The True Craft Podcast

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we delve into niche branding and marketing strategies with Nick and Christina Lumsden, the innovative minds behind Dogleg Brewing. With a passion for both golf and beer, they've seamlessly merged their passions to create a distinctive brand and customer experience that has greatly benefitted their business. Main takeaway: It is essential to not only ident...

Julie Rhodes of Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions joins us on today’s episode of the True Craft Podcast to share some of her hard-won, craft-specific marketing advice to help you sell more beer, including: Which marketing strategies are most effective for wholesale vs. taproom  How to leverage local influencers to market your beer to your target demographic How to measure the results of your mark...

Gabrielle Blanco, Owner of Buckstin Brewing, joined us for this killer episode of The True Craft Podcast. With a long history in the restaurant industry and a booming brewery (that’s currently expanding), Gabi advocates for why all breweries should operate their own kitchens.  By keeping it simple and having systems in place, every brewery can operate a profitable kitchen. And no excuses on size —...

We are thrilled to welcome Michelle Tressler of Hinterland Brewery and Restaurant on today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast! With nearly three decades of experience, Michelle sheds light on the immense value that a solid food program can have on your brewery’s long term success. Food has the ability to carry your brewery through downturns, which Michelle has experienced firsthand.  Be bold. Pus...

On today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast, no stone is left unturned. Katy and Chris welcome Richard Fennell of C&G Brewing out of Dallas, TX. From managing thirty-six “beer gun” taps to navigating Texas beer laws, this episode takes a look at a wide variety of topics. We even discuss strategic ways to maximize margins in distribution and ask a very timely question: “Has craft left the next gen...

Join Katy Noel and Chris Farmand for a very special episode of The True Craft Podcast. In this week’s episode, we welcome Adam Ruhland of Wild State Cider to dive into the dynamic world of cider.  We explore trends shaping the craft market, address the unique profile of cider drinkers, unpack how to form a portfolio, and compare beer vs. cider regulations.  In the end, we conclude that cider has a...

We are thrilled to kick off the new year by welcoming Russell Heissner of Barrel House Z onto The True Craft Podcast! Russ is truly a wealth of knowledge in brewing sustainability. Having developed technology to upcycle spent grain, breweries can reduce waste hauling costs, make more beer from existing inputs, reduce their environmental impact, and tell a sustainability story.  Will this be the ne...

We are thrilled to welcome Zack O’Connor, Senior Vice President of Fort George Brewing Company onto the True Craft Podcast this week.  Strategic planning has often been treated as a once-a-year check box on a to-do list, but what if there’s a better, significantly more impactful way? Zack sheds valuable insight into his collaborative approach, always-evolving process, and growth mindset around str...

In a special iteration of The True Craft Podcast, Katy interviews Chris on his reflections of the various investments made at Small Batch Standard in 2023. Get a glimpse at the inner workings of SBS, including how we’ve built out our team this year and the impact that’s had on client services. Learn about how our benchmarking software, Compass, has completely been rebuilt and what we’re projecting...

Today on The True Craft Podcast, Chris and Katy welcome Philip Maple from Barley & Pie Brewing Company. Join us as we explore Philip's sourdough journey including the trials and triumphs of mastering the craft. What forethought and strategies are essential to success when opening breweries in today’s market? What value does having a niche add to your business plan? Does pairing passions make your...

While we’re often discussing beer, there is another whole side to craft: spirits. How do buying behaviors differ between beer and spirits consumers? What can we learn about each segment of this industry through the lens of the other? Join Katy, Chris, and Colin Spoelman of Kings County Distillery this week on the True Craft Podcast as they dive into regionalization, industry trends for spirits vs....

It’s no secret: We both know you’re likely not raking in cash from the wholesale side of your business. Join Chris and Katy on this week’s episode of the True Craft Podcast to get a peek at an internal conversation we’re having all the time.  What do we uncover when we split your brewery out by business units? Here’s a hint: there’s no room for error. Regardless of how well you’ve dialed in wholes...

