The True Craft Podcast

In this episode, we hang out with Mike Frohlich of Laughing Sun Brewing Company to swap stories about his wild ride through the craft beer world. From his early days at Rattlesnake Creek Brewery & Grill in 1996 to turning Laughing Sun into a Bismarck hotspot, Mike’s seen a LOT in craft beer evolution. Highlights include: How Laughing Sun grew from a scrappy 3.5-barrel setup in a 162 sq. ft. space...

In this episode, we’re digging into the challenges and opportunities of brewery loyalty programs with Ross Stensrud, co-founder of TapWyse. Many breweries offer memberships, but structuring them in a way that drives real revenue while keeping customers engaged? That’s not always a straightforward approach. We explore what’s working, what’s not, and how data-driven insights can help breweries build...

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Eric Ruta, owner and founder of Magnify Brewing, to talk about his side project that’s making a big impact: the Craft Brewery Purchasing Organization (CBPO). Eric started CBPO to help breweries (including his own) score better pricing on raw materials, packaging, and labels. Some highlights include: How CBPO members are cutting costs by u...

In this episode of True Craft, we are chatting with Nicole Smith, CFO of South Lake Brewing Company out of Lake Tahoe, CA, about how she took on the financial reins of her business and why knowing your number is just as important as brewing great beer. Highlights include: How open book management helps South Lake’s team make smarter money moves The growing pains (and financial gains) of scaling a...

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Chris Creech of The Glass Jug Beer Lab out of Durham, NC, to uncover how they’ve stayed ahead of industry trends and built a loyal community. Starting as a humble bottle shop in 2014—just after North Carolina eased growler regulations to allow retail stores to fill them—Glass Jug has grown into a powerhouse with two locations, a 3.5 bbl brewery, and a bottl...

We're kicking off 2025 with Phil Humphrey, Founder of 608 Brewing Company in La Crosse, WI. From launching a lean startup in 2018 to opening a second suburban taproom in 2023 (that is outperforming their original location 20%-40%!), Phil shares his story of determination, creativity, and pushing boundaries in craft beer. Some highlights include: How Phil got 608 Brewing off the ground with a budge...

For our 100th episode, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. Host Chris Farmand revisits 10 standout moments from past conversations, sharing new commentary and reflecting on lessons that continue to shape the craft beer world. Whether you’ve been here since the start or just joined the journey, this episode is a celebration of the stories, insights, and ideas that have brought us to this mileston...

In this episode, we’re cracking open some good vibes with Michele and Tom Bulington from Crasian Brewing Company—a family-owned microbrewery out of Brookston, Indiana that’s all about their local community. Some highlights include: How their medal-winning beers, like the jalapeño cream ale, keep people coming back Why their self-distribution game actually helps keep the focus on their taproom Tips...

Running a brewery is tough—but doing it from 1,000 miles away? That’s next-level. Adam Draeger, owner of Inventors Brewpub in Port Washington, Wisconsin, spills the hops on how he pulled off a massive expansion to a 20,000 sq ft facility while living in Colorado. From humble beginnings in an American Legion hall to managing a brewery remotely, Adam shares the wins, the lessons, and the wild ride o...

In this episode, we sit down with Glenn Closson, Co-Founder of Ivanhoe Park Brewing in sunny Orlando, FL! Glenn shares the incredible journey of how Ivanhoe Park transformed from a cozy 4,000 sq ft home to a booming 14,000 sq ft powerhouse by acquiring Deadwords Brewing’s facility—all in a lightning-fast 60-day timeframe! (Quick heads up: this kind of rapid M&A is rare, so don’t set your expectati...

In this episode, we chat with Brad Benson, Co-Owner and Head Brewer of Stoup Brewing, about the evolving business model that’s driven their growth and operations over the past decade—plus, how it inspired Stoup Brewing to launch their very own distribution company! Highlights include: A behind-the-scenes look at their unique distribution company that operates without a sales team or holding invent...

Get ready for a lively chat with Marty Ochs, President of Resident Brewing in San Diego! Marty’s been around the block in the craft beer world, from on-premise at Miller Brewing to helping Ninkasi explode in size (from 4,000 BBLs to 90,000 BBLs in just four years!), and now he's sharing his behind-the-scenes stories and sharp business insights. What’s on Tap: The self-distribution hustle—why it’s...

