The True Craft Podcast

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In their own words

The True Craft Podcast facilitates the honest, insightful, behind-closed-doors conversations that craft owners and operators actually want to hear. Join us each week to hear co-hosts Chris Farmand and Katy Noel speak with a guest craft owner as they discuss the challenges, opportunities, and decisions facing craft practitioners every day across the country.

As heard by us

Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026

Brewery owners explain the operating choices behind taprooms, distribution, expansion, sales and forecasting in conversations built around practical decisions.

The True Craft Podcast treats brewing as an operating business, with Chris asking owners how their decisions work once they meet customers, costs and local conditions.

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Pinball meets beer margins, and your taproom daydream starts asking harder questions.

Press play if you want

  • Chris Farmand to ask what table service earns beyond the first pint
  • to hear why one brewery chose retail sites for foot traffic and local character
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Talks about

Best episodes of The True Craft Podcast

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

E125: Modern Brewery Ops, Guild Leadership, and Parenthood with Hannah Ison of Zeroday Brewing and Brewers of Pennsylvania

A brewery-business conversation about operations, work-life balance, and the craft itself.

Her path gives the discussion its shape: Executive Director of the Brewers of Pennsylvania, Director of Operations at Zero Day Brewing, a beer-making mama on Instagram, and a single parent.

E119: Brewing Growth That Lasts with Karl Sanford of Manhattan Project Beer Company

A grounded brewery-growth conversation shaped by Texas weather, food, and profitability.

The conversation gives a clear look at Manhattan Beer Project in Dallas, with Carl Sanford tracing the brewery's origin story, the challenge of Texas heat, and the work of staying profitable while still growing.

E120: The Equation Behind Every Great Beer Sale with Justin Vitti of Wander Back Beerworks

Wholesale beer sales sit at the center of this conversation, and the episode keeps the focus there.

Justin Vitti's route through craft beer stays on the business side. Chris talks with the co-founder of Wonderback Beer Works, a distribution-only operation with no tap room, and Vitti walks through how he got started at a craft beer bar before moving deeper into wholesale.

E126: Marketing Strategy vs. Execution with Warren Bondi of Wood Foot Beer Co. and Beer Marketeers

Warren Bondy turns brewery operations and marketing into practical taproom advice.

The episode keeps its focus on Warren Bondy's blend of brewery operations and marketing, with Beer Marketeers and Woodfoot Brewing grounding the discussion in work that is already happening on the floor.

E122: Making the Shift to Contract Brewing with Kevin Drake of Alibi Ale Works

A practical look at trading production scale for tighter pub economics.

The episode centers on Kevin Drake, co-founder of Alibi Aleworks in Truckee, California, and on a choice that shapes the business: closing the production facility and outsourcing beer-making so the pubs can stay the focus.

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Episodes

  1. 1

    E108: The Future Is Retail with Jeff Heck of Monday Night Brewing

    Jeff Heck, co-founder of Monday Night Brewing, discusses the brewery's expansion into six tap rooms across four states, exploring the shift from wholesale to retail as the future of craft.

    ·46m·4 clips
  2. 2

    E126: Marketing Strategy vs. Execution with Warren Bondi of Wood Foot Beer Co. and Beer Marketeers

    Hidden gem

    Warren Bondy comes in as a twofer.

    ·40m·2 clips
  3. 3

    E111: AI and the Craft Brewery with Adam Robbings of Reuben’s Brews

    Hidden gem

    Adam Robbins returns for a catch-up that starts with CBC and then moves into brewery work.

    ·52m·3 clips
  4. 4

    E119: Brewing Growth That Lasts with Karl Sanford of Manhattan Project Beer Company

    Hidden gem

    Chris opens with the Texas weather.

    ·37m·2 clips
  5. 5

    E120: The Equation Behind Every Great Beer Sale with Justin Vitti of Wander Back Beerworks

    Hidden gem

    Chris sits down with Justin Vitti for a conversation about craft beer sales and distribution.

    ·39m·2 clips
  6. 6

    E123: The Entertainment-Driven Brewery Model with Chris O’Neill from One Well Brewing

    Hidden gem

    Chris O'Neill explains how One Well Brewing turns a taproom into a place people make a trip for.

    ·1h 2m·3 clips
  7. 7

    E124: Winning in Wholesale with Brian Durand of Asbury Park Brewery

    Hidden gem

    The show opens with a reminder about a brewery profit workshop tied to CBC in Philadelphia, then turns to Brian Durand of Asbury Park Brewery.

