The True Craft Podcast Small Batch Standard

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:

1. How storytelling shapes a brewery’s brand identity.
2. Strategies to tackle “release fatigue” for a consistent and sustainable marketing plan.
3. Tips on refreshing or rebranding your brewery.

With backgrounds in advertising, Chris and Brandon share a wealth of branding insights. Whether you're looking to reinvent your brand or stand out in a crowded market, this episode is packed with valuable advice. Don’t miss it!

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:

1. How to (actually) manage cash flow and why relying solely on gut feeling to make decisions isn’t cutting it
2. When contract brewing makes sense and when it doesn’t
3. Where to invest just 10 minutes of daily learning to make a big difference over time in understanding your brewery’s finances

As Kary points out, the notion that "accounting and financial literacy are best left to others" is an outdated mindset. It's time to take ownership, and Kary provides a unique viewpoint on where to get started.

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 topics we explore:

1. The pros and cons of leasing vs. purchasing a fleet of vehicles.
2. The value of maintaining control over your brand's distribution rights.
3. When it’s time for you (the owner) to step in as a sales rep because—as Chris says—”...there's no one better than the founder to sell the brand and its story.”

If you are already self-distributing or you're on the fence about taking the leap, you won’t want to miss the valuable insight from Phillip in this episode.

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 atmosphere, and engaging staff.
* Andrew’s take on the current epidemic of taproom staffing issues, and how to tap into the personalized motivations of each of your staff members through rewards, recognition, and opportunities.
* Why tabs are 30% higher in environments your customers perceive as “high engagement” and how to create high engagement through goal setting and tracking, training time-on-calendar, and most importantly, consistency.

At one point in the episode, Andrew claims “taproom” is his middle name, and it shows. He’s a wealth of knowledge with direct, on-the-ground experience and offers a perspective you won’t want to miss.

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 opportunities.

Can this strategy reshape how independent breweries pursue wholesale growth in our industry? Listen and let us know what you think.

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 identify your ‘niche’ but cultivate a lasting community. From leveraging distribution initiatives to multi-channel marketing efforts, Nick and Christina share actionable insights on how to authentically connect with your target audience and foster lasting relationships.