What does it take to scale from a bold idea to a beverage category leader? We sit down with Athletic Brewing’s CFO Evan Zawatsky and communications leader Chris Furnari to dig into the decisions that powered Athletic’s rise: owning production, investing in quality, and building a marketing engine that turns awareness into velocity. Evan opens the playbook on why Athletic poured serious CapEx into state-of-the-art breweries in Connecticut and San Diego. That move secured quality c...

In today's podcast we show how breweries can turn recipe development and process innovation into real cash using the federal R&D tax credit, plus a clear path to claim refunds retroactively. Maggie Crowley and Devin Medrick from Leyton explain the IRS tests, missed opportunities, state add-ons, and energy efficiency deductions. • What the IRS four-part test means for brewing work • Real examples: first-batch runs, recipe changes, process tweaks • Eligible costs: wages at three leve...

In today's podcast we lay out a simple path for Massachusetts breweries to use the Workforce Training Fund Express program for up to 100% reimbursement on financial training. From eligibility to application steps, we reveal each step in the process to turn free training dollars into better profits and steadier cash flow. • who qualifies and what reimbursement you can expect • how to find and choose pre-approved courses in the catalog • what documents you need for the application • typi...

What does it really take to scale a brewery without losing your soul or your margins? We sit down with Nicole Smith, co-owner of South Lake Brewing Company, to trace a path from high school sweethearts in Tahoe to a two-location operation balancing community, cash flow, and culture. Nicole shares the unvarnished story of opening a second taproom and kitchen, why owner presence matters, and how to avoid cannibalizing your original location while still growing revenue. We cover the...

In today's podcast, Ross Stensrud from Tapwyse shares how craft breweries turn memberships, flash rewards, and push messages into recurring revenue and reliable taproom traffic. Real data from 100+ brewery apps shows why monthly loyalty programs outperform annuals and how simple offers can drive measurable visits. Key Takeaways • Monthly memberships outperform annuals for recurring revenue • The $1 weekly beer case study • How to use flash rewards to move slow i...

Today on the podcast Andrew Coplon opens the playbook on Secret Hopper’s 10,000-visit dataset and shows how mystery shopping metrics translate into increased sales for your taproom. We talk through the staff behaviors that lead to high engagement—prompt greetings, informed recommendations, and closing gratitude—and the numbers that follow: bigger tabs, higher tips, and dramatically faster return visits. You’ll hear why a simple flight suggestion makes guests 350% more likely to or...

Beer volumes are down, dollars are soft, and the usual playbook isn’t working. We brought back Lester Jones, chief economist at the National Beer Wholesalers Association, to cut through the noise with data, plain talk, and a clear plan for getting back to growth. Lester breaks down what’s structural—demographics, consumption occasions, and channel mix—and what’s cyclical—slower hiring, fewer hours worked, and sticky inflation—and shows how those forces collide to shape beer demand in 20...

A CFO who became a head of marketing, eliminated millions in debt, and then built a company to fix distribution blind spots—Doug Veliky’s journey is a masterclass in making beer businesses sturdier and smarter. We dig into the decisions that actually move the needle: building an internal audit team at Reyes that focused on real compliance risk, redesigning systems at Revolution to produce market-level P&Ls, and consolidating a spaghetti bowl of loans into a revolving line that turne...

What if your taproom’s biggest growth lever isn’t price or new styles—but the first 15 seconds after someone walks in? Today on the podcast we welcome back consumer insights expert Michael Varda of Craft Beer Advisory Services to unpack the data behind modern taproom behavior and why food, events, and hospitality now sit shoulder to shoulder with great beer. The headline: beer gets guests in the door; the experience keeps them in their seats and brings them back. We trace the pos...

New tax law just handed breweries a playbook to keep more cash in the business—if you know how to use it. Today we’re joined by Brent Williams, CPA and brewery tax manager at Small Batch Standard, to translate the One Big Brewery Bill (OB3) into clear, practical moves owners can make right now. From tips and overtime changes your team will feel on payday to the return of 100% bonus depreciation and immediate expensing for domestic R&D, we connect the dots between policy and da...

