U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and THC Drinks

Best known for his ongoing role in the hit Bravo series, Summer House [https://www.bravotv.com/summer-house], Carl Radke also has a growing passion for the non-alcoholic space, with a desire to create an elevated environment where people can enjoy social beverages without alcohol. In our conversation, Carl shares his perspective on why the category is in dire need of proper places to enjoy these drinks in the social setting for which they're intended, and how that led to the development of Soft Bar + Cafe, opening later this summer in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. We also discuss what he's learned in his role with Loverboy, along with what other NA brands he admires, the burgeoning functional and THC drinks space, and what he thinks of the trend of celebrity-driven brands entering the market. Mentioned in this episode: Soft Bar + Cafe [https://soft-bar.com/] Summer House [https://www.bravotv.com/summer-house] Loverboy [https://drinkloverboy.com/] Athletic Brewing [https://athleticbrewing.com/] We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2305451/open_sms]

An underrated foodie town with a mosaic of tastes meticulously crafted in Cleveland's diverse neighborhoods, thanks to a couple of local innovators it's also a city that now supports a burgeoning non-alcoholic scene. On the heels of our visit to nearby Pittsburgh we sit down with Molly Cheraso, owner of the city's first and only non-alcoholic bottle shop, Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe [https://verbenafreespirited.com/], and Emily Tanski, owner of zero-proof bartending and events startup, Drink Fleurish [https://www.drinkfleurish.com/]. Together they have also launched Santé Supper Club [https://www.santesupperclub.com/], a new culinary series that draws upon the vibrant food scene that exists in the community, changing the definition of what an evening of great food, drinks and community can look like. Mentioned in this episode: Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe [https://verbenafreespirited.com/] Drink Fleurish [https://www.drinkfleurish.com/] Santé Supper Club [https://www.santesupperclub.com/]  Feed The Resistance 2025 Summer Series [https://www.santesupperclub.com/projects-8] (from Santé Supper Club) We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2305451/open_sms]

Drinking craft beer is communal, a ritual meant to be shared amongst friends and family members. It is also often local, built around a shared community based on geography or shared interests. In today's bonus episode, we sit down with Mark Ruf and Tyler Keough, founders of the NA Beer Market, a new addition borne from the same platform that created the NA Beer Club [https://nabeerclub.com/] in 2021. We talk about how the idea evolved from Mark sharing beers with his dad, to Tyler's passion for building community, and why they feel that's a gap in today's retail space they hope to fill. Mentioned in this episode: NA Beer Market [https://market.nabeerclub.com/] (use code NATIONBEER to get a free Good Liar beer on us!) NA Brewskey [https://www.instagram.com/na.brewskey] (IG) We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2305451/open_sms]

Who said local breweries can't do an NA beer profitably? And how did Pittsburgh wind-up with so much happening in the local non-alcoholic scene? In this Part II of our two-part series from the Steel City, we finish our interview with The Open Road [https://www.openroadbarpgh.com/]'s Mel Babitz, and the Loaded Food Group [https://loadedfoodgroup.com/]'s Katrina Tomacchio (also known as The Northeast Ginger [https://www.instagram.com/thenortheastginger] on IG), who talk about the local scene and what's coming up. We then chat with owners Mike and Jen Onofray of the city's Two Frays Brewery [https://www.twofraysbrewery.com/], with an update on how they've been successful making non-alcoholic beer a growing part of their efforts. Lastly, we hear from The Open Road's Hailey Phillips, who shares some news of her own on a first-of-its-kind NA Cocktail Week coming up this July. Mentioned in this episode: The Open Road [https://www.openroadbarpgh.com/] Loaded Food Group [https://loadedfoodgroup.com/] Katrina Tomacchio [https://www.instagram.com/thenortheastginger] Two Frays Brewery [https://www.twofraysbrewery.com/] Jackworth Ginger Beer [https://www.jackworth.co/] Cinderlands Beer Company [https://www.cinderlands.com/] Hailey Phillips [http://instagram.com/thenotorioushtp] Pittsburgh's NA Cocktail Week [https://www.instagram.com/pghnacocktailweek] (happening July 7-13th) Forging An Inclusive and Sustainable NA Community In The Steel City [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/15385035-forging-an-inclusive-and-sustainable-na-community-in-the-steel-city] (original Pittsburgh episode in June, 2024) We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2305451/open_sms]

Nearly a year removed from our first visit, we return to the Steel City in the new location (and future lounge) of the longest-running non-alcoholic specialty retailer in the country, The Open Road [https://www.openroadbarpgh.com/]. With so much happening in the local NA scene, we split our visit into a two-part episode. In Part I, we include much of our interview with The Open Road's Mel Babitz, and Katrina Tomacchio of the Loaded Food Group [https://loadedfoodgroup.com/] (also known as The Northeast Ginger [https://www.instagram.com/thenortheastginger] on IG), who share their thoughts on everything from raising funds as a small business, to the growth in popularity in food and non-alcoholic drink pairings, as more people embrace and understand the category. Mentioned in this episode: The Open Road [https://www.openroadbarpgh.com/] Loaded Food Group [https://loadedfoodgroup.com/] The Northeast Ginger [https://www.instagram.com/thenortheastginger] The Mocktail Mixer [https://www.instagram.com/p/DJqC1Rts1Nc/] (happening 7/28/25) We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2305451/open_sms]