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kbernot.bsky.social
Kate Bernot
@kbernot.bsky.social
2K followers 410 following 360 posts
Food and beverage reporter

Lead analyst at sightlines.news

Bylines in The Washington Post, Craft Beer & Brewing, Bon Appetit, Imbibe, elsewhere

@nagbw.bsky.social’s Writer of the Year 2025

📍Missoula, MT
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Kate Bernot
nagbw.bsky.social
The first 2025 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant story is live:
“Michigan Hops: The Women Behind the Bines” by Brenda Marshall on CraftBeer.com

Thanks to Hollie Stephens, Beth Demmon, @kbernot.bsky.social, Adam Dulye & @allagashbrewing.bsky.social for the support!

#beerwriting #diversityinbeer
Michigan Hops: The Women Behind the Bines
Explore the stories of the women driving Michigan's hop industry, from field to greenhouse to lab, and defining what makes Michigan hops special.
www.craftbeer.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
jayasaxena.com
For @bloomberg.com, I wrote the legal loophole around THC the government just closed, and what it means for the Four Loko of THC drinks www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Weed Drinks That Get You Very, Very High Could Be Gone Soon
Cannabis beverages with up to 100mg of THC are increasingly popular. A ban on hemp is threatening their survival.
www.bloomberg.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
dinfontay.com
NEW: ~50 beer/wine/spirits wholesalers have sent Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders a letter calling on them "to oppose efforts to close the so-called 'hemp loophole' through any spending package or Farm Bill." This is the biggest move yet on THC drinks' behalf from the middle tier.
November 5th, 2025 Honorable Michael Johnson Speaker United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Honorable John Thune Majority Leader United States Senate Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Hakeem Jeffries Minority Leader United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader United States Senate Washington, DC 20515 Dear Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer On behalf of beer, wine, and spirits wholesalers across the United States, we respectfully urge Congress to avoid language that would create a prohibition on intoxicating hemp consumable products. Instead, we offer our support to help Congress effectively regulate and tax these products like alcohol. We applaud the 2018 Farm Bill for unlocking new opportunities for American farmers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and wholesalers, like ourselves. Many of us are 3rd, 4th, and even 5th-generation American family businesses that have responsibly sold alcohol since the repeal of prohibition with the 21st Amendment in 1933. Our collective operations represent over $13 Billion in revenue, 20,000 employees, and span 26 States. As demand for alcohol has shifted downwards in recent years, hemp products have created jobs, driven new investment, and helped us meet changing consumer demand. If prohibition is enacted, that demand will not disappear—it will simply move into unregulated channels, undermining both public health, safety and legitimate businesses. The debate on hemp derived products is very analogous to the debate our forefathers endured at the beginning of the 20th Century. The 18th Amendment banned alcohol in 1919, but the ensuing 14 years of prohibition only created a thriving illicit market and a significant number of bad actors. Our forefathers realized the only way to eliminate these bad actors was to establish a robust regulatory framework where each State was given the authority to regulate produc… We fully appreciate concerns regarding product integrity, underage access, and public safety. We offer nearly 100 years’ experience of safely bringing regulated beverages to market and keeping illicit products out. Adulterated and illicit alcohol is not an issue in America thanks to strong state-based regulations, trade practice rules, and laws that support wholesaler independence. With a century of alcohol experience, we welcome the opportunity to help educate Congress on how best to regulate intoxicating consumable hemp products. We respectfully urge you to oppose efforts to close the so-called “hemp loophole” through any spending package or Farm Bill. Instead, we urge you to work with our industry to create comprehensive rules that protect communities, ensure product safety, and give responsible companies the certainty we need to operate safely and successfully. We stand ready to partner with you in this process. Thank you for your consideration. A.B. Beverage Company Inc Georgia, South Carolina Bill’s Distributing Wisconsin Eagle Rock Distributing Company Colorado, Georgia Adams Beverages Alabama, North Carolina Budweiser of Spartanburg, Inc. South Carolina F.E.B. Distributing Co., Inc. Mississippi Ajax Turner Company Tennessee Burke Distributing Corporation Massachusetts Frank Beer Distributors, La Crosse Beverage, Beer Capitol Distributing & Frank Liquor Co. Wisconsin Allied Beverage Group, LLC New Jersey C&C Distributors, Inc. Rhode Island Gasko & Meyer, Inc. New York Atlanta Beverage Company Georgia C.J.W., Inc. Wisconsin Girardi Distributors LLC Massachusetts Atlantic Beverage Distributors Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut Capital City Beverages, Inc. Mississippi Great Bay Distributors, Inc. Florida Atlas Distributing, Inc. Massachusetts Champion Brands, Inc Florida, Georgia Gulf Distributing Holdings, LLC Alabama, Florida, Mississippi B&B Distributors South Carolina Chesapeake Beverage Maryland Hand Family Companies California, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee Bernie Little Distributors Florida Colorado Craft Distributors Colorado Hoffman Beverage Virginia Best Brands Tennessee Commercial Distributing Company, Inc. Massachusetts Kay Distributing Wisconsin Beverage South (GA/SC) Georgia, South Carolina Craft Collective Homegrown Massachusetts, Rhode Island Kentucky Eagle, Inc Kentucky Bibb Distributing Company Georgia Dahlheimer Beverage Minnesota Konrad Beverage Company New Jersey LaGrange Grocery Company Georgia Shore Point Distributing, Inc. New Jersey Lee Beverage of Wisconsin LLC Wisconsin Southern Crown Partners LLC Georgia, South Carolina Martignetti Beverage Company LLC, DBA Quality Beverage Massachusetts Stein Distributing Company Inc Idaho, Oregon Merrimack Valley Distributing Company Inc. Massachusetts Try-It Distributing Co., Inc. New York Mitchell Distributing Mississippi Uncorked Louisiana North Florida Sales Florida United Distributors, Inc. Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi P. A. Short Distributing Company, INC. Virginia Virginia Beverage Company Virginia R.H. Barringer Distributing Co., Inc. / American Premium Beverage, Inc. North Carolina Romano Beverage Illinois Sarene Craft Beer Distributors Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut Sheehan Family Companies Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Virginia, Kentucky
November 5, 2025 at 6:53 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
Good morning Seattle!
A photo of a yellow and blue sign that reads “Washington Craft Beer Summit”
November 3, 2025 at 2:49 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
Bon Appetite has a big THC package out this week and I’m thrilled to contribute two drinks pieces!

