Get Hoptimized Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The non-alcoholic (NA) adult beverage space—including NA beer, wine, spirits, and cannabis beverages is experiencing a massive boom. Chris welcomes Meagen Coester, founder of the Afficionado Certification Program (AFNA), the world's first professional-level alcohol-free training platform, to discuss why education is the key to unlocking this market's potential. Visit alc...

Send us Fan Mail Chris opens up the creative minds in this episode with Carl Cleanthes, founder of Epic Made, an entertainment-quality content agency known for work with clients like Sci-Fi, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, and Deschutes Brewery. Learn why storytelling and consumer psychology must come before asset creation. To explore how high-level animation and brand strategy that can elevate your brand an...

Send us Fan Mail They're back! Al Schuster and Heather Johnson from Polaris Brand Promotion are here to announce the launch of SampleFinder—the revolutionary new app that promotes experiential marketing directly to you! Say goodbye to missed demos. Visit SampleFinder.com to sign up for the launch newsletter and feature your events on the app. -Music Credit- Neon Drive by Punch Deck | https://...

Send us Fan Mail Jay Williams, founder of Free Bird Southern Springwater shares the secrets to building a brand with a soul in the competitive canned water market, detailing their explosive growth, Americana branding strategy, and a critical distribution deal with retail giants in United Distributors and Walmart. Visit drinkfreebird.com to connect with Jay Williams and check out the brand -Music C...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, host Chris is joined by Andrew Bauman, Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, to explore the state's vibrant beer scene, legislative wins, and partnerships that strengthens members long-term success. If you're interested in learning more about the Arizona Brewers Guild, upcoming events, or to inquire about becoming a Guild member or suppo...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with Brian Deignan,  owner and operator of Validation Ale. Brian brought his background in startup tech and market validation to the brewing industry. The result is a radically innovative, customer-centric model that has allowed the brewery to thrive. The "Validation" Concept: A Real-Time Beer Leaderboard. If you want to learn more about Validation Ale's...

Send us Fan Mail Chris sits down with Caroline Wallace, Executive Director of the Texas Brewers Guild and Chris Troutman, Co-Founder of Good Line Beer Co., to unpack the realities of running and growing a craft brewery in today’s market especially in a state as large and diverse as Texas. This episode offers both a statewide leadership perspective and an on-the-ground operator’s view of how brewer...

Send us Fan Mail Washington State is one of the most influential craft beer regions in the world and the Washington Brewers Guild sits at the center of it all.  In this episode of the Get Hoptimized Podcast, our host Chris speaks with the Guild leaders in Daniel Olsen and Shawna Cormier about advocacy, collaboration, and what it takes to support independent breweries in a maturing beer market. To...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Get Hoptimized Podcast, we’re joined by Marty Nachel—certified beer judge, Beer for Dummies author, and craft beer industry veteran.  Marty shares the moment that launched his career, reflects on the industry’s evolution, and dives into the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame , including 2026 nominees, future initiatives, and details on the upcoming induction c...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready—this episode is a hop lover’s dream! In this episode of the Get Hoptimized Podcast , we sit down with Brian Clayton, CEO of Clayton Hops —New Zealand’s largest hop grower and most advanced hop processor. Brian takes us on a high-energy tour through the unique flavor profiles, next-level processing innovations, the future-forward hops and exciting new varieties that are d...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 62 of the Get Hoptimized Podcast, we dive into what truly makes a website work. Jeff and Peter from Brandartica, a branding and web development agency, discussed the critical role of a website in a business's digital marketing ecosystem.  The conversation covers the balance between creativity and functionality, the importance of brand consistency, and their process...

Send us Fan Mail The world of alcohol production is exciting, but it comes with a complex web of regulations from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). For breweries, distilleries, and other producers, staying compliant is crucial to avoid costly delays and penalties.  In a recent episode of the Get Hoptimized podcast, host Chris sat down with Wendy Raymond, founder of Taps and Snaps...

