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Axios
20 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
Small-town brewery is Iowa's largest craft beer producer
Decorah's Toppling Goliath (TG) sits in a community of around 7,500 people, but its craft beer sales are the largest in the state, according to 2024 Brewers Association data. Why it matters: Craft beer is experiencing a decline, and while TG hasn't been immune to it, the brewery is banking on its international fandom and award-winning products to help buoy it during the downturn. By the numbers: TG sold nearly 36,000 barrels last year, with Big Grove coming in a close second, at around 34,000, per the Brewers Association. However, while TG's beer sales declined by 7% in comparison to 2023, Big Grove's climbed, thanks to its larger footprint. State of play: There are a few reasons behind TG's success, says Sam Lewey, spokesperson for Toppling Goliath. Owners Clark and Barbara Lewey couldn't get the craft beer they wanted locally — they had to drive to Rochester, Minnesota, or La Crosse, Wisconsin. So, they decided to start their own brewery and focused on producing crowd-pleasers like barrel-aged stouts and hoppy pale ales and IPAs. They opened in 2009, when craft beer was experiencing a surge. Zoom in: TG got its first big hit with the release of Pseudo Sue in 2012 — a hoppy, hazy pale ale that's become the company's most iconic brew. That was followed by popular barrel-aged stouts like Assassin and Kentucky Brunch. The intrigue: The first time they released Kentucky Brunch in 2012, six people showed up, Lewey says. Now, it's earned worldwide acclaim, including winning the highest-rated beer of 2024, per Untappd Community awards. Bottles of its 2014 release average $1,249, according to Beerblackbook. People from all over the world have traveled to the taproom in Decorah, Lewey says. Zoom out: Now TG distributes to 36 states and nine different countries, and that requires planning a year ahead of distribution. For example: Pseudo Sue was only in 12-pack cans, but Costco wanted to offer bulk for its customers. They created new packaging for a 24-pack of beer. The intrigue: The brewery is also selling other drinks, including THC drink Merry Rain and spirits like whiskey and gin.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Willis' Quiet Struggle With Dementia During His Final Acting Days Revealed In Wife's New Memoir
Emma Heming Willis' upcoming memoir, "The Unexpected Journey," gives insight into Bruce Willis' battle with frontotemporal dementia. The book reveals how the movie star managed to act during the early stage of his dementia struggle, with behind-the-scenes support, including reduced dialogue and an earpiece feeding him lines. Bruce Willis's health decline was first publicly acknowledged in 2022 with aphasia, later diagnosed as FTD, leading to his retirement. In her forthcoming memoir "The Unexpected Journey," set for release on September 9, 2025, Heming opens up for the first time about her husband Willis' quiet but determined fight to keep working as his health began to decline. In the book, Heming recalled how the legendary "Die Hard" actor spent his last few years in Hollywood navigating the early signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and how filmmakers and close friends worked behind the scenes to support him as symptoms started to interfere with his performance. According to excerpts cited by The Daily Beast, directors began tailoring scripts to reduce Willis' dialogue. A longtime friend was even brought in to feed him lines discreetly through an earpiece during production. These quiet accommodations enabled Willis to continue acting in films like "Assassin" (2023) and the "Detective Knight trilogy" (2022–2023) without alerting audiences to the challenges he was facing. Taking to Instagram, Heming shared the deeper purpose behind her upcoming book, "The Unexpected Journey." She explained that the memoir was born out of her own experience navigating her husband Willis' diagnosis, and her desire to offer support to others facing similar challenges. "I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much," she shared. "Today, life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place." Heming emphasized that the book "isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing." In the comment section of Heming's post, fans praised her for creating the book due to the valuable resources it contains, especially for family members of individuals with dementia. One user wrote: "I can't wait to read this! I am just starting my journey of caregiving for my husband with BvFTD. You're an inspiration." Another said, "I cannot wait to read. Thank you for writing this. When my mom was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia, I almost had a nervous breakdown from just the fear of what my caregiver journey would be." They added, "I had no guidance or support and didn't know where to turn. Your book will help so many. Sending you thanks and prayers to you and Bruce, and your family." Prior to Heming's memoir, a 2022 Los Angeles Times investigation had shed light on the cognitive challenges Willis was quietly facing on film sets