Branding for Breweries - Strategies to Grow Brewery Brands and Sales

Why are more drinkers choosing taprooms over traditional pubs? It’s not just about the beer. 🍻🏠

In this episode, I’m joined by Laura Emson, taproom inclusivity consultant, CAMRA exec, and Women on Tap board member, to explore how taprooms are redefining hospitality, inclusivity, and customer experience.

We cover:
– What makes taprooms feel more welcoming than pubs
– Small layout changes that make a big difference
– Why bar stools might be holding your brand back
– How staff shape brand perception and loyalty
– The power of community, vibe, and purpose-built space
– What