CL-022 Ben Keene on the evolution of BeerAdvocate

Like so many other areas of publishing, things have changed in recent years
for beer-focused media. While the stories told from all corners of the
world have gotten more in-depth and introduced new people and ideas, the
number of platforms where enthusiasts can find this information has been
shifting.

It wasn’t long ago that All About Beer, one of the most prominent beer
publications in the country, folded, along with DRAFT magazine. More
recently, some newspaper-style “brewsletters” have disappeared, either
under the weight of failing advertising or other pressures. Throughout it
all, BeerAdvocate has remained—but things are about to change there, too.

On today’s GBH Collective, we’re talking with Ben Keene, editorial director
for BeerAdvocate, and moving forward, perhaps a little more. Ben has long
overseen the evolution of BeerAdvocate magazine, but with the print edition
going away, he’s now shifting his attention to other daily responsibilities
related to storytelling and the business. The rating website is still a big
part of what BeerAdvocate offers fans, and even a new app that recently
launched, but it can’t stop the same challenges of publishing that have
impacted others.

We’ll talk all this, and reflect on the state of beer-focused media, in
this Collective conversation, part of our special series of interviews to
dive deeper with Good Beer Hunting contributors and friends on topics of
writing, beer, and all the ways they intersect.

This is Ben Keene, BeerAdvocate editorial director. Listen in.