It isn’t as simple as it used to be, is it? Good liquid alone just doesn’t cut it anymore.  This week on The True Craft Podcast, Chris and Katy are joined by Mark Bjornstad from Drekker Brewing to discuss the role of alternate revenue streams in the brewing space. Mark comes from a unique perspective of also owning and operating Brewhalla, a beer-themed boutique hotel that sits on top of Drekker B...

All aboard the THC train? Where does NA fit into our business model? How do we create a thriving portfolio that kills it in distro? How do we stay relevant without exhausting our resources and losing focus? As we all know, many breweries out there started as passion projects. But none of the successful ones stayed that way. Though there are a million perilous turns a brewery owner can take, one th...

There are two indicators that an industry has matured: a lack of growth and a lack of innovation. The craft beer Age of Exploration throughout the 2010s led to questions like, “What could beer be?” which brought about nontraditional beer concoctions that intrigued consumers. But now we are experiencing a shift in consumer behavior and what was once seen as innovative is now met with a desire for j...

No matter how you slice it, ownership needs to carry some measure of accountability when it comes to staff turnover and creating a positive culture.  Chris and Katy welcome Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, Derek Fernholz and Blake Thompson, from Fernson Brewing Company to this episode of The True Craft Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of hiring practices within a brewery. Getting this piece right or wr...

It’s scary to be honest with yourself. (Happy Halloween, anyone?) But it’s impossible to be successful while living in a false reality. We are pleased to welcome back a True Craft Podcast veteran in this week’s episode: Michael Memsic from Sanitas Brewing. Chris, Katy, and Michael dive into a myriad of topics such as: White space beers’ place in an IPA world The nature of trends in the craft beer...

Community goes beyond patron services: We’re talking wholesalers, retailers, local organization leaders, and employees. And when it comes to return on investment, it’s hard to find something that can be more lucrative than authentic relationship building. Chris and Katy are joined on this episode of The True Craft Podcast by Pearce Fleming from Commonhouse Aleworks to discuss the specifics of fost...

There is a nuanced game of risk-taking that all business owners must play in order to succeed; however, while there is no profit without risk, risk does not guarantee a profitable business. Chris and Katy are joined on this episode of The True Craft Podcast by Sam Kazmer from Elsewhere Brewing to discuss the role of risk in running a successful business.  Today we cover: The “spidey-sense that mak...

In today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast, Chris and Katy have a candid discussion about the impact of entrepreneurship on business owners and their families.  Katy and Chris address tough questions through lenses of both coming from families of entrepreneurs. What effect does this lifestyle really have on your family? How and when do you start delegating? What does it actually look like to hea...

On this episode of The True Craft Podcast, Chris and Katy are joined by Terry Horner, Owner of Liability Brewing in Greenville, South Carolina. They dive deep into the world of B Corps — and Terry shifts Chris’s entire mindset on this topic.  We explore the vast benefits taking this path can have on your business and community, unpack what it really looks like to get certified, and weigh the value...

In this episode, Katy and Chris are joined by a True Craft Podcast veteran, Adam Robbings of Reuben’s Brews. We catch up with Adam to discuss what he is seeing as a Pacific Northwest craft leader in both the taproom and distribution. In particular, we discuss: What the heck is happening with distribution? Is draft really losing the game? How pricing and inflation are impacting both breweries and c...

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, Katy and Chris welcome Greg Parker from Iron Horse Brewery to challenge the mainstream understanding of brewery team organization. At the end of the day, every person on your team is just that… a person. How are you as a leader facilitating the health and growth of your team?  Join as we discuss why self-awareness in leadership is critical, the most commo...

In this episode, Chris and Katy sit down with Zak Koga from Karben4 Brewing out of Madison, WI to explore the blunt realities of contract brewing in the craft beer industry.  Are the headwinds in craft at least in part a product of a mature industry? Could Canabev just maybe be the answer to our capacity issues? How can breweries adapt with the use of contract brewing? All this and more in this ep...

We’re back with Season 5 of The True Craft Podcast! Join co-hosts Chris Farmand and Katy Noel as they dive into a new era of conversations with brewery owners and operators. Chris and Katy discuss the vision for season five and kickoff with our first guest, Bill Tressler, CEO and Co-Founder of Hinterland Brewery out of Green Bay, WI. We unpack challenges the craft industry has faced over the years...