relations and marketing specialist who knows
how to turn a great product into a must have brand.

(06:24):
From launching campaigns to crafting compelling stories. Michelle's behind the
scenes work helps beverages make headlines and build loyal followings.
So let's tap into her insights and learn what it
takes to stand out in a crowded market. Here's Michelle Lamb.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
Welcome back to Beverage Chronicles, where we pour the stories
behind the spirits. I'm Michelle Lamb, and today we're diving
into something close to my heart public relations trends that
are reshaping the beverage world in twenty twenty five. Whether
you're a small BACHETERI stiller, a family owned winery, or

(07:07):
a global spirits brand, Understanding how to tell your story
is just as important as crafting what's inside the bottle.
So let's pop the cork on the top PR trends
you need to know, and I'll be breaking down three
key takeaways from each so you can apply them right

(07:27):
away to your own brand strategy. Popular topic, AI powered
PR and content creation. The first one AI tools now
assist Just remember assist and guide with press release writing,

(07:48):
media outreach and sentiment tracking, so it serves as more
of an inspiration. Number two saves time on app sure,
but you still have to check your work, which allows
more time for strategy and creative thinking. Again, please please

(08:10):
check your work, brainstorm with your team and also collaborate
with the right people for content. And then finally use
with human oversight just to reinforce the last bullet. AI
adds value but doesn't replace intuition. Okay, now that is

(08:36):
the wrap up for today's Beverage Chronicle spotlights on one
of the top p ON trends helping beverage brands build
buzz and loyalty. Whether you're a startup, discillary or an
established label looking to stay relevant, embracing this trend can
set you apart in a saturated market. So if you
need support bringing your brand story to life, visit us

(08:58):
at www dot Brooklynnemedia dot com or reach out directly
at Michelle at Brooklynnightemedia dot com. And don't forget to
follow us on Instagram at m l B K L
y N I T E M E DAA for behind
the scenes insights, even highlights and pr tips that keep

(09:20):
your brand on top of mind. I'm Michelle Lamb and
once again thank you for tuning in and always keep
pouring and purpose with Beating and Story.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
Because we cover virtually everything dealing with drinks, I'm going
to pass this news story along to you. As you know,
grocery recalls are becoming more frequent and according to the
compliance firm Trace one, the number of food recalls issued
by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of

(09:58):
Agriculture increased by fifteen percent from twenty twenty to twenty
twenty four. Food recalls can occur for various reasons, including
accidental contamination of ingredients and sanitation issues at manufacturing facilities. Recently,

(10:19):
there was an upgraded recall concerning a doctor Pepper product
that you might have in your refrigerator. About a month ago,
the FDA and Doctor Pepper announced an initial voluntary recall
for over nineteen thousand cans of Doctor Pepper Zero Sugar.
What prompted the recall well was discovered that the supposedly

(10:43):
sugar free soda actually contained the same amount of sugar
as regular Doctor Pepper and this poses a potential risk
for individuals sensitive to sugar, particularly those with diabetes. And
in early June, the FDA elevated the recall to a
Class two status, which indicates a quote situation in which

(11:05):
the use of or exposure to a violative product may
cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where
the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote end
of quote. The recall encompasses over nineteen thousand cans packaged
in twelve or twenty four pack cases of twelve fluid

(11:28):
ounce cans that were distributed in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Each case has a best by date of February sixteen,
twenty twenty six. A few weeks ago, Coca Cola also
issued a voluntary recall of Topo Chico mineral water across
five states due to concerns regarding potential bacterial contamination that

(11:51):
could be fatal for individuals with compromised immune systems. This
recall affected five states Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas,
where the product was available in forty different costco locations.
One of the most prestigious beer competitions in the country

(12:14):
is the World Beer Cup, which was held in May
in Indianapolis, Indiana. Now that this competition is open to
breweries all around the world in many, many different categories
that originally started I would say about promised thirty years
ago in the mid nineties and for our friends in Tennessee.

(12:36):
A number of breweries won awards and let's recognize them.
Five Wits Brewing Company at Chattanooga took a gold medal.
Gatlinburg Brewing won a gold Half Batch Brewing took a bronze.
I think they did a Scottish style ale. Gatlinburg, by
the way, did a Schwarzbier, and I should mention that
five Wits won for their German style Dunkle. Liison and

(13:00):
Smith took a bronze for a golden or blonde category
for its beer. Orange Hat Brewing Company one of bronze
for an Irish style red that's one of my favorite
styles of beer. By the way, Peaceful Side Brewery took
a gold in the International light Logger category, Schultz brou
Brewing in Knoxville one of bronze for its rye beer

(13:24):
category in the rye beer category, I should say, and
wise Acre Brewing in Memphis took a bronze in the
German style Martsten. So congratulations to those winning companies. And
that's it for this week's episode of Beverage Chronicle. So
on behalf of Michelle Lamb and myself, we want to

(13:47):
thank you for joining us. Beverage Chronicles is a weekly
fifteen minute show which is heard on several radio stations
as well as virtually all the top podcast platforms such
as My Goodness, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Player FM and so on
and so forth. And we're really happy that you people

(14:07):
seem to be enjoying the show as much as we
enjoy producing it for you. And in upcoming weeks we're
going to be welcoming back our beer expert, and it's
Rachel Benkowski. Rachel's based in Arizona. She's a historian and
she provides a very interesting slant to the world of
Beer and Robin Shreeves will be back. Robin is our

(14:28):
wine reviewer, so we're looking forward to hearing from Robin
wants you to remember that our website is www. Beverage
Chronicles dot com. You can contact us and you can
also find us on some social media platforms. Beverage Chronicles
has a Facebook page. All right, that's it for this week. Everyone,

(14:51):
have a good one. We will see you next time
with another episode of Beverage Chronicles.