End of the year wrap-ups are happening fast and furious these days and this show is no exception. As ever, there’s a lot to be thinking about for your small brewery amid new uncertainties in the marketplace, with increased competition, rising costs, and global events disrupting local business. To unpack it all we are joined by two craft beer industry professionals - Audra Gaiziunas and CJ Haines who will unpack what they’ve learned over the last 12 months and share perspective all while looking ...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 36
From making sure your guests are full and happy to comfortable and stylish, this episode covers the intersection of beer and food and finding options that might be right for your small brewery. It’ll also discuss how merchandise and a well placed gift shop will help to encourage guests to lave with a shirt, glass or specialty item, something that is certainly good for the bottom line. Guests include: Seth Barrows of Farm Road Brewing in Burlington, Vermont and Andrew Coplon of Craft Beer Profess...
Nov 16, 2022•47 min•Ep. 35
There are a lot of challenges when operating a small brewery. One of them is trying to stand out among larger counterparts. Be it breweries with state-wide distribution, larger taprooms, or even stadium contracts. But the nano brewery segment is fierce and continues to find ways to make waves and be seen among the country’s thousands of breweries. Our guests today will talk about that, from festival strategies to seasonal releases. - Anne Linehan and her husband Ben are the owners of Brocklebank...
Oct 16, 2022•37 min•Ep. 34
On this episode of the BYO Nano Podcast we’re talking about best practices and advice for someone who wants to take over a small, existing brewery. The idea came from a listener who wrote: “I'm someone who is overwhelmed by the non-beer aspects of starting a taproom from scratch - legal, regulatory, architectural design and layout, branding, marketing, and a blank sheet of paper. I've explored a couple of taprooms and small brewpubs for sale. What's a smart way to go about this?” That’s a jumpin...
Sep 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 33
It has been a non-stop grind these last few years and the tough news and situations continue to pile up. Small breweries dealing with the rising cost of ingredients, supplies, and equipment and looking for relief. That leads to tough decisions like the question of what can be passed on to the consumer. There are practical steps you can take to stay afloat, and to even get on better footing for when the economy rebounds. On this episode you’ll hear about all that and more from our expert panel of...
Aug 16, 2022•59 min•Ep. 32
This is a round table episode that explores the growth, benefits, and flavors of craft malt. John Holl is joined by two craft maltsters - Hillary Barile of Rabbit Hill Farm and Brendan Carroll of CNC Malt - and two nano brewers - Sam Fee of Monday's Brewing and Adam Juncosa of Odd Bird Brewing - to talk about what is new with grain, educational efforts, climate change, and plans for the future. As the craft brewing industry grows so do the number of small farms that support the brewing industry ...
Jul 16, 2022•49 min•Ep. 31
In proof that some of the most interesting things in American craft beer are happening on the small scale, we’ll start off this month with a brewery profile on Kulturhaus , a 5-barrel brewhouse in Pismo Beach where they are not only making beers, but fermenting pickles, sauerkraut, and vegetables to extoll the virtues of microbes. The founders Jennifer Harris and Eric Kirchner will join me for a conversation. Then we’ll spotlight hops. As the growing season is well underway and harvest in in sig...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 30
Earlier this month at the Craft Brewers Conference held in Minneapolis the pandemic was still the main topic of conversation, but amid the mask and surge talk a new word kept creeping in: inflation. The rising cost of goods is impacting everyone, and small breweries are especially feeling the pinch. For on the ground stories and practical advice we are joined by three nano breweries from Colorado, New Jersey, and Rhode Island to talk about how they are tackling the challenge and what else they a...
May 16, 2022•44 min•Ep. 29
Location. Location. Location. It’s so important that we say it three times. When you’re thinking about starting your small brewery, moving to a new location, or re-doing your space there is a lot to consider. We have two guests this month with unique perspectives on brewery locations. First up is Dustin Hauck of Hauck Architecture in San Diego. He has advice on layout and look, and how to best make your brewery space a welcoming location for both customers and employees. Then we’re off to Minnes...
Apr 15, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 28
There is a lot to think about, to plan, and to dream towards when it comes to your nano brewery. Sometimes you need a little help, and that’s what this episode is all about. We’ve been collecting your emails and will be answering them in this episode. From recipes and growth, to education and business, our guests are two people with vast knowledge and unparalleled practical experience. As the Co-Founder of the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival, Laura Lodge has been engaged in the cr...
