Episode 16: Brian Crawford, Beer Institute

Non-alcoholic beer has begun to make its mark in the industry. Does it have a future in (beer) politics?

"The good news for beer is beer is a non-partisan issue." So proclaims this week's podcast guest, Brian Crawford, President and CEO of The Beer Institute, a Washington DC based trade association representing the interests of the industry primarily at the federal level. In our conversation we talk about the growth of non-alcoholic beer, including how BI views the category as a nascent one within the overall industry, with health habits and drinking preferences quickly evolving. We then dive into the hemp-derived beverage market, which has really taken off since the 2018 Farm Bill, with Brian giving his thoughts on it from the POV of the beer industry at large. Lastly, we talk about some of the Beer Institute's legislative priorities, which include a new program aimed at making draft beer more accessible by providing tax credits to all those who serve it. We close out our discussion with Brian sharing some great info on how people can get involved in advocating for beer in all its forms with their local representatives.

Mentioned in this episode:
The Beer Institute