Pull up a chair as we sit down with Melissa Walter, co-founder of Love City Brewing in Philadelphia, PA, to chat about employee wellness, inclusivity, and how to create a culture of care. While employee well-being isn’t always the first priority in running a brewery, Melissa made it the cornerstone of Love City Brewing—and in this episode, we chat about how she’s done it. Highlights include: From...

On today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast , we’re catching up with Michael Memsic, Co-Founder & CEO of Sanitas Brewing, to give some straight talk about what the heck is happening in craft. We cover a lot of ground from modern expansion strategies, owner and leadership alignment, and the surprising topic of...tapping out of the craft scene? Highlights include: How breweries are becoming vibrant...

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast , we’re hanging out with Mike Walters, Co-Founder of Cocoon Brewing out of De Pere, WI. In 2023, at a time when craft beer was anything but predictable, Cocoon Brewing boldly opened their 7,000 sq ft space—proving that when the going gets tough, the tough get brewing. Highlights include: How to dish out a killer food program from a cozy 400 sq ft kitchen (...

On this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we have a chat with Austin Corrigan, the founder of High Seas Mead and Single Fin Cider out of Santa Barbara, CA. Austin shares his fascinating journey from the culinary world to fermenting meads and ciders as a one-man operation. In this episode, we chat about: The challenge (and reward!) of being 100% self-distributed within a 100-mile radius, managing...

On this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Wibby, the co-founder and brewmaster of Wibby Brewing in Longmont, CO. Ryan chats the exciting world of lagers, sharing the story behind his brewery’s recent recognition as 2023 GABF Brewery of the Year, and giving us a peek into their distribution expansion plans. In this episode, we chat about: The massive impact that can come with...

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast we welcome Erik Fowler, Executive Director of the San Diego Brewers Guild. Join us for a jam-packed discussion on the financial landscape of craft breweries in 2024. Highlights include: Erik shares his philosophy of "Beer is the what, not the why" in today's craft market, emphasizing that while breweries start with a passion for brewing, this can't be thei...

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we chat with Grace Robbings, Co-Founder, and Larry Rock, Sales Representative, of Reuben’s Brews in Seattle! We shine a light on their work with the Mosaic State Brewers Collective, a mentorship program empowering underrepresented people to build careers in the craft beer industry. A few highlights include: Hear how the craft beer landscape has changed th...

In this episode, we sit down with Teo Hunter, co-founder of Crowns & Hops Brewing Co., a pioneering Black-owned craft brewery championing diversity, inclusion, and (emphasis on the) equity in the craft beer industry. Some of what we cover: Find out why operating on an island in 2024 could be hurting your business and why leaning on and uplifting other craft businesses is the way forward. The creat...

In this episode, we chat with Chris Cesnek and Brandon Monroe, the creative co-founders of Paperback Brewing Company. Their brewery’s edgy, 80s and 90s pop culture-inspired design has captivated Los Angeles locals, creating a truly memorable brand experience. A few topics we cover in this episode: How storytelling shapes a brewery’s brand identity. Strategies to tackle “release fatigue” for a cons...

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we delve into the world of brewery financial management with Kary Shumway,creator of Beer Business Finance. Drawing upon his decades of experience, we chat about topics for brewery owners striving to excel in today's industry, such as: How to (actually) manage cash flow and why relying solely on gut feeling to make decisions isn’t cutting it When contract...

In this episode, we sit down with Phillip McLamb, COO and Co-Founder of Resident Culture Brewing, to chat about what it takes to self-distribute in 2024. From day one, Resident Culture was self-distributing. However, it’s taken years of trial and error for Phillip and his team to dial in this aspect of their business, projecting $3 million in revenue from self-distribution alone this year. A few t...

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we welcome Andrew Coplon, Founder of Craft Beer Professionals and Secret Hopper to explore his unique insights on curating a fantastic customer experience in the taproom... and why that’s more important than ever. Just a few of the topics we cover: How to create what Andrew calls a “Wow! Experience” using his Taproom Venn Diagram: beer, memorable atmosphe...

On today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast, Chris sits down with Dave Morgan, co-founder of Single Speed Brewing, to dig into their Parallel Brewery Collective concept. Highlighting the collective's ability to combine efforts and share resources, Dave unveils how thinking creatively about breweries can collaborate can unlock hidden opportunities for reducing expenses and maximizing distribution...