Mar 16, 2022•56 min•Ep. 27
February is always an odd month. The newness of a new year has faded, but around most of the country, it’s cold and winter feels endless. It can be hard to get the motivation to get done what needs to be done. In those moments it’s good to take on new projects or to tackle the ones that have sat on a to-do list for so long. To help with that motivation we're talking with Ryan Wheaton at Craft Brew Creative about collaboration inside and outside of beer, focusing on your marketing plan, and ways ...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 26
The introduction of a new calendar comes with a lot of promise. A blank slate to fill in with projects and goals. Maybe it means revamping a tap room or a recipe. Perhaps it’s finally signing the paperwork on new equipment, new space, or taking the first steps to open your own brewery. Whatever the case, this episode is about making the right moves, finding a place in the brewing industry that suits your self and family, and learning a bit more about tools to help you get the work done - pandemi...
Jan 15, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 25
We hope you had a chance to watch, listen, or participate in BYO’s NanoCon held earlier this month. For host John Holl it was great fun to moderate two panels with industry experts, though leaders, and brewers. In addition to their own thoughts and insight we had a lot of great questions and feedback from conference participants, especially during our small brewer panel. For this episode, our last of 2021, Holl wanted to bring three brewers together to talk about shared experiences, how they fac...
Dec 16, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 24
No matter the season, hops are always on our mind here at the BYO Nano Podcast. With the 2021 North American harvest over, the farmers have time to rest a bit before preparing for 2022. Eric Desmarais of CLS Farms in Yakima Valley joins us to talk about the season that just ended, building brewery relationships, and some hops to think about in the new year. Our nano brewery profile is on Barley Head Brewery in Mystic, Connecticut. We talk with owner and brewer Drew Rogers about experimentation, ...
Nov 16, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 23
Earlier this month, Yazoo Brewing and Embrace the Funk held its annual Funk Fest. It was a return to somewhat normalcy filled with small pours, familiar faces, and a sense of camaraderie. Amid the socially distanced crowd was Chris Cates. He’s the co-founder and head brewer of Little Animals Brewery in Tennessee. He has a great story and perspective and he will share his story on this episode. Amid the happiness and revelry at the festival, there was also worry about supply chains and ingredient...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 22
Last week there was a scaled down version of the Craft Brewers Conference that happened in Denver and host John Holl flew out for a few days, to walk the expo floor, to see what was new in the world of beer, and to talk with brewers about what is exciting and worrying, and to have a few socially distanced pints. There is movement happening in the industry, new breweries getting ready to shed the planning phase and open, and small brewers are looking to get bigger, or better. Best practices are a...
Sep 15, 2021•55 min•Ep. 21
On this episode of the BYO Nano Podcast, host John Holl talks with experts in finance and wood-aged beers. The bottom line of your brewery is always something to be mindful of and after the last year and a half watching every cent is critically important. So, the show starts off with a conversation with Jason Sleeman the Vice President of Craft Beverage Lending at United Community Bank. Then we switch gears to the brewhouse. Barrels are fun, but are also a pain to work with. Andy Parker knows ab...
Aug 16, 2021•47 min•Ep. 20
On this episode of the BYO Nano Podcast, host John Holl starts off by talking with Alison Wisneski, the head of marketing, among other things, at Lady Justice Brewing in Colorado. She has insights into hiring practices for nano breweries, and what they have found works for their brewery, as well as how to focus charitable giving so that it means something to your small business. Then, he talks with Matt Humbard of Patent Brewing in Maryland, a nano brewery in planning which is currently offering...
Jul 15, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 19
After more than a year of uncertainty and life moving slowly for a lot of us, things have picked up speed in the last few weeks. Taprooms are re-opening for inside service, customers are buying beer for parties, draft beer is coming back to accounts. Where do we go from here, how do small breweries make the most of this time and get on better footing for the future? There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s dive in with our guests: - Audra Gaiziunas the owner of Brewed For Her Ledger, LLC , a managemen...
Jun 15, 2021•42 min•Ep. 18
As late spring moves along, mask requirements are being lifted, people are getting vaccinated, and we are all making tentative plans to rejoin the world and get back into our old familiar ways. As we look forward we here at the BYO Nano Podcast thought we should also look inward to important small brewery infrastructure. This means making sure you are well insured and in the righ way, and taking stock of your brewing water. Our guests on this episode are: With that in mind I’m really pleased to ...
May 15, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 17
It’s been a while since we had a good discussion among brewers on the program, so this month we are glad to have two nanobrewery owners and brewers on the show to talk about scrapping business plans, relying on local, learning from the pandemic, and more. This is a conversation with: -Chris Prost of Polyculture Brewing in New Hampshire. -Brad Lawrence of Lost Art Brewhouse in Michigan. Chris Prost started off as a homebrewer and later attended the Siebel Institute Concise Course in Brewing Techn...
