In early 2007, with the American beer industry all a-froth with the yet-to-crest light lager boom, the world’s biggest brewer decided to launch a streaming television channel. Even for mighty Anheuser-Busch — which was near the zenith of its own cultural and corporate power in advance of InBev’s hostile takeover in late 2008 — the project, Bud.TV, was an audacious gamble that verged on “creative…

This episode of The Buildout is brought to you by Farmer’s Gin. Whether you are building a bar, you currently are operating a bar, or you just run a bar at home, you need to have a Martini on your menu — and that Martini deserves Farmer’s Gin. Farmer’s Gin is created by the same amazing people who created Michter’s Bourbon. Every single bar deserves a great gin, and Farmer’s Gin is perfect for…

This episode of Wine 101 is brought to you by Meiomi. Springtime moments deserve to be more than ordinary, from those first few patio dinners to picnics in the park. Paired with Meiomi’s signature velvety texture and layers of dark berry, mocha, and toasted oak — it’s the perfect finish to your spring table. Visit Meiomi.com to find a bottle near you today. Today on “Wine 101,” Keith brings us a…

Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach comment on the fact that while many publications (including VinePair) love to interview bartenders about their favorite places to drink, it’s an open question as to whether that serves as good advice for the drinking public when it comes to whether they should seek those places out. While bartenders might prioritize a relaxed vibe and an…

You might have heard that, apparently, smoking cigarettes is cool again. Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what might be influencing this trend, why the health consequences of smoking might not resonate right now, and how that could impact the alcohol industry.

The article The VinePair Podcast: Wait, Smoking Is Cool Again? appeared first on VinePair.

This episode of The Buildout is brought to you by Farmer’s Gin. It’s brought to you by the same amazing people that brought you Michter’s, and it’s actually the gin that I use at home for my Martinis. It’s clean, crisp, unfussy — perfect for building any kind of Martini that you would like. Farmer’s Gin is made in Idaho at the first organic distillery in the United States. It’s made using…

The human element of wine might just be its most important constituency. Watch on YouTube  Listen Online Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Follow Keith on Instagram @VinePairKeith. Rate and review this podcast wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out there. “Wine 101” was produced, recorded, and edited by yours truly, Keith Beavers, at the VinePair headquarters…

Generations are more or less made up. They’re a social construct, much like “time” and “the rule of law.” That doesn’t mean cultural norms aren’t shifting, and it certainly hasn’t stopped the beverage-alcohol industry from collectively freaking the hell out about it. But from Zoomer to Boomer and beyond, this generation stuff is kinda squishy. Seasons, on the other hand, are pretty real. In the…

This episode of Wine 101 is brought to you by Meiomi. Springtime moments deserve to be more than ordinary, from those first few patio dinners to picnics in the park. Paired with Meiomi’s signature velvety texture and layers of dark berry, mocha, and toasted oak — it’s the perfect finish to your spring table. Visit Meiomi.com to find a bottle near you today. In 18th-century Bordeaux, when members…

In recent years, tequila sales have exploded in the U.S., but mezcal has lagged behind and the spirit still hasn’t yet caught its stride. Yes, mezcal continues to charm bartenders and aficionados, but the popularity of tequila raises the question of whether or not the “other” agave-based spirit will ever enjoy the same limelight. Scaling mezcal has its limitations. Producers rely on wild agave…

Nine months after being named receiver of Uncle Nearest, Inc., Phillip G. Young, Jr., filed a non-binding letter of intent to sell the embattled whiskey brand this past Friday. The filing comes just three days after the case’s presiding judge denied founder Fawn Weaver’s motion to reverse the company’s receivership. Young will potentially hand all assets of the company — with the exception of…

It seemed like it wasn’t a question of if, but when, Voodoo Ranger’s parent company finally caught up to Blue Moon’s on corporate craft volume. And according to one long-running brewing industry magazine, the answer is now. But that answer appears to be wrong. And a miscommunication around New Belgium Brewery’s “total beverage” ambitions may be to blame. Every year around Memorial Day — that…

Beer still reigns as the country’s most consumed alcoholic beverage by volume, according to data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). In 2023 — the most recent year of data available — Americans drank 6.2 billion gallons of beer, a 3 percent dip in total consumption from 2022. Still, the category topped wine (887 million gallons) and spirits (734 million gallons)…

We’re in the age when the line between bar and restaurant is increasingly blurred. Not only do bars now offer stellar food programs and table service — they’re requiring reservations. The reservation climate of the 2020s has been nothing but volatile. Hopefuls wake up early in the morning to refresh Resy, OpenTable, and the like for a chance at snagging a seat and regularly end up disappointed.…

This episode of The Buildout is brought to you by Farmer’s Gin. It’s brought to you by the same amazing people that brought you Michter’s, and it’s actually the gin that I use at home for my Martinis. It’s clean, crisp, unfussy — perfect for building any kind of Martini that you would like. Farmer’s Gin is made in Idaho at the first organic distillery in the United States. It’s made using…