    ·41m·2 clips
  8. 8

    E113: De-Risking Craft Beer with Charlie Berger of Wilding Brands

    Hidden gem

    Charlie Berger joins from Denver.

    ·51m·3 clips
  9. 9

    E112: Building A Destination-Worthy Taproom with Brian Walker of Cody Craft Brewing

    Hidden gem

    Brian Walker joins The True Craft Podcast to talk about Cody Craft out of Cody, Wyoming.

    ·46m·3 clips
  10. 10

    E121: Crafting Award-Winning Bourbon in a Control State with Doug McLaughlin and Mike Orozco of M&O Spirits

    Hidden gem

    Doug and Mike talk about how M&O Spirits grew out of film-production days and basement bourbon experiments.

    ·42m·2 clips
  11. 11

    E122: Making the Shift to Contract Brewing with Kevin Drake of Alibi Ale Works

    Hidden gem

    Mark sits down with Kevin Drake, co-founder of Alibi Aleworks in Truckee, California.

    ·49m·3 clips
  12. 12

    E110: Balancing Contract Brewing and Taproom Growth with Jeremy Duffy of Isle Brewers Guild

    Hidden gem

    Jeremy Duffy says Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket runs a 100-barrel contract brewery, a 10-barrel pilot system, and three retail locations built around food and events.

    ·34m·2 clips
  13. 13

    E116: Building a Rural Brewery from the Ground Up with Bobby Cheek of Heavale Brewing

    Hidden gem

    Bobby Cheek says Hevel Brewing in Calhoun, Georgia opened with no loan and about $165,000 in cash and small bills, after years of buying used equipment one piece at a time.

    ·38m·2 clips
  14. 14

    E107: Brewing for the Long Haul with Dave Winslow of Jackson Street Brewing

    Dave Winslow, co-founder of Jackson Street Beer in Sioux City, Iowa, discusses running a bootstrapped, family-owned brewery for 10 years.

    ·42m·3 clips
  15. 15

    E115: The Taproom and Distro Balancing Act with Doug Bellenger of Well Crafted Beer Co

    Hidden gem

    The conversation focuses on how a brewery can turn its taproom into a stronger retail space.

    ·46m·3 clips
  16. 16

    E125: Modern Brewery Ops, Guild Leadership, and Parenthood with Hannah Ison of Zeroday Brewing and Brewers of Pennsylvania

    Hidden gem

    Hannah Isen brings a lot into the room.

    ·45m·2 clips
  17. 17

    E117: Building Resilience into Your Brewery Model with Adam Charnack of Hi-Wire Brewing

    Adam Charnak, co-founder of High Wire Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina, walks through how the company grew from a 2013 startup to 11 retail locations across Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Wilmington, Knoxville, Cincinnati, and Louisville.

    ·35m·2 clips
  18. 18

    E114: Scaling Beyond Beer with Ted Mitzlaff of Goodwood Beer & Spirits

    Hidden gem

    Ted Mitzlaff describes how Goodwood Beer & Spirits grew from a small 2005 brewery purchase into seven locations, including five full-service restaurants, a bourbon bar, and new openings planned for 2024.

    ·38m·2 clips
  19. 19

    E118: Lessons from 25 Years in Hospitality with Erik Shewmaker of Field Day Brewing

    Hidden gem

    Eric Shewmaker says Field Day Brewing opened in August 2023 as a passion project inside a larger restaurant group, with a 15-barrel four-vessel brewhouse, eight fermenters, two lagering tanks, three bright tanks, and six serving tanks.

    ·47m·3 clips
  20. 20

    Strategic Expansions and Outlasting Tourist Season with Brad Fitzgerald of Swellsa Brewing

    ·45m
  21. 21

    E109: CBC Recap and the Power of Knowing Your COGS with Dan Callender of Salty Turtle Beer Company

    Dan Callender, co-founder of Salty Turtle Beer Co., discusses his experiences at the CBC conference and the importance of understanding COGS for brewery profitability.

    ·42m·4 clips
  22. 22

    E106: Remaining Relevant with Mike Frohlich of Laughing Sun Brewing Company

    Mar 21, 2025·41m
  23. 23

    E105: Recurring Revenue with Ross Stensrud of TapWyse

    Hidden gem

    The True Craft Podcast’s E105 examines how TapWyse helps breweries turn annual mug-club renewals into monthly recurring revenue.

    Mar 7, 2025·27m·1 clip
  24. 24

    E104: Why Every Dollar Counts with Eric Ruta of Craft Brewery Purchasing Organization

    Eric Ruta founded the Craft Brewery Purchasing Organization after learning that a senior-care facility saved $250,000 by consolidating food purchases.