First up: What are weed drinks doing to change the perception of THC socially?

www.bonappetit.com/story/the-fu...
The Future of Weed Is Liquid
Weed's true breakthrough won't come from smoking, vaping, or even eating, but from beverages analogous to booze.
www.bonappetit.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
douglasmack.bsky.social
I am here to reveal the truth about pumpkin spice lattes, by way of *deep* archival research (and 3,600 words)

snackstack.net/2025/10/21/t...
The curious, contentious history of pumpkin spice lattes
Starbucks didn’t invent them. But it’s possible that Tori Amos or a Midwest grandma did.
snackstack.net
October 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
I have two bev-alc stories in the latest issue of NACS Magazine! First up: how c-stores can merchandise the so-called "fourth category" of RTDs, FMBs, flavored wines, malt-based cocktails, etc.

www.nacsmagazine.com/Issues/Octob...
Merchandising Beverage-Alcohol’s White-Hot Fourth Category
The #1 trusted source of information for decision makers in the convenience industry.
www.nacsmagazine.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
College papers forever ✊
gabriellehecht.bsky.social Gabrielle Hecht 🇵🇷 ❤️😈🐇 @gabriellehecht.bsky.social · Oct 18
Purdue to the rescue of IU student newspaper, whose institution was attempting censorship. Details in alt!
Sara Whitmer • • • 1h • 8 I'm sure many of you have heard by now that earlier this week, IU k*lled the print edition of its student paper, the IDS. The issue that was supposed to print this week contained criticism of the Whitten regime and IUs further slide into scist control, and they couldn't allow that to happen during Homecoming, when all the rich alumni are in town. Enter Purdue! The Purdue student paper, The Exponent, owns its own presses. Yesterday, in an act of tremendous solidarity with their biggest rival school, they printed the forbidden issue of the IDS. They then drove it to Bloomington overnight and stocked all of the IDS boxes on campus, just in time for Homecoming. Solidarity is what makes us stronger, and solidarity will be what ultimately allows us to triumph, if we can ever truly get it together. I hope everyone has a fun, safe day if they're going out today, and I hope we can think about what acts of solidarity we can begin taking to really make this movement MOVE - beyond a permitted expression of upset into more active resistance. 75 12 comments
October 18, 2025 at 10:25 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
From Missoula today 💌
A man holds a poster of the Chicago flag with the words “SENDING LOVE” at the No Kings rally
October 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
It was an honor to win Writer of the Year at the @nagbw.bsky.social annual awards yesterday.