Send us Fan Mail Richard Carnegie, Director of Sales and Marketing at BuzzyBooth joins us on the Get Hoptimized Podcast and shares his experience on how bars, taprooms, and restaurants can turn in-person fun into online buzz.  Richard unpacked how BuzzyBooth’s photo and marketing kiosks empower venues to seamlessly capture guest data, generate positive reviews, and drive social media engagement th...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with the incredible Jacob Hedges and Jason Brewer from Wandering Monsters to talk all things brand, content, and the power of family-friendly fun. From the flexible adaptation of their mascot across content and merch to keeping guests engaged with Duckpin Bowling, Wandering Monsters is doing some really fun (and smart!) stuff. Don't forget to check out their aweso...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Get Hoptimized podcast, host Chris dives into the world of "In Real Life Brand Experiences" with special guests Al Schuster (President) and Heather Johnson from Polaris Brand Promotions. If you're a beverage brand running tastings or product demos, or considering it, this conversation is for you. Al and Heather, with their extensive experience...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on this episode of the Get Hoptimized podcast as Marc Marashi, Project Manager at Malt Handling teams up with our host Chris Overlay and together they discuss everything about optimizing malt operations for Craft Brewers and Distillers. Key talking points include: 🌽Mark's unique journey into the malt handling industry. 🌽The importance of milling for efficiency and t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Get Hoptimized podcast, Host Chris chats with Kimberly Ross and Brian Beck from Middle Street Graphics and Display. Our guests share over 40 years of experience in beverage signage and displays, working with brands from global giants like Pepsi to local breweries. This episode covers: 📢 What retail displays are, why they matter and how to use them 📢 Cost-e...

Send us Fan Mail In the podcast episode "What Video Games Can Teach Us About Marketing," Chris from Get Optimized draws parallels between video game strategies and effective marketing. He introduces the concept of gamification in everyday interactions and marketing, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking, adaptability, and understanding consumer behavior. The episode dives into thre...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Host Chris interviews Jonathan Hooten (Hootie), founder of ParadYm Data, an expert in beverage data with 25+ years of experience. They discuss the fundamentals of beverage data, including depletions and sales data, emphasizing their importance for understanding the market and forecasting.  Hootie highlights the evolution of data transparency in the industry, enabl...

Send us Fan Mail In this Get Hoptimized Podcast episode, host Chris speaks with beverage industry veteran Sam Anderson of BevAssets. Sam unpacks the intricate strategies enabling craft breweries to master complex distribution systems, guiding breweries on how to efficiently move products from production to wholesaler and strategically maintain their vital shelf space in retail stores.  The discuss...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Get Hoptimized Podcast, Host Chris welcomes Richard Eklund, founder of Add-A-Tap as He joins us to discuss his company's innovative easy-to-use draft beverage solution that brings quality pour to any setting. These systems empower breweries and bars to expand their beverage offerings, enhance sales, and streamline operations at festivals. If you're...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Get Hoptimized Podcast, host Chris sat down with CPG distribution veteran Mike Levinson, founder of Food Service Octopus, to explore how craft beverage brands can creatively expand their reach beyond the crowded "ocean" of major grocery chains. Mike's two decades of experience in the consumer packaged goods, foodservice, and retail sectors off...

Send us Fan Mail Chris chats with brewery branding expert Tim Weaver of The Brand Weaver. They dive into creating memorable brand experiences for breweries, discussing customer touchpoints like taprooms, labels, and more. Tim shares insights on helping breweries stand out, and strategies for building a unique brand identity that resonates with customers. To connect with Tim Weaver, head over to ht...

Send us Fan Mail James Gourley, an IP lawyer, discusses intellectual property in the Craft Beer Industry on the Get Hoptimized Podcast. Key insights include: Trademarks and Branding, Brewery Names ("house marks"), Beer Names, and avoiding Legal Issues. Copyrights and Creative Contents: Ownership of label art, AI art, and music in social media. Trade Secrets and Recipes: Protecting recipe...

Send us Fan Mail This episode features Chris exploring effective marketing strategies for breweries and craft beverage companies. He highlights the crucial role of "owned channels", such as email lists, text message marketing, and websites. In discussing marketing strategy, Chris highlights the importance of measurable outcomes. This means designing campaigns to directly track specific c...