    Feb 21, 2025·38m·2 clips
  25. 25

    E103: The Strategic Side of Finances with Nicole Smith of South Lake Brewing Company

    Feb 7, 2025·59m
  26. 26

    E102: Future-proofing Craft with Chris Creech of The Glass Jug Beer Lab

    Jan 24, 2025·38m
  27. 27

    E101: “The Suburban Pub” Boom with Phil Humphrey of 608 Brewing

    Jan 10, 2025·39m
  28. 28

    E100: 10 Insights for 10X Impact

    Dec 13, 2024·41m
  29. 29

    E99: The Power of Local with Michele and Tom Bulington of Crasian Brewing Company

    Nov 29, 2024·40m
  30. 30

    E98: Building Processes That Work with Adam Draeger of Inventors Brewpub

    Nov 15, 2024·46m
  31. 31

    E97: Brewery Acquisitions with Glenn Closson of Ivanhoe Park Brewing

    Nov 1, 2024·43m
  32. 32

    E96: Playing the Long Game with Brad Benson of Stoup Brewing

    Oct 18, 2024·37m
  33. 33

    E95: The Business of Brewing with Marty Ochs of Resident Brewing

    Oct 4, 2024·51m
  34. 34

    E94: Power of Compassionate Leadership with Melissa Walter of Love City Brewing

    Sep 20, 2024·44m
  35. 35

    E93: Straight Shooting with Michael Memsic of Sanitas Brewing Company

    Sep 6, 2024·36m
  36. 36

    E92: Brewery Success in the Modern Market with Mike Walters of Cocoon Brewing

    Aug 23, 2024·36m
  37. 37

    E91: A Mead-y Episode with Austin Corrigan of High Seas Mead

    Aug 9, 2024·46m
  38. 38

    E90: Legendary Lagers and Expansion with Ryan Wibby of Wibby Brewing

    Jul 26, 2024·37m
  39. 39

    E89: Intentional Innovation with Erik Fowler of San Diego Brewers Guild

    Jul 12, 2024·42m
  40. 40

    E88: Developing Leaders in Craft with Grace Robbings and Larry Rock of Reuben’s Brews

    Jun 28, 2024·40m
  41. 41

    E87: Breaking Barriers in Craft with Teo Hunter from Crowns and Hops Brewing

    Jun 14, 2024·1h
  42. 42

    E86: Every Beer Has a Story with Chris Cesnek & Brandon Monroe of Paperback Brewing

    May 31, 2024·35m
  43. 43

    E85: Know Your Numbers with Kary Shumway of Beer Business Finance

    May 17, 2024·46m
  44. 44

    E84: Lessons in Self-Distro with Phillip McLamb of Resident Culture

    Apr 26, 2024·38m
  45. 45

    E83: Elevate Your Taproom Experience with Andrew Coplon of CBP and Secret Hopper

    Apr 12, 2024·44m
  46. 46

    E82: Collaboration in Craft with Dave Morgan of Single Speed Brewing

    Mar 29, 2024·37m
  47. 47

    E81: Building A Niche Brewery with Nick and Christina Lumsden of Dogleg Brewing Company

    Mar 15, 2024·38m
  48. 48

    E80: How To Market Your Beer with Julie Rhodes of Not Your Hobby Marketing

    Mar 1, 2024·47m
  49. 49

    E79: Kitchen Keys For Success with Gabrielle Blanco of Buckstin Brewing Company

    Feb 23, 2024·43m
  50. 50

    E79: Warning Signs with Kelly Meyer of How Not to Start a Damn Brewery

    Feb 2, 2024·51m
  51. 51

    E78: Curating a Foolproof Food Program with Michelle Tressler of Hinterland Brewery and Restaurant

    Jan 26, 2024·50m
  52. 52

    E77: Navigating “Beer Guns” and the Next Gen with Richard Fennell of C&G Brewing

    Jan 19, 2024·46m
  53. 53

    E76: A Deep Dive on Cider with Adam Ruhland of Wild State Cider

    Jan 12, 2024·29m
  54. 54

    E75: A Revolution of Upcycling with Russell Heissner of Barrel House Z

    Jan 5, 2024·31m
  55. 55

    E74: Shaking Up Your Strategy with Zack O’Connor of Fort George Brewery

    Dec 29, 2023·46m
  56. 56

    E73: SBS: A Year in Review with Chris Farmand & Katy Noel

    Dec 22, 2023·33m
  57. 57

    E72: Mastering Sourdough and Market Strategy with Philip Maple of Barley & Pie Brewing Company

