The True Craft Podcast

We’re back with one last edition of Office Hours before we drop some guest content in anticipation of Season 3.Breweries are no strangers to the concepts of generalization versus specialization. So today’s episode is all about niche firms and specialization.We’re talking with another superstar here at SBS, Michelle Ryan, a Brewery Accountant and Tax Specialist. Having worked at a generalist firm and now with us as a specialist, she has an excellent perspective on the implications of niching down.She tells us about this past year and the moving target we call taxes, some of the major differences between general firms and niche firms, and the importance of sharing and fine-tuning an organization's collective knowledge.Enjoy!

As you may or may not know, both Small Batch Standard and The True Craft Podcast operate entirely remotely. And of course, due to recent events, working remotely has never been more relevant and practical. Today's episode of Office Hours is all about remote work. We’re joined by one of our many stellar Brewery Accountants, Allie Donovan.We talk about what the pandemic has shown us about working remotely, establishing communication channels from a distance, and being deliverable driven versus time driven.Enjoy!

We want to continue to peel back the curtains here with another look into some of our internal processes, and another edition of Office Hours.Office Hours' primary goal is to share the value and insight of the many extraordinary people who keep the gears turning here at Small Batch Standard.And this time around, we’re talking to our Onboarding Manager, Derek Smith.Derek gives us an introduction into his role working with breweries, he tells us why he loves putting out metaphorical dumpster fires, and we take a behind the scenes look at the process of onboarding a brewery.Enjoy!

We’re still recording and putting on some finishing touches on Season 3, so in the meantime here’s another episode of Office Hours with our COO Tom Miller.In Episode 7 of Season 2, Chris and Jen spoke with Matt Katase about the true definition of the term culture, and all of the things that come with cultivating a healthy brewery environment. And today, we’re diving even deeper into the concept of culture.Chris and Tom talk about vulnerability and what happens when you fail to be vulnerable, what it’s like building a team that’s aligned with a similar vision, along with a quick practical step for questions that you may not have the answers to.Enjoy!Links:The Culture Code by Daniel CoyleThe Power Of Vulnerability by Brene Brown

Season 2 has officially come to a close! We couldn’t be more thankful to our guests, listeners, and of course Jen Febre, our amazing Season 2 co-host.In the final episode of our second season, Chris and Jen take a look at what we learned throughout the past nine episodes. They talk about Doug from Societe and barrel aging, Buckstin Brewing and their small town success, Four Saints and their techniques for empowering employees, and much more.Give it a listen, and of course, stay tuned for Season 3 coming up soon!Links:MacLeod Ale

This episode is all about family-run breweries.Jen starts us off by discussing what led her to opening a family-run brewery, what her family was up to before MacLeod opened, and how she’s avoided nepotism.Then we bring in our guest for this episode, Brian Avery from Brävery Brewing Company out of Lancaster, California.Brian tells us what motivated him and his family to start a brewery, what forming a business plan with his father was like, and the process of adding a food kitchen.Enjoy!Links Mentioned:Brävery Brewing CompanyMacLeod Ale

Today’s episode is all about the rebirth of draught.Jen sits this one out as MacLeod is currently focused on taproom sales, so Chris starts this episode off with a talk about decision making.Then we bring in our guest for the episode, Chris Smith, co-founder of The Virginia Beer Company out of Williamsburg, Virginia.We talk about Virginia Beer Co’s packing split pre and post covid, cooperage arrangements, and the comeback of draught and distributor orders.Enjoy!Links:The Virginia Beer CompanyMacLeod Ale

Today we’re exploring the concept of brewery culture.We start with a quick overview of Jen’s bagpiping skills, how to see eye to eye with your founders, and we take a look at what we’re really talking about when we use the word culture. Then we bring our guest for this episode, Matt Katase from Brew Gentlemen out of Braddock, Pennsylvania. Matt explains the dynamic culture of a brewery experiencing expansion and growth, we talk mission statement versus mantra, and Matt tells us how music fits into the mix.Enjoy!Links:Brew GentlemenMacLeod Ale

Today we have something a little different for you.Chris starts the episode off by diving into the topic of case equivalents (CE’s). He covers what CE’s even are, the number of CE’s your sales rep should aim for, and how that changes if you’re self-distributing or going through a distributor.Then we bring in Matthew Wallace from Oliphant Brewery out of Somerset, Wisconsin.We discuss the use of a distributor versus self-distribution, Matthew walks us through a typical delivery day, and tells us the biggest hurdle to overcome as a self-distributor. Enjoy!Links:Oliphant BreweryMacLeod Ale