before his official retirement. In the final three years of his acting career, Willis starred in 22 low-budget action movies, and as the cameras rolled, those around him began to notice unsettling changes. Once known for his sharp delivery and commanding presence, Willis had become noticeably disoriented. He relied heavily on an earpiece to be fed his lines and at times struggled to stay oriented, occasionally forgetting the context of the scene, or even why he was on set. Director Jesse V. Johnson, who worked with Willis on "White Elephant" and had known him from earlier in his stuntman days, recalled the shift. "It was clear that he was not the Bruce I remembered," he said, per the Daily Mail. Johnson recounted a moment during filming when Willis turned to the crew and said, "I know why you're here, and I know why you're here, but why am I here?" To ease the pressure on the star, the production team was advised to wrap up all of Willis' scenes before lunchtime. Willis' health struggles were finally made public in 2022, when his family shared he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that impairs communication and language. As reported by The Blast, in early 2023, the actor's diagnosis was updated to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive neurological condition that affects behavior, cognition, and speech. Following the news, Willis officially retired from acting, stepping away from the spotlight to focus on his health and spend time with loved ones. While he now lives largely out of the public eye, his wife Heming and their daughters occasionally share meaningful updates with fans.
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bruce Willis' wife shares how he continued acting after dementia diagnosis
Bruce Willis' family have rallied around him since the Die Hard actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in February 2023, and his wife has now opened up about his work Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, is shedding light on how the Hollywood icon managed to continue working on set even after his health started deteriorating because of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In her upcoming book The Unexpected Journey, which is set to be released on September 9, 2025, Emma shares intimate details about the measures that were taken to keep Bruce in front of the camera while his cognitive abilities declined. According to reports, some of the tactics directors used included shortening his dialogue and feeding him lines via an earpiece, which was discreetly operated by a close friend on set. These behind-the-scenes accommodations allowed the Die Hard legend to complete roles in films like Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight trilogy (2022–2023), even though he was being increasingly impacted by FTD, which is a degenerative disease that affects cognition and speech Willis's diagnosis was first made public in 2022 when his family announced he was suffering from a language disorder called aphasia. In February 2023, they confirmed the condition had progressed into FTD. Since then, Bruce has stepped away from acting. Emma told fans on Instagram that she wrote her book to help other families facing similar situations. She shared: "I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much. Today life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place. "This isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing." During Bruce's final years of working, directors began to alter his roles so that he would be able to make it through shooting. In a 2020 email, Out of Death director Mike Burns asked writers to "abbreviate his [Willis'] dialogue so that there are no monologues". The actor's shooting schedules were also adjusted so that his workdays were limited to four hours when possible, and he did not film for more than two consecutive days. On set, crew members noticed that Bruce seemed confused and often struggled to remember lines or his purpose in a scene. They were particularly troubled by one moment during White Elephant, when he reportedly asked, "I know why you're here, and I know why you're here, but why am I here?" Despite the challenges, some collaborators still held high opinions of his work. Paradise City director Chuck Russell praised Bruce's efforts, saying he "brought his A-game". But others, like White Elephant production supervisor Terri Martin, said, "He just looked so lost… He always tried his best." Emma has reflected on the early days of Bruce's condition developing, sharing: "As his language started changing, it [seemed like it] was just a part of a stutter, it was just Bruce. Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young." Bruce's children have opened up about the emotional effect his diagnosis had on them, with his daughter Tallulah in particular admitting the seriousness of his situation hit home to her when she imagined her wedding day and realised her father would no longer be able to deliver a speech. "It was devastating," she sighed. "I left the dinner table, stepped outside, and wept in the bushes." Despite that heart breaking realisation, Tallulah added: "There's painful days, but there's so much love."
