CL-100 Kate Bernot Keeps It Twisted
What were you drinking in the early 2000s? When we look back on trends and data, there\u2019s a good chance it was a flavored malt beverage along the lines of Zima, Mike\u2019s Hard Lemonade, or the star of today\u2019s story: Twisted Tea from Boston Beer Company.\xa0\xa0
In her exuberant and extremely thorough piece titled \u201cSpill It \u2014 Twisted Tea\u2019s Unpredictable, Unparalleled 21-Year Success Story\u201d journalist Kate Bernot unpacks everything there is to know about the cult favorite: its experimental origins, its shockingly consistent sales numbers, and the brand\u2019s plans for future expansion in order to bring the gospel of boozy tea nationwide. Not that it needs to sell itself too hard\u2014Kate describes Twisted Tea\u2019s unusually fervent consumers, who\u2019ve remained loyal for two decades and are showing no signs of straying.\xa0
In today\u2019s conversation, we share stories about our own experiences with the brand and how craft beer\u2019s tunnel vision can sometimes make us unaware of successes outside our own spheres. She also shares some of her insight into the when, where, why, and how of Twisted Tea\u2019s origin\u2014and wonders why it\u2019s so hard to get the full story from its creators. If there\u2019s one thing to take away from our discussion, it\u2019s to have an open mind when it comes to what you drink. You may be surprised at what you\u2019re missing.