RTDs appeal to consumers wanting flavor, variety and quality – all areas craft breweries can operate in as well, according to Rhinegeist VP of sales, Marc Venegoni.

In a webinar this week hosted by 3 Tier Beverages, Venegoni highlighted what consumers, especially the youngest LDAs, are seeking when making bev-alc purchases, and how Rhinegeist is addressing those needs, with a craft brewery twist.

Insiders are reading all the details in today’s Brewbound Insider Newsletter and on Brebwound.com, as well as learning about:

• The auctioning off of Smuttynose’s production equipment;
• Flavor and on-premise trends within the RTD segment;
• Who will kick off Brewbound Live 2025 this December as the keynote speaker;
• The return of the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer in Chicago;
• And how Crowns & Hops is capping off its Creature Comforts residency.

Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content.

Become a Brewbound Insider today!

Or, be in the know on all food and beverage news from Brewbound, BevNET and NOSH with Insider All Access.

NBWA's 88th Annual Convention & Trade Show (Oct. 12-15 in Las Vegas) is where beer and beverage professionals discover the products, technology and ideas that will define the industry's future. It's not too late to book your spot and set your company up for success! Learn more

RTDs remain one of the hottest segments in bev-alc, seemingly avoiding the quick rise and fall of the former new kid in town, hard seltzer (for now). Even the previously formidable FMB segment is starting to see the impact of consumers moving away to the more premium, typically spirits-based offerings. 

In an attempt to appeal to the next generation of drinkers, many beer companies have expanded their portfolios to include RTDs. But adding another SKU to an already crowded segment – dominated by some of the largest bev-alc companies in the world – isn’t necessarily the answer to capturing (or recapturing) those consumers and occasions, according to Rhinegeist VP of sales, Marc Venegoni.

“They're ambitious, they're curious,” Venegoni said during a webinar last week, hosted by data and consulting firm 3 Tier Beverages.

“They're not truly beer enthusiasts, maybe like I was in my early 20s when craft was just on the rise. But we think a lot of it's because they don't understand it.”

Insiders can read more, including craft flavor and style trends from 3 Tier Beverages, and how Rhinegeist is addressing Gen Z demands with its beer portfolio. 

An auction of the production equipment at Smuttynose Brewery (Hampton, NH) is set to open October 8, according to a New Mill Capital listing.

The facility was decommissioned for large scale production in January with the formation of Barrel One Collective, the New England-centric craft rollup formed through the merger of Smuttynose’s parent coming FinestKind Brewing and Harpoon’s parent company Mass. Bay Brewing. Smuttynose's on-site restaurant is unaffected. 

Insiders can read more about the building’s future and Barrel One Collective’s vast own-premise network. 

Highland Brewing owner, president and CEO Leah Wong Ashburn will give the keynote address at the Brewbound Live business conference in Los Angeles this December.

Wong Ashburn will share her story as a 2nd-generation brewery owner, guiding her Asheville, NC-based craft brewery through the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and building for the future.

The brewery served as a community gathering space in the wake of the natural disaster, and Highland has raised thousands of dollars to support local hospitality workers.

Wong Ashburn’s late father, Oscar Wong, founded the brewery in 1994, before craft breweries flocked to the region. For his prescience, Wong is affectionately known as the “Godfather of Asheville Craft Beer.”

Brewbound Live will take place December 10 and 11 at the Marina del Rey Marriott.

Tickets are available now for the 2-day gathering of founders, entrepreneurs, sales leaders, marketers, c-suite executives, retailers, distributors and suppliers from across the industry. The event will include on-stage conversations with industry leaders, networking and pre-arranged 1:1 conversations with retailers and distributors.

Check out other speakers and register here.

Growth is slowing down for spirits-based RTDs, but gains in the on-premise and emerging flavor categories hint at opportunities, according to bev-alc consulting and data firm 3 Tier Beverages.

Spirits-RTD growth peaked in 2020, with dollar sales growth of more than 150% in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels (total U.S. xAOC plus liquor plus convenience), 3 Tier Beverages consultant Erin McVickers shared in a webinar last month. Growth then progressively slowed, but the segment was still able to more than double sales from 2021 (nearly $1.53 billion) to 2024 (nearly $3.19 billion).

Insiders can read more here.

AleSmith is celebrating its 30th anniversary with momentum behind new products – in and out of beer – and a growing contract brewing business. 

In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, AleSmith president Brandon Richards shares how the San Diego craft brewery has evolved to meet drinkers’ needs with new products while fortifying its business by brewing for others. 

Richards explains how the Party Tricks IPA line and addition of Sun Path fruited lager line have driven growth for the company. AleSmith is also expanding its flagship Speedway Stout brand with its first spirit-based offering with Speedway Espresso Martini, and adding a 2nd spirit-based RTD line with Hoptails, a hard hop water cocktail.

Richards also gives insights into what AleSmith is looking for in a contract partner, what he believes the brewery offers its clients and how much volume the company has earmarked for co-packing in 2026. AleSmith expects to double its contract volume in 2025, with plans for more in 2026.

Before the interview, the Brewbound team breaks down the biggest industry headlines, including Charlie Sheen’s NA beer, Molson Coors’ new CEO, investors’ lawsuit against Island Brands and Boston Beer’s winning pick for The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.

Craving more? 👉 See what Insider members get access to.

Have feedback? 📝 Take the Survey Now >>

Want to share news or tips? ✉️ Submit a press release or reach out to news@brewbound.com.

Interested in other beverage coverage? 👀 Check out the BevNET Daily Briefing covering the broader beverage industry, including energy drinks, cannabis and other non-alcoholic beverages. Want to stick to the hard stuff? Subscribe to our Spirits Newsletter (published every 2 weeks). 

We'll be back in your inbox Monday.