    Dec 15, 2023·31m
  58. 58

    E71: Regionalization in Craft with Colin Spoelman of Kings County Distillery

    Dec 8, 2023·38m
  59. 59

    E70: Minuscule Margins with Katy Noel and Chris Farmand

    Dec 1, 2023·22m
  60. 60

    E69: The Essentiality of Experience with Mark Bjornstad of Drekker Brewing

    Nov 24, 2023·30m
  61. 61

    E68: The Portfolio Puzzle with Ben Hugus of Ursa Minor Brewing

    Nov 17, 2023·52m
  62. 62

    E67: Industry Maturation & The Innovation Dilemma with Joel McClosky of Four Saints Brewing

    Nov 10, 2023·43m
  63. 63

    E66: Hiring, Humble Pie, & AI with the Co-Founders of Fernson Brewing Company

    Nov 3, 2023·40m
  64. 64

    E65: Surviving Craft with Michael Memsic from Sanitas Brewing Co

    Oct 27, 2023·50m
  65. 65

    E64: The Relationship ROI with Pearce Fleming from Commonhouse Aleworks

    Oct 20, 2023·36m
  66. 66

    E63: The Revenue in Risk-Taking with Sam Kazmer from Elsewhere Brewing

    Oct 13, 2023·42m
  67. 67

    E62: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship with Chris Farmand and Katy Noel

    Oct 6, 2023·35m
  68. 68

    E61: The Power of B Corps with Terry Horner from Liability Brewing

    Sep 29, 2023·29m
  69. 69

    E60: WTH is Happening in Distribution with Adam Robbings from Reuben’s Brews

    Sep 22, 2023·44m
  70. 70

    S5E3 Culture Killers vs. Self-Aware Leaders with Greg Parker from Iron Horse Brewery

