Brewbound Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) and hard seltzers have had a bright red 2025, but those declines haven't fazed Mark Anthony Brands, which continues to find growth in the segments where others have faltered. 

In this episode of the Brewbound Podcast, Mark Anthony Brands president David Barnett details how the bev-alc company is "doing better than most" in today's challenged marketplace. He spoke about the company's highlights with Brewbound editor Justin Kendall, in a conversation recorded at the National Beer Wholesalers Association's (NBWA's) Annual Convention in Las Vegas. 

"We, in 2025, are the No. 2 dollar share gainer of all of beer," Barnett said. "If you look at the top 30 beer brands in America, which represent 81% of the total beer industry, there's only nine of them that are actually growing dollars, and we have three of the nine: White Claw, [Mike's] Harder and Cayman Jack."

Barnett said the company doesn't necessarily make business decisions based on overall segments trends or what's happening in scans, but instead focuses on how to strengthen its own portfolio and lineup of brands. 

That includes White Claw Hard Seltzer, which now has 67% share of the hard seltzer segment, according to Barnett. Mark Anthony has been able to maintain a dominant share of hard seltzer, and even bring consumers back to White Claw who may have drifted away, due to "the quality of the product in the can," he said. 

"And staying really consistent," he added. "We've done some innovation over the years, some have worked, some haven't, but we've got ourselves now in a really … simple focused portfolio strategy on White Claw." 

Ahead of the conversation, Brewbound senior reporter Zoe Licata chats with BevNET managing editor Marty Caballero about the latest hemp news, and how an advancing spending bill could put a halt to the intoxicating hemp beverage industry.

California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) board of directors member Alicia Barr (5050 Brewing Co.) and former director Peter Hoey (Urban Roots Brewery) join the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the state of craft beer in California, the country's largest craft market, in advance of the CCBA's annual California Craft Beer Summit next week in Sacramento.

The Brewbound team discusses recent headlines, including Pontoon Brewing's split from Bevana as part of its Chapter 11 filing, Karben4's bankruptcy filing and JuneShine's proposed acquisition of Flying Embers. Plus, it's Women's History Month and Zoe and Jess have thoughts.

With a flood of news over the last couple of days, the Brewbound team breaks down the latest stories, including the Teamsters and Anheuser-Busch InBev reaching a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract, Boston Beer Company's CEO succession plan, and PepsiCo's Blue Cloud Distribution pivoting from wholesaler to brand licensor.