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Incoming Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson joined the Brewbound Podcast this week to share how he’s approaching the new role with the trade group. 

Watson, the BA’s VP of strategy and membership, was named as the successor to long-time leader Bob Pease, who will retire on January 3. Watson will take the post representing small and independent craft brewers on January 6. 

On the podcast, Watson explains how the trade group will be “ruthlessly member centric” moving forward and serve as a problem-solving organization.

He also discusses how his leadership style may differ from Pease, the benefits of having a front-row-seat over the last 12 years, his approach to the BA’s “big tent” membership and who gets in that tent, and the biggest opportunity ahead for the trade group.

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform. 

In the latest Brewbound Insider-exclusive quarterly report, CGA – the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ – gives an update on how bars and restaurants are fairing through the end of the year, and expectations for 2025.

Insiders can dive into the full report here.

Brewbound Live recaps are on tap for the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye out for video replays of the panels and presentations from our business conference hitting your inboxes through the end of the year. 

Plus, as we say farewell to 2024, we’ll be sharing the 10 most listened to episodes of the Brewbound Podcast, as well as the 10 most read stories on Brewbound.com. 

The Brewbound team is officially off for Christmas Day, so no newsletter Wednesday. Otherwise, we’ll be here to keep you informed on any breaking news, data dives and other industry happenings. Happy holidays!

There was no rest for the conference-weary last week. While the Brewbound team tried to recover from Brewbound Live, the beer industry news cycle showed no signs of letting up.

One of the biggest stories was the appointment of Brewers Association (BA) VP of strategy and membership Bart Watson to the role of president and CEO, which long-time leader Bob Pease will vacate on January 3. Watson, who spent more than a decade as the BA’s chief economist, steps into the top job at the nation’s largest trade group for small and independent breweries on January 6. 

Another long-awaited headline was the release of one of two major studies on alcohol consumption and health as part of the 2025 review of Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published a 230-page report on its examination of eight questions with regard to alcohol and health. 

NASEM examined existing scientific studies and found no clear link between “moderate alcohol consumption” (daily consumption between zero and two drinks of 14 grams of alcohol) and “all-cause mortality.” 

However, the study did find that moderate consumption was associated with a higher risk of breast cancer when compared to abstinence. 

On the East Coast, a beloved legacy Massachusetts craft brand will live on, as Norwood-headquartered Castle Island Brewing has acquired the intellectual property of Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC). CBC shuttered its pub in Cambridge’s Kendall Square neighborhood last week. 

Castle Island plans to focus on maintaining production of Cambridge Amber and Flower Child IPA for distribution to start. Both beers and other CBC offerings will be available in Castle Island’s taprooms next year. Justin spoke with Castle Island founder Adam Romanow, and Insiders can get all the details. 

Data and insights news for Brewbound Insiders last week:

• Brewers Association Predicts 2025: Draft, Differentiation, Adaptation and More Closures (AKA Bart’s farewell to data);
• Consumers Starting to Explore RTDs in the On-Premise
• Circana: Craft’s Slowing Decline Hits a Snag; Growth Brands Fail to Accelerate Gains;
• Circana Weekly Scans: All Categories in ‘Expected Post-Holiday Retracement' (newsletter exclusive).

Other headlines on Brewbound.com last week:

• California Craft Brewers Association Picks Kelsey McQuaid-Craig as Next Executive Director;
• Diageo Reportedly Exploring Selling Formerly Diddy-Backed Cîroc Vodka
• Patco Brands, Producer of Rancho La Gloria, Invests in California Bottler
• Brewbound Podcast: Brewers Association Picks a New CEO, A Brewbound Live Recap & the 2024 Person of the Year.

Insiders can read these stories and more on Brewbound.com. 

Plus, check out the news in GIFs, courtesy of weekend newsletter writer Sean McNulty.

Make more informed decisions with exclusive industry reports and insights. We partner with leading data providers to cover a variety of critical topics impacting beer and beverage-alcohol brands. Check out this recent report in partnership with CGA for an on-premise beer and beyond beer update.

Become an Insider to access past and future reports.