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Beer In Front

Beer In Front

By: Dave Zalatoris
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About this listen

 I'm Dave, a regular Chicago Beer Guy with a podcast about some old school beers and new classics. Sometimes the Beer In Front of you is the best one yet!

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Episodes
  • 287 The Business Of Beer

    287 The Business Of Beer
    Jan 20 2026
    Data, Dollars, and the Business of Beer (feat. Matt Gacioch, Brewers Association)
    Host: Dave Zalatoris
    Network: Beer Media Group

    Craft beer isn’t just passion projects and taproom vibes — it’s big business. On Episode 287 of Beer In Front, Dave digs into the numbers, trends, and realities shaping today’s beer industry with Matt Gacioch, staff economist at the Brewers Association. From rising costs and tighter margins to non-alcoholic growth and why January is brutal for breweries, this episode takes a clear-eyed look at where craft beer stands in 2026 — and where it’s headed.

    What You’ll Hear in This Episode The State of Craft Beer in 2026
    • Why craft beer has shifted from “If you build it, they will come” to a Moneyball-style, data-driven industry
    • What a “maturing market” actually means for breweries
    • Why neighborhood taprooms and hospitality matter more than ever
    Costs, Tariffs, and Tight Margins
    • How aluminum, equipment tariffs, and inflation are squeezing breweries
    • Why many breweries can’t raise prices without losing customers
    • The looming impact of 10-year lease renewals from the 2010s boom
    Closures vs. Openings: Context Matters
    • Why more closures than openings sounds scarier than it really is
    • The difference between individual brewery pain and industry-wide health
    • Why shuttered brewery spaces are staying empty longer
    What Business Models Are Working
    • Why hyper-local, hospitality-focused breweries are holding up better
    • How large regional craft breweries benefit from economies of scale
    • Why distribution is harder — but not impossible — for new entrants
    Non-Alcoholic & Low-ABV Beer Growth
    • Why NA beer still has major runway
    • The importance of occasion-based drinking
    • How local breweries making NA versions of flagship beers could push the category forward
    The Rise of the 19.2oz Stovepipe
    • Why high-ABV stovepipes make sense in today’s economy
    • Gen Z drinking myths vs. what the data actually shows
    Surviving Dry January
    • Why January is always the toughest month for breweries
    • Programming, community, and creativity as survival tools
    • Why breweries need to offer more than “just beer” in winter
    Reasons for Optimism
    • Craft beer’s role as a social connector
    • Why community still wins — even in uncertain times
    • Why beer isn’t a fad, and never has been
    🍻 Beers Featured on the Show Beer In Front (NA Edition)
    • NA Ninja vs. Unicorn – Pipeworks Brewing Company
      A standout non-alcoholic double IPA with real body, foam, and bitterness — proof that NA beer keeps getting better.
    Additional Beer Review
    • Turbo Reaper IPA – Three Floyds Brewing
      A West Coast-leaning IPA with bold can art, solid hop character, and easy availability (yes, even at Target).
    📰 Beer & Beverage News Highlights
    • Dos Equis brings back The Most Interesting Man in the World
    • Goose Island announces a new barrel-aged stout
    • Ska Brewing enters the low-dose THC beverage space
    • Dogfish Head collaborates with Survivor on a new IPA
    • American Airlines adds Athletic Brewing NA beer to flights
    • Sierra Nevada doubles down on sustainability
    • Alarmist Brewing announces closure — a tough loss for Chicago beer
    Brewers Association



    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support.

    Beer Media Group
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    44 mins
  • 286 Peggy Returns!

    286 Peggy Returns!
    Jan 14 2026
    Episode 286 of Beer In Front covers a lot of ground, blending beer news, personal updates, product reviews, and a deeper look at the non-alcoholic beer category. Dave Zalatoris opens the show with a Dry January check-in, sharing progress so far—down 4.4 pounds thanks to more water, NA beers, and watching calories. While the scale is moving in the right direction, better sleep hasn’t followed yet, proving Dry January isn’t a cure-all, but it’s still paying off. The episode then dives into beer and beverage news from around the country. Highlights include Kishwaukee Brewing’s elderberry ale made with berries grown at McHenry County College, Goat Patch Brewing reopening the former Pikes Peak Brewing location, and several Denver-area events, including a Belgian beer documentary screening at Bruz Beers. Dave also shares excitement over Great Lakes Brewing expanding their Irish beer lineup, Troegs bringing back Nugget Nectar, Lakefront Brewery’s “My Turn” blueberry peach lager, and Firestone Walker celebrating 30 years with anniversary releases and a refreshed mix pack. A major segment of the episode focuses on the rise of non-alcoholic beer, with a history and perspective on Athletic Brewing Company. Founded in 2017 by Bill Shufelt and brewer John Walker, Athletic helped redefine the NA category by limiting alcohol creation during brewing instead of stripping it out later. Dave explains how Athletic became the dominant NA brand, why their early success mattered, and why drinkers shouldn’t overlook other breweries now producing excellent non-alcoholic options. Later, Peggy returns to review a THC beverage from Wynk, the Black Cherry Fizz. With zero calories, zero sugar, and a balanced 5mg THC / 5mg CBD dose, it earns a strong recommendation as an approachable alcohol alternative. Dave wraps things up with a non-alcoholic beer review of Sierra Nevada’s Trail Pass Hazy IPA—big, dank aroma up front, but solid citrus and fruit flavor in the glass.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support.

    Beer Media Group
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    19 mins
  • 285 Happy New Year

    285 Happy New Year
    Jan 5 2026
    Dry January Doesn’t Mean Ditching Your Local Brewery Happy New Year! I kick off 2026 with a Dry January check-in and a reminder that taking a break from alcohol doesn’t mean abandoning your favorite breweries — especially during one of the toughest months of the year. I'll share smart, simple ways to support breweries without drinking, including buying merch and gift cards, ordering NA beers or hop waters, showing up for events, grabbing food, leaving reviews, and being the designated driver for friends. The episode also touches on the most unexpected beer news of the week: the Pop-Tarts Bowl, complete with beer and pastry pairings. Plus, I went down a tech rabbit hole after testing ChatGPT’s ability to generate a Midwest-style hazy IPA recipe — raising the question of whether AI should ever play a role in brewing. 🍻 Beer Reviews
    • Sierra Nevada Trail Pass Golden (NA) – Looks the part but falls flat on flavor.
    • Central Waters Rift IPA – A well-balanced, flavorful IPA with great hop character and a clean finish.
    As always, I'll wrap things up by encouraging listeners to keep showing up for local breweries — pint or no pint. Sometimes the beer in front of you is the best one yet.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support.

    Beer Media Group
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
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