Jen starts the episode off by telling us her top leadership priorities, what happens when lines are crossed or too many drinks are had, and we take a deep look at accountability in the brewery.Then we bring in our special guest for the episode, Karlos Knott, owner of Bayou Teche Brewery out of Arnaudville, Louisiana.We talk about when to hit the switch and assign a shot caller, Karlos talks about leading other leaders with his position in the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild, and the unavoidable fear that comes with running a passion project.Enjoy!Links:The Prof G Show with Scott GallowayLeaders Eat LastBayou Teche BreweryMacLeod Ale Brewing Co

Today’s episode we’re diving into the deep topic of operations.Jen starts us off by telling us why she considers her number one job to be the “team-picker”, plus a short history of MacLeod’s portfolio.Then, we bring in our guest for the episode, Joel McClosky, CEO and Founder of Four Saints Brewing Company out of Asheboro, North CarolinaHe tells us his biggest challenge when it comes to operations, how he gives his team the tools to manage customers and excessive drinking, and the five questions Four Saint’s employees ask themselves to make confident, independent decisions without the need to consult with Joel beforehand.Enjoy!Links:Four Saints Brewing CompanyMacLeod Ale Brewing CompanyHow to Stop Worrying and Start Living By Dale CarnegieRich Powell IllustrationBilly Steele

Coming from an advertising background, our Season 2 co-host Jen is a true expert when it comes to marketing a brewery.And that’s exactly the topic covered in this week's episode.Chris and Jen start things off by discussing what makes a successful logo, Jen tells us about MacLeod’s early direct mail marketing campaigns, and why it’s so important to start posting on social media long before opening day.Then we bring in our guests, Gabrielle Blanco and Justin Buchanan-Lopez, owners of Buckstin Brewing Company in Nederland, Texas.They give us the history behind their name and logo, how they built brand recognition in the small town of Nederland, and their 2021 marketing efforts.Enjoy!Links:Buckstin Brewing CompanyMacLeod Ale

Today’s guest is an industry expert specializing in brewery and craft beverage insurance. Having worked with over 150 breweries throughout his career, it’s easy to see why he’s a fountain of craft insurance knowledge. In this episode, we’re talking with Certified Insurance Counselor Kyle C. Rheiner from CraftBrewingInsurance.com and The Beer Mighty Things Podcast.He gives us an inside look at brewery insurance, common misconceptions with insurance and insurance agencies, and tells us when should insurance be top of mind for brewery owners.This episode is full of eye-opening insight from Kyle that we hope can set a solid foundation for any brewery owner looking to learn more about insurance, and when to bring your agent into the conversation.Enjoy!Links:CraftBrewingInsurance.comThe Beer Mighty Things Podcast

It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 shook up the world.In this episode, we’re taking a retrospective look at the pivoting and ingenuity of the brewing industry, as we believe we’ll be able to learn from this for years to come.Our season 2 co-host Jen Febre from MacLeod Ale starts off by giving the perspective of an LA brewery, how they navigated the early shut down, and how they’ve coped with the current uncertainty of shut-downs in Los Angeles County.Then we bring in our guest, Sten Sellier, founder and president of Beltway Brewing Company in Sterling, Virginia.He talks about his initial reaction to last year's COVID news, and Beltway’s early plans for pivoting, protecting customers, and transitioning to branded sanitizer.Enjoy!Links:Beltway Brewing CompanyMacLeod Ale

After much anticipation… Season 2 is here!We’re super excited to finally share our new season with you, and to announce our Season 2 co-host, Jen Febre, Owner and CEO of MacLeod Ale out of Los Angeles, California.Chris starts us off with an epic monologue, then Jen takes us through the early years of the brewery, including what led her to the industry, how she leveraged the name MacLeod, and the nitty-gritty of what it really takes to start a brewery.Then we bring the inaugural guest for Season 2, Doug Constantiner, Co-Founder and CEO of Societe Brewing Company in San Diego, California. Doug gives us an overview of the history of Societe Brewing, their early self-distribution, and what led to their decision to open a 3000 square foot tasting room.Enjoy!Links:MacLeod Ale Brewing CompanySociete Brewing CompanyScout DistributionStone Distributing Company

Before we drop season 2 we have one more Friends of SBS segment. This one features Kary Shumway, the mastermind behind Craft Brewery Financial Training.Chris and Kary talk brewery management software, when to take the plunge and start using it, and metrics that should be top of mind for all brewery owners.Kary also shares his background, how he started financial training in the craft industry, and his thinking behind his course.Season 2 next week.Enjoy!Links:Craft Brewery Financial TrainingKary’s Financial TrainingEkos