Ready to stop guessing about your brewery's food profitability? Today's podcast reveals exactly how to transform your taproom food program from a necessary evil into a genuine profit center. Most brewery owners didn't get into the business to become restaurateurs, yet many find themselves reluctantly managing food programs because customers expect food options. The challenge? Food operations are notoriously complex both financially and operationally, leading many breweries to operate f...

What happens when you combine accounting expertise, homebrewing passion, and entrepreneurial spirit? For Elliot Johnson, it was creating Soul Mega – a thriving beer brand that's challenging traditional craft brewery models. In this illuminating conversation, Elliot shares his journey from making "really bad" homebrew batches to building a recognized beer brand without a physical brewery. Soul Mega's contract brewing approach allowed them to enter the market with minimal capital i...

Thor Cheston shares the remarkable journey of Right Proper Brewing Company, from its successful 2013 brew pub opening to the challenges of expansion and the transformative power of implementing open book management. His candid insights reveal how focusing on core products, financial transparency, and efficient operations turned their struggling production facility into a thriving business with healthy EBITDA. • Starting as a Georgetown student who fell in love with craft beer while wor...

We dive into mastering your brewery budget with a practical three-step approach that transforms financial planning from overwhelming to achievable. This workshop provides tools and strategies to create a useful financial roadmap that aligns with business goals. • Begin with the end in mind – set one clear financial goal (typically 10-15% profit) before planning anything else • Know your stakeholders – identify requirements from banks, investors and others to incorporate into your plan • Set ...

Sara Watson and her husband Brent turned their dream into reality with Vacancy Brewing in Austin, Texas, combining his brewing expertise with her hospitality marketing background to create a community-focused taproom experience. • Building Vacancy Brewing after a six-month road trip across North America to find the perfect location • Hiring a taproom manager to allow the founders to focus on business development instead of daily operations • Implementing tighter beer loss and discount polici...

Brian Deignan shares how his brewery, Validation Ale, achieved 29% growth last year through systematic innovation and strategic expansion while he, as an owner, maintained a Monday-Friday, 9-5 work schedule. Brian explains his unique concept where beers compete for menu placement based solely on sales data, and his methodical annual process for identifying growth opportunities. • Validation Ale's competitive model forces continuous innovation with 143 unique recipes created in three ye...

Each month, the Beer Business Finance Association will shine a spotlight on one exceptional craft brewery to explore what makes their business thrive. In this exclusive conversation, we hear from Jake Lohse, Founder of Presidential Brewing. We go beyond the beer to uncover best practices, smart financial strategies, creative sales tactics, and the real-world lessons they've learned. This is your front-row seat to learn from peers who are building profitable, resilient brewer...

Today on the podcast Brynn Keenan from Grist Analytics talks brewery operations, data-driven decision making, and how Grist helps breweries improve performance. Grist Analytics provides data-driven solutions that help breweries optimize their production processes by transforming raw brewing data into actionable insights. Their platform enables consistent quality, improved efficiency, and reduced waste through real-time monitoring and advanced brewing analytics. Key Points How to replace...

In today's podcast you'll learn how MarginEdge gives you accurate insight into taproom profitability on a daily basis—no waiting for end-of-month reports. What are your most profitable menu items? Where are costs increasing and eating into profits? How do we get everyone talking about the numbers and helping achieve financial success? You'll get answers to these questions and more to help your increase taproom profits. Key Points How to properly price menu items for p...

Today on the podcast we talk loyalty programs, memberships and recurring revenue strategies with Ross Stensrud from Tapwyse. Tapwyse creates custom apps to create predictable and repeating income for your brewery business. Need a solution for slow seasonal business cycles? Tapwyse can help. Key Points How to use the $1 beer to get a 17x return on investmentFlash rewards: How to use push notifications to instantly reward customers and get them coming back more oftenWant to sell more to-g...