Brewbound revealed the winners of its 2024 awards during the Brewbound Live business conference this week in Marina del Rey, California.

This week’s Brewbound Podcast features interviews with three of those award winners:

• The 2024 Craft Brewery of the Year, Coronado Brewing Company;
• The 2024 Large Brewery of the Year, Narragansett Beer;
• And the 2024 Beyond Beer Company of the Year, Surfside.

Coronado co-founder Rick Chapman discusses how Weekend Vibes IPA was the catalyst for spurring the San Diego brewery’s growth.

Narragansett Beer owner Mark Hellendrung shares how the Rhode Island legacy brand reversed fortunes and is now producing over 100,000 barrels. 

And Surfside co-founder and CEO Clem Pappas breaks down the growth of the canned cocktail brand, which was the fastest growing spirits brand in the U.S. in 2024.

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.

Allagash Brewing is returning to Colorado for the first time in almost 20 years.

The Portland, Maine-headquartered, Belgian-inspired brewery will have statewide distribution through Elite Brands. 

When it launches in Colorado, Allagash’s available portfolio will include 12 oz. can 6-packs and kegs of flagship Allagash White, 12 oz. bottle 6-packs of Tripel, 12 oz. bottle 4-packs of Curieux, and 12 oz. 6-pack cans of the brand’s seasonal family (Surf House, Haunted House and Ski House).

Insiders can read more about Allagash’s recent expansion efforts, the brewery’s famously tight distribution footprint, and its recent honor from Fast Company.

Hollywood’s cannabis king is pouring up something new.

Houseplant, the Los Angeles-based cannabis and lifestyle brand co-founded by actor and producer Seth Rogen, is moving into beverages with the U.S. launch of a four-SKU line of hemp-derived THC-infused flavored sparkling waters, available now in select markets and online.

Rogen said in a statement: “Not every situation is right for smoking, and not everyone wants to smoke. Houseplant beverages offer an approachable dose that’s perfect for those trying THC for the first time and for regular consumers like me who will love having a delicious, low-calorie, drinkable option. It’s sparkling water with THC in it - everybody loves a Houseplant.”

Rogen’s involvement as a “well-established THC category authority” distinguishes Houseplant’s drinks within an increasingly crowded field of THC beverage options, Houseplant co-founder and CEO Michael Mohr told Brewbound’s sibling publication BevNET.

Insiders can read more, including why Houseplant is a “measure eight times, cut once, kind of group.”

Brewbound unveiled the trade publication’s 2024 industry Award Winners and Rising Stars today during the 2024 Brewbound Live business conference in Marina del Rey, California. 

The Brewbound Awards serve as an appreciation of industry members, trend setters, breakout brands, change agents and up-and-coming entrepreneurs, celebrating their achievements in the last year.

Winners of the 11th annual Brewbound Awards include: 

Craft Brewery of the Year: Coronado Brewing Company

Large Brewery of the Year: Narragansett Beer 

Beyond Beer Company of the Year: Surfside

Person of the Year: Leah Wong Ashburn, president of Highland Brewing

Cause of the Year: The Michael James Jackson Foundation For Brewing & Distilling 

Beer Champion of the Year: The Brewers Guild of New Jersey 

New Product of the Year: Brooklyn Brewery’s Fonio Rising 

Rising Stars

• Carbliss
• Montclair Brewery
• New Trail Brewing
• Pinthouse Pizza 
• Prost Brewing
• The Finnish Long Drink
• Topa Topa
• Urban South

Read more about this year’s winners.