We’ve got one more segment we’d like to share with you before we drop season 2. We’re calling it: Friends of SBS. The purpose of this segment is to showcase the expertise and knowledge of our peers and colleagues in the craft industry. In our first edition of FOSBS, we welcome someone who’s constantly spreading the word on why good beer matters, Jeremy Storton from Good Beer Matters. Chris and Jeremy dive into what it means to be a cicerone, the various achievements, and the process of becoming a master cicerone.They also talk about favorite food and beer pairings, so just a heads up, you may want to grab a snack before listening.Enjoy!Links:Good Beer MattersBreweryDBCicerone Certification ProgramTasting Beer by Randy MosherThe Brewmaster’s Table by Garrett OliverBeer Pairing by Gwen Conley and Julia HerzCheese Beer Wine Cider by Steve Jones and Adam LindsleyDeschutes BreweryRogueJester KingUrban Roots BrewingOla Brew

Today, we have another killer edition of Office Hours for you. We brought out the brains behind the operation, our COO Tom Miller, to talk about the processes that keep the gears turning. Chris and Tom discuss methodology for establishing a vision and translating it into language that can be easily understood. They also explore tactical issues such as setting goals, tracking progress, and creating benchmarks.This is a topic for all business owners, not just breweries. And this episode has some major takeaways that businesses can implement ASAP.Links:Car Dashboard AnalogyThe Intelligent Action Series

We have something special for you while we put the finishing touches on Season 2... Introducing: Office Hours, a new segment featuring Chris and the Small Batch Standard team, giving you a peek under the hood at the internal conversations we have within the (remote) walls of our firm.The purpose of Office Hours is to give you a peek under the hood of SBS, and to record some of the conversations we are having every single day. In the first edition, Chris talks with our Director of Accounting Operations, Phil Schwab. They walk us through how the SBS team conducts margin analyses for our clients’ beverage portfolios, discuss the importance of discipline when it comes to wholesale margins, and give us some perspective on what breweries should expect profit-wise in wholesale. If you’re a numbers geek, this one will be right up your alley.

One whole season down! We couldn’t be more thankful to our guests, listeners, and of course our co-host, Brandon Skall.In the final episode of the first season of The True Craft Podcast, we take a casual look at some of the things we’ve learned over the past nine episodes.We talk about Kings County Distillery pivoting to hand sanitizer, Hyperion’s inclusion marketing, leveraging technology with Liability Brewing Company, and much more.Enjoy! And stay tuned for season two!Links:DC BrauFour City Brewing CompanyKings County DistilleryHyperion Brewing CompanyCypress & Grove Brewing CompanyReuben’s SightglassReuben’s BrewsSailfish Brewing CompanyLiability Brewing CompanyKarben4Fernson Brewing Company

If there’s one thing constantly on every brewery owner's mind, it’s profit. Craft and community go hand-in-hand, but community can’t survive without cash. And in this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we discuss profit in the brewery.Brandon and Chris start off by comparing profit margins in taproom and distribution models, navigating price increases, and Brandon’s philosophy on utilizing debt.Then we bring in our guests for this episode, Blake Thompson and Derek Fernholz from Fernson Brewing Company in Sioux Falls, South DakotaThey give us insight on their sales split and profit in the early days of production, storage issues due to the increase in canning and distribution, and the status of Fernson’s recent expansion.Enjoy!Links:Fernson Brewing CompanyDC Brau

We’ve watched in amazement this past year as brewery after brewery have pivoted out of draft and into cans. But this transition is far from a “set it and forget it” situation.An increase in packaged offerings has created an increase in aluminum demand, and in this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we discuss the potential aluminum shortage faced by craft breweries.Brandon shares how DC Brau has navigated the aluminum crisis in the past, what they’ve done to counteract the recent shortage, along with predictions for what the future of draft looks like.Then we bring in the guest for this episode, Zak Koga from Karben4 Brewing in Madison, Wisconsin. Zak is a great resource on this topic, especially since Karben4 has both an active canning line AND bottling line. He explains some of the advantages and disadvantages faced with offering both package types.Enjoy!Links:Woodman’s MarketKarben4 BrewingDC Brau

Humans have been brewing beer for thousands of years. Needless to say, the industry has seen it’s fair share of technological improvements, which seem to jump further and further ahead each year, all in an attempt to make life in the brewery a little bit easier.That’s why this episode of The True Craft Podcast is all about technology.Brandon gives us the perspective of an automated brewhouse, the journey it took to get to that point, and an overview of some of the back office software we recommend the most.Then we bring in our guest, a wizard when it comes to technology, Terry Horner from Liability Brewing Company in Greenville, South Carolina. Terry is a software engineer who used his knowledge to optimize everything they do in the brewery, and he also gives some great insight on artificial intelligence in the industry.Enjoy!Links:Vermont Information ProcessingEkosQuickbooksBill.comBiermiLiability Brewing CompanyDC Brau