Fifty years ago, the Judgement of Paris played a major role in solidifying the prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon made in the United States. Soon after, a number of factors led American winemakers and consumers to develop a palate for big, jammy, teeth-kicking Cabs — a taste preference that eventually overwhelmed the market. But when sampling hundreds of bottles for this year’s list of the 30 Best…

Bourbon is facing a crisis of global proportions. Its domestic outlook is dim, as sales recede amid consumption declines and a serious oversupply problem. But internationally, the picture is downright bleak: According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, American whiskey exports cratered by 19 percent in 2025, due in large part to declines of 57 percent in Canada, 35 percent in…

While some data does show that people are drinking less, there’s also reason to believe that many people still want to drink. That’s the disconnect that the alcohol industry has been grappling with over the past few years. Players in the game have been grasping at straws to understand why consumers aren’t drinking alcohol as much as they used to, and the decline is generally attributed to…

It’s been nearly three years since Sapporo USA (SUSA) unceremoniously shuttered Anchor Brewing Company, and two almost to the day since the billionaire founder of Chobani, Hamdi Ulukaya, scooped it off the scrap heap with the stated goal of returning the historic firm to its former glory. It has not yet reopened for business. But lately, there are definite signs of life at Potrero Hill’s beloved…

While spending some time in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Zach noticed a cohort of winemakers in the region expanding their sparkling wine footprints. Not only are they trying to promote the quality of Oregon sparkling wine, but they are also trying to instill some stringent production guidelines to design a cohesive identity for the state’s sparkling wine output. As this group of winemakers…

Last week, Pabst Brewing Company announced its plan to discontinue Schlitz, a once-beloved brand known as “the beer that made Milwaukee famous.” Pabst cited rising storage and shipping costs as the reasons for the decision to shut down the historic brand. Wisconsin Brewing Co. — which has brewed Pabst products in the past — will brew the last batch of Schlitz on May 23, Milwaukee Magazine…

Today’s episode of the “VinePair Podcast” is brought to you by Domenica. Domenica Pinot Grigio by Mezzacorona is not just a wine; it’s an invitation to embrace the “Sunday state of mind” any day of the week — a perfect choice to celebrate National Pinot Grigio Day on May 17. This elevated expression of Trentino Pinot Grigio comes from stunning Alpine vineyards nestled in the Dolomites, where the…

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. But then again, they hadn’t yet seen Lytt. Lytt? That’s right: Lytt. Spelled like that and everything. Lytt is the latest product launch from Boston Beer Company (BBC), which really isn’t much of one these days. The firm’s Lytt-erature touts this line as “the newest single-serve beverage to light up the growing ready-to-drink space.” In plain…

A Gallup survey shows the number of Americans who drink alcohol was in consistent decline between 2022 and 2025. Fewer people imbibing directly correlates to a drop in the yearly volume of alcohol the country consumes, and data from 2023 on the country’s drinking habits from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reflects the waning consumption. In 2023 — the most recent…

This episode of The Buildout is brought to you by Farmer’s Gin. It’s brought to you by the same amazing people who brought you Michter’s, and it’s actually the gin that I use at home for my Martinis. It’s clean, crisp, unfussy — perfect for building any kind of Martini that you would like. Farmer’s Gin is made in Idaho at the first organic distillery in the United States. It’s made using…

Avid Napa Cab consumers are likely to know Orin Swift for its labels alone. One is a discolored picture of a man pointing a gun at the consumer. Another features an unnerving photo of broken, worn-down mannequins. However, the marketing expertise of Orin Swift goes well beyond the label design. That’s largely due to the boots-to-the-ground advertising efforts of founder Dave Phinney. Dave…

Last week, employees at Attaboy, one of New York City’s most acclaimed cocktail bars, voted to unionize as Attaboy Local 134. It was a landmark vote: The 13-8 majority marked the first time that employees at a major cocktail bar in NYC successfully formed an independent organization. Multiple attempts in recent years — namely at similarly popular bars Death & Co. and Achilles Heel — have shown…

Earlier this week, Narragansett Beer took to social media with a mea culpa for the generative artificial intelligence (AI) age. It read (all sic throughout): CANNED! we saw the feedback, yall were right. Robots are dumb. ⁠ ⁠ Plz like this so we can beat the bot content and its fancy analytics. The image attached to the post was a deliberately low-fidelity collage showing the “prohibited” symbol…

Mega Purple is an additive grape concentrate primarily used by large-scale wineries and some high-end estates to tint their wines a more luxurious, deep-red hue. Robert Parker’s influence made it conventional for an inky look — attained through the use of Mega Purple, which doesn’t affect flavor — to be the signifier of a prestigious bottle. But as light-style — either the result of thin-skinned…

This episode of The Buildout is brought to you by Farmer’s Gin. Whether you are building a bar, you currently are operating a bar, or you just run a bar at home, you need to have a Martini on your menu — and that Martini deserves Farmer’s Gin. Farmer’s Gin is created by the same amazing people who created Michter’s Bourbon. Every single bar deserves a great gin, and Farmer’s Gin is perfect for…