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Willis ‘found ways to soldier on with acting' amid frontotemporal dementia diagnosis
Bruce Willis was working with directors to continue acting before his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was made public, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, reportedly claims in her forthcoming book. In March 2022, Willis's family announced that the actor had been diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder, and would be stepping away from acting as the condition was 'impacting his cognitive abilities'. Nearly a year later, in February 2023, the family provided a more specific diagnosis: FTD, a degenerative brain condition that impacts communication and behavior. The family described FTD as a 'cruel disease' for which there is no cure. However, reports that Heming Willis's book The Unexpected Journey, which she describes as being 'not a memoir but under the category of self-help', will reveal how the actor continued to work despite his condition. 'Before making his condition public, Willis had found ways to soldier on with his acting, having directors scale down his dialogue and getting a trusted friend to feed him his lines through an earpiece on films such as Assassin and the Detective Knight series,' the Australian news site claims. The Independent has contacted representatives for Harding Willis, Willis and Lionsgate for comment. Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight series (2022-23) were among Bruce's final projects before his retirement from acting. The news site points out that Willis's deterioration wasn't immediately obvious because of the stutter he'd suffered from since childhood. 'It's how I got my sense of humour, because I realised, yeah I stutter, but I could make people laugh by doing stupid stuff,' he once told interviewer Michael Parkinson. Willis first married actor Demi Moore in 1987, and shares three daughters with the actor: Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. The couple divorced in 2000 but remained close friends and continue to spend time together with their blended families. In 2009, Bruce married British-American model and actor Heming Willis, with whom he shares two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn. Revealing her book's cover on Instagram in April, Heming Willis wrote: 'Born from grief, shaped by love, and guided by purpose, this is the book I needed back when Bruce was first diagnosed and I was frozen with fear and uncertainty. 'This is the book I trust will help the next caregiver. It is filled with support, insight, and the hope needed to navigate this journey. 'This book is for all of us finding our way through the unknown with love, grit, and courage. You are not alone.' The Unexpected Journey is out September 9.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'We have a great bond' — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry's dynamic shines in heartfelt shout-out
Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry. Image via: Tom Weller/VOIGT/ GettyImages It is no secret that the Golden State Warriors' coach Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry share a beautiful bond, and it has been reflected in their partnership in the games. While players like Draymond Green remain vocal leaders on the court, it's the quiet power of the Kerr-Curry partnership that continues to shape the identity of the team. Of course, Curry has been the defining factor of the Warriors being one of the standouts. Now, in a recent interview, Kerr gave some more insight into their friendship. Steve Kerr shares details of his friendship with Golden State Warriors veteran Stephen Curry Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry. Image via: Getty Images In a candid reflection on their relationship, Steve Kerr recently credited Curry for the unique culture the Warriors have built together. 'There's no coincidence why this has lasted 11 years,' Kerr said (via The San Francisco Standard). 'Steph has been an incredible partner and an amazing guy to collaborate with. He sets the tone culture-wise for everything we do. And we have a great bond.' He continued, 'I think we share a lot of the same values as human beings. We share a similar vision of how the game should be played.' Kerr added, 'And we look forward to seeing each other every day. So why wouldn't we keep this thing going?" Kerr asserted that their friendship is beyond wins and championships. It's about a shared commitment to how the game should be played and a respect for each other's values beyond basketball. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Kerr likened his dynamic with Curry to the one he witnessed during his time with the San Antonio Spurs between Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan. 'It was very similar,' Kerr noted. 'It was collaborative, it was authentic, genuine love and friendship. A lot of humor, a lot of joy. It's hard to find that, but Steph and Tim are very similar in that regard. To me probably the two most collaborative superstars, the most easy to work with superstars that I could imagine.' Also Read: Steve Kerr paints a real picture of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler defining playoff fate after Golden State Warriors' devastating exit There would be no one to deny Curry's long-time influence on the team as he helped regain the astonishing popularity of the $9.4 billion organization (per SportsPro). Although the Warriors are out of the playoffs, the arrival of Jimmy Butler has made the team more interesting. Still, Curry's magic remains, as Kerr believes that the Warriors were shorthanded after Baby-faced Assassin's injury. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