When the big production volume talks start, most brewery owners’ eyes light up. But with great distribution volume comes great responsibility… and some key make-or-break decisions for the brewery’s future. And that’s exactly what we cover in this episode of The True Craft Podcast.Chris and Brandon explore the pro’s and con’s of choosing either an independent distributor or a larger distributor, how to become a leading local brand, and how the scope of distribution changes as the brewery grows.In the interview portion of the episode, we talk to Dave BuShea from Sailfish Brewing Company in Fort Pierce, Florida.Dave talks about his distribution journey, the changes they made when they moved up to a bigger brew system, and the thinking behind Sailfish’s product portfolio.Enjoy!Links:Premium Distributors of Washington, D.C.Southern Eagle DistributingDC BrauSailfish Brewing Company

Now with in-depth episodes on marketing and brewery operations under our belt, this week’s episode of The True Craft Podcast is all about steering that smooth-sailing ship in the right direction. In other words: leadership..Chris and Brandon begin the episode with a discussion on leadership styles, empowering each individual to lead in their own way, and transitioning to a leadership role.Then, in the interview portion of the episode, Chris talks with Anna Heineman from Cypress & Grove Brewing Company in Gainesville, Florida.Chris and Anna talk about the shared leadership model at Cypress & Grove, leadership goals, and some ways they plan on achieving them.Enjoy!Links:Full Transparency Black CherryLeaders Eat LastDC BrauCypress & Grove Brewing Co.

Brewery owners know more than most, there are a crap-ton of moving pieces when it comes to running a business.And this episode of The True Craft Podcast is all about operations, and making sure things are running as smoothly as possible.Chris and Brandon start off with an overview of the complications that can come up, along with some compromises and places to find balance. They also break down the type of person you want to fill the operations role, and where you find them, internally or externally.Then we’re joined by a Pacific Northwest brewery legend and pioneer, Adam Robbings, Co-founder at Reuben's Brews in Seattle, Washington. Adam talks about growth, hiring, and strategies that have helped Reuben’s grow into the powerhouse it is today.Bottom line: this episode is “can’t miss” material.If you want to hear more insight from Adam and Reuben’s, you can check out their podcast Reuben’s Sightglass at the link below.Links:DC BrauReuben’s BrewsReuben’s SightglassCaptain Lawrence Brewing Company

What’s the point of brewing great beer if no one shows up to drink it?That’s why this episode of The True Craft Podcast is all about marketing.Chris and Brandon start off by breaking down the different marketing tools available to breweries, how they’ve worked throughout the years, and the thinking behind DC Brau’s iconic name and logo.Then, in the interview portion of the episode, we talk to Alexandra McKeown, Co-Owner and Founder of Hyperion Brewing Company located in Jacksonville, Florida.She talks about the meaning behind the name Hyperion, the many ways they value and practice inclusive marketing, their use of email, and much more. At the end of the day, much of running a brewery is a marketing game. And after setting the stage with the first two episodes, now we really start to get into the nitty-gritty.Enjoy!Links:DC Brau Brewing CompanyHyperion Brewing CompanySouthern Swells Brewing Company

We can all agree that 2020 was a year for the record books.And 2021 is already shaping up to be one as well.That’s why this episode is all about adapting to the atypical.In this episode, Chris and Brandon discuss how DC Brau prepped for the shut down with a crisis plan, how they’ve adapted, their decision to temporarily close their taproom, and what they’re plans are for the future.Then we’re joined by Colin Speilman, Founder of Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, NY. Colin shares how the community and distillery have adjusted, including the creation of their branded hand sanitizer.Listen to hear more about how Brandon and Colin have navigated these atypical times.Links:DC Brau Brewing CompanyKings County Distillery

In the first episode of The True Craft Podcast, we’re joined by season 1 resident co-host Brandon Skall, CEO and Co-Founder of DC Brau Brewing Company.Brandon and business partner Jeff Hancock started the brewery back in 2009 after noticing a lack of hometown brew on the shelves of Washington D.C. He tells us about how they got started, how they chose the name, and what it was like during the first year of business.Then, in the second portion of the episode, Brandon and Chris invite the first ever True Craft Podcast guest, Jeff Gattens, Co-Founder of Four City Brewing Company. Jeff walks through their early history, as they were founded just over a year ago and have been building and pivoting during the craziness of 2020.Listen to hear more about how Brandon and Jeff each got their start in the brewing industry.Links:DC Brau Brewing CompanyFour City Brewing CompanySmall Batch Standard

With The True Craft Podcast our aim is to facilitate the honest, insightful, behind-closed-doors conversations that craft owners and operators actually want to hear.Each season, host Chris Farmand and his resident craft owner co-host talk through the essential elements of any craft beverage operation, including the brewery’s history, distribution strategy, leadership approach, and much, much more.In each episode, you’ll also hear from a guest owner in an in-depth interview, providing yet another lens into challenges, opportunities, and decisions facing craft practitioners every day across the country.So if you’re up for some real talk, join us each week to listen in on our free-flowing conversations with some of the most innovative entrepreneurs in the industry.