    Sep 15, 2023·39m
  71. 71

    S5E2 The Blunt Realities of Contract Brewing with Zak Koga from Karben4 Brewing

    Sep 8, 2023·52m
  72. 72

    S5E1 The Journey of Craft with Bill Tressler from Hinterland Brewery

    Sep 1, 2023·39m
  73. 73

    An Audio Archive Of Brewery Knowledge

    Mar 18, 2022·1m
  74. 74

    S4E10 Expansion Expertise With Jason Sleeman

    Mar 14, 2022·39m
  75. 75

    S4E9 Consistency And Community With Confluence Brewing Company

    Mar 7, 2022·41m
  76. 76

    S4E8 The Flavor And Function Of Beer With Carton Brewing Company

    Feb 28, 2022·47m
  77. 77

    S4E7 From The Early Years Of Hazy Beers With The Alchemist

    Feb 21, 2022·31m
  78. 78

    S4E6 Running At The Right Size With Wooden Robot

    Feb 14, 2022·39m
  79. 79

    S4E5 Fresh Brews And Imported Flavors With Kansas City Bier Company

    Jan 31, 2022·34m
  80. 80

    S4E4 Back To The Grind With Gnarly Barley Brewing Company

    Jan 24, 2022·56m
  81. 81

    S4E3 Application Innovation With Great Notion

    Jan 17, 2022·47m
  82. 82

    S4E2 Partnerships And Collaboration With Land-Grant Brewing Company

    Jan 10, 2022·50m
  83. 83

    S4E1 Crypto, NFTs, and Augmented Reality With Four Saints Brewing Company

    Jan 3, 2022·54m
  84. 84

    Friends of SBS #8: Going By The Book With Maria Pearman

    Nov 29, 2021·36m
  85. 85

    Office Hours #7: Balancing Dance And Taxes With Julia Grubbs

    Nov 15, 2021·24m
  86. 86

    Friends of SBS #7: A Labor Of Love With Andrew Coplon

    Nov 8, 2021·28m
  87. 87

    Friends of SBS #6: A Method To The Madness With Julie Rhodes

    Nov 1, 2021·39m
  88. 88

    S3E10 Takeaways From Season 3 With Chris And Adam

    Oct 25, 2021·37m
  89. 89

    S3E9 Standing Out With TRVE Brewing Company

    Oct 18, 2021·45m
  90. 90

    S3E8 Pricing In Distribution With Drekker Brewing

    Oct 11, 2021·40m
  91. 91

    S3E7 Running On EOS With Sanitas Brewing Co

    Oct 4, 2021·59m
  92. 92

    S3E6 From Truck To Table With Muddy York Brewing Co

    Sep 27, 2021·1h 10m
  93. 93

    S3E5 Leadership Tools With TrimTab Brewing Co

    Sep 20, 2021·43m
  94. 94

    S3E4 Expansion Operations With Beer’d Brewing Company

    Sep 13, 2021·1h 8m
  95. 95

    S3E3 Branding A Brewery With Stone Corral Brewing

    Aug 30, 2021·1h 4m
  96. 96

    S3E2 Creativity In Chaos With Sanitas Brewing Company

    Aug 23, 2021·1h 33m
  97. 97

    S3E1 Starting Up: The History of Reuben’s Brews And Surfridge Brewing Co

    Aug 16, 2021·1h 26m
  98. 98

    Friends of SBS #5: Breaking Down The Brewery Industry With Bart Watson

    Aug 9, 2021·27m
  99. 99

    Friends of SBS #4: Echoes Of Ekos With Josh Mckinney

    Aug 2, 2021·25m
  100. 100

    Office Hours #6: From Generalist To Specialist With Michelle Ryan

    Jul 26, 2021·30m
  101. 101

    Office Hours #5: Remote Work With Allie Donovan

    Jul 19, 2021·23m
  102. 102

    Office Hours #4: Adventuring And Onboarding With Derek Smith

    Jul 12, 2021·29m
  103. 103

    Office Hours #3: Decoding Culture With Tom Miller

    Jul 5, 2021·32m
  104. 104

    S2E10 Recapping Season 2 With Chris and Jen

    Jun 28, 2021·43m
  105. 105

    S2E9 Family Run Breweries With Brävery Brewing

    Jun 21, 2021·1h 3m
  106. 106

    S2E8 The Rebirth Of Draught With Virginia Beer Co

    Jun 14, 2021·42m
  107. 107

    S2E7 The Concept Of Culture With Brew Gentlemen

    Jun 7, 2021·1h 20m
  108. 108

    S2E6 Case Equivalents And Distribution With Oliphant Brewery

    May 31, 2021·30m
  109. 109

    S2E5 Leading Leaders With Bayou Teche Brewery

    May 24, 2021·1h 14m
  110. 110

    S2E4 Owning Your Operation With Four Saints Brewing Co

    May 17, 2021·1h 23m
  111. 111

    S2E3 Small Town, Big Brand With Buckstin Brewing Co

    May 10, 2021·1h 9m
  112. 112

    Friends of SBS #3: Safety Nets And Brewery Insurance With Kyle C. Rheiner, CIC

    May 6, 2021·47m
  113. 113

    S2E2 The Ability To Adapt With Beltway Brew Co

    May 3, 2021·52m
  114. 114

    S2E1 Brewery Startup History Lessons With Societe Brewing And MacLeod Ale

    Apr 26, 2021·1h 17m
  115. 115

    Friends of SBS #2: Financial Foundations with Kary Shumway

    Apr 19, 2021·50m
  116. 116

    Friends of SBS #1: Perfecting Your Pairings with Jeremy Storton

    Apr 12, 2021·39m
  117. 117

    Office Hours #2: Vision, Benchmarks, And Scorecards With Tom Miller

    Apr 5, 2021·49m
  118. 118

    Office Hours #1: Managing Margins With Phil Schwab

    Mar 29, 2021·30m
  119. 119

    S1E10 True Craft Season 1 Recap: What Have We Learned?

    Mar 22, 2021·43m
  120. 120

    S1E9 Pursuing Profit with Fernson Brewing Company

    Mar 15, 2021·1h 13m
  121. 121

    S1E8 Can We Can It? The Aluminum Crisis with Karben4 Brewing

    Mar 8, 2021·1h 13m
  122. 122

    S1E7 Talking Technology with Liability Brewing Company

    Mar 1, 2021·1h 14m
  123. 123

    S1E6 Dishing On Distribution with Sailfish Brewing Company

    Feb 22, 2021·1h 9m
  124. 124

    S1E5 Steering The Ship: Brewery Leadership with Cypress & Grove

    Feb 15, 2021·1h 2m
  125. 125

    S1E4 Managing The Machine: Operations with Reuben’s Brews

    Feb 9, 2021·1h 24m
  126. 126

    S1E3 The Brewery Marketing Game with Hyperion Brewing Co

    Feb 1, 2021·1h 10m
  127. 127

    S1E2 Adapting To The Atypical with DC Brau and Kings County

    Jan 25, 2021·1h 9m
  128. 128

    S1E1 Homebrew To Brewhouse: History Lessons From DC Brau and Four City Brewing

    Jan 18, 2021·1h 23m
  129. 129

    The True Craft Podcast Trailer

    Dec 18, 2020·1m