Apr 15, 2021•50 min•Ep. 16
Spring is a time for renewal and betterment and on this episode of the BYO Nano Podcast we're talking about education and collaboration and even allowing ourselves to think ahead to autumn for hop harvest. Our guests this month are: - Steve Parkes the owner and lead instructor of the American Brewers Guild and Drop-in Brewery in Vermont. - Kelly Lohrmeyer, the field marketing manager of Yakima Chief Hops . The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 15 is sponsored by Blichmann Pro Brewing Sponsored by Blichma...
Mar 15, 2021•38 min•Ep. 15
We're in the dead of winter, a time where we look forward to spring and warmth, and renewal. This time of year can be a blessing however, giving us time indoors to think about what we hope to accomplish and the time to build a roadmap to making it a reality. Our guests this month are: - Amy Todd the Owner and Analyst of Zymology Labs in Vermont - Tim Schwarzauer of Dingo Dog Brewing , a non-profit brewery in North Carolina They offer advice, tips, and insight into bringing quality control measur...
Feb 16, 2021•56 min•Ep. 14
We’re kicking off a new year with some suggestions from brewing industry professionals that have some tips that can help your small brewery achieve big things over the next 12 months. January is a time of renewal of resolutions and to set up for success over the months to come. This year feels different because of the pandemic, but it’s still a good time to make positive changes. Our guests this month are: Julia Herz of Herz Muses Enterprises And Jeff Mello of Bootleg Biology Episode 13 is spons...
Jan 16, 2021•41 min•Ep. 13
On This Episode of the BYO Nano Podcast: We’re closing out 2020 with a panel discussion from experts in and around brewing who share their insights, advice, tips , hopes, and more with our guests: Melissa Romano Owner of Lake Anne Brew House in Reston, Virginia Rob Fullmer , Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild Laura Lodge Founder of the Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywine Festival & founder of Customized Craft Beer Programs. And Brandon Hernández The founder and executive e...
Dec 15, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 12
On This Episode of the BYO Nano Podcast: We will check in on the current state of craft malt in America and get a preview of what’s to come in the new year. Jesse Bussard, the Executive Director of the North American Craft Maltsters Guild talks about growth, agriculture, and innovation. Then, host John Holl talks with John Kelley the CEO of Craft Peak on how to dial in your brewery’s digital platform and what to think about as some temporary changes become permanent solutions. Finally, the show ...
Nov 15, 2020•52 min•Ep. 11
On This Episode of the BYO Nano Podcast: It’s getting colder and that brings some new worries for breweries amid this pandemic. Nancy Trigg of Arryved is here to talk about what your small brewery can do to optimize your taproom agility. Then, host John Holl talks with Warren Bondi, co-founder of Beer Marketeers on what believes are winning Marketing Strategies Mid-Apocalypse. Finally, it’s off to Montana to talk with Brewer Dave McAdoo of Burnt Tree Brewing on how its putting a little bit of ha...
Oct 15, 2020•51 min•Ep. 10
On This Episode of the BYO Nano Podcast: Let’s dive into the 2020 Hop Harvest and find out what is on deck from the Pacific Northwest. Stan Hieronymous is here to break it all down and offer up some unparalleled insight. Then, we're headed to Cape Cod to talk with one of the owners of Devil’s Purse Brewing about what the summer season was like and what his nano brewery has learned over six months of a pandemic. Episode 9 is sponsored by Blichmann Pro Brewing BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 9 Host:...
Sep 15, 2020•54 min•Ep. 9
On this episode of the BYO Nano Podcast: Host John Holl leads brewers and owners of nano brewers around the country in a roundtable discussion on what it has been like running a small brewery in unprecedented times. From talking about supply chain logistics, recipe development, marketing, and ways of managing mental health and family life, the brewers unpack a lot of information. The panel includes: Bri Burrows, the head brewer and co-owner of Big Rip Brewing in Missouri Courtney and Derek Gugge...
Aug 14, 2020•51 min•Ep. 8
On This Episode of the BYO Nano Podcast: - We head to Phoenix Brewing in Ohio to talk with Carmone MacFarlane about how the brewery has come to rely on its 5 barrel brewhouse during COVID-19 and how a crowler club has brought new people to their doors - Plus, if you are a small brewery and just starting to think about mobile canning, Andrew Ferguson of Codi Manufacturing is here to share some steps to ensure you are ready. Episode 7 is sponsored by Blichmann Pro Brewing BYO Nano Brew Podcast Epi...
Jul 15, 2020•35 min•Ep. 7