With entries from around the world, this year’s winners represent the breadth and depth of what beer means in society. Congratulations to all the other winners! reportersnotebook.org/uncategorize...
North American Guild of Beer Writers Announces 2025 Awards Winners, Honoring the Best in Beer Media
The North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) held its 11th annual awards ceremony October 12, celebrating the best in beer media. This year’s awards were generously sponsored by Athletic Brewin…
reportersnotebook.org
October 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
roguenoaa.altgov.info
“NOAA is taxpayer-funded, so it is a public good—its services provide safety and security for everyone, not just those who can pay for it.”

www.wired.com/story/noaas-...
For-Profit Companies Can’t Easily Replace NOAA’s Weather-Forecasting Prowess
Replicating the abilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fleet of weather satellites would take time and a lot of money—and expose private companies to a large amount of risk...
www.wired.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
Oh, *for dogs*, right right right
A shelf display of PB & Chill “calming peanut butter for dogs” packets
October 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
Fun assignment for @saveur.com, looking into the modern side of mead. With new producers, new formats, and a diminished focus on the ren faire set, mead is proving surprisingly versatile.

Find it in the latest issue!
A cover of the fall/winter 2025 issue of SAVEUR shows a vertical photo of Chinese noodles on a yellow table An interior page from the SAVEUR issue shows text as well as a large, center photo of a bottle of dark purple mead from Superstition Meadery
October 9, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social
repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself
blipstress.bsky.social violet allen @blipstress.bsky.social · Oct 8
An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.
October 8, 2025 at 10:44 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
Affluent Americans have carried water for much of the economy, but they can’t do it forever—particularly not in general CPG.

My latest Sightlines report looks at what's happening to premiumization as even wealthy shoppers slow their spending: www.sightlines.news/analysis/whe...
October 8, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
dlknowles.bsky.social
Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children
Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.
southsideweekly.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
kbernot.bsky.social
Paul Grey didn’t open his distillery in order to host Taylor Swift-themed trivia, yet such events have become critical to keeping the business’ doors open.

For Craft Spirits Magazine, I report on how small distilleries are using events to drive visitation: issuu.com/americancraf...
Craft Spirits September/October 2025
issuu.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
wineecon.bsky.social
Composition of U.S. Wine Consumption, 1967-2023.
Note:
(1) Gradual decline in dessert wine, with the steady rise of table wine over the decades.
(2) Stark decline in table wine from 2021-2023, much smaller drop in sparkling wine.
(3) Growth of wine-based RTDs as successor to the 1980s wine coolers
September 30, 2025 at 12:10 AM
kbernot.bsky.social
There are sensory and aesthetic parallels between natural wine and certain beers. Can brewers get the natty crowd on board with saison or craft lager?

My latest for the Brewing Industry Guide: brewingindustryguide.com/pitching-nat...
Pitching Natural Beer to Natural-Wine Drinkers
Whether it’s a table beer that expresses terroir or a bare-bones local lager that lets its ingredients shine, there may be opportunities for small breweries to tap into a segment of wine that’s buzzin...
brewingindustryguide.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
This would heal me
A still from the Charlie Brown Christmas special where all the characters play music and dance on stage
September 29, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
thetriibe.com
NEW — Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents outside the Broadview immigration facility earlier this evening.

A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.

thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
Chicago journalist detained while covering protest outside Broadview immigration facility • The TRiiBE
Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents earlier this evening.
thetriibe.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:11 AM
kbernot.bsky.social
In this episode of The Gist podcast, we explore America’s massively successful campaign against underage drinking, and what it means for broader trends in alcohol consumption.

Listen in:
www.sightlines.news/the-gist-pod...
From Underage to Uninspired - Younger Audiences are Waiting on Booze — Sightlines
In this episode of The Gist podcast, Michael Kiser and Kate Bernot explore America’s massively successful campaign against underage drinking, and what it means for broader trends in alcohol consumptio...
www.sightlines.news
September 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
dinfontay.com
you are about to see the nation’s beer distributors—aka “the toughest lobby you’ve never heard of”—lose their fucking minds
carlquintanilla.bsky.social Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Sep 26
* TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RESTRICTING COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSES FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS, USDOT SAYS

@reuters.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
kbernot.bsky.social
Functional beverage MadLibs
Three products on a grocery store shelf: Energy strips, “tropical sauce,” and a bottle of pickle juice
September 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Kate Bernot
dinfontay.com
College and pro football have returned. Beer sales have not. In my column this week at @vinepair.com, I broke down the short- and long-term trends dragging the beleaguered industry down during what had been one of its most dominant occasions.
Beer Is Losing Its Grasp On Football. Here's Why.
Late last month, I received a comment from a reader about my column on the American brewing industry’s collective overcapacity problem. Well, more of a request, really. “Dave can you put out a piece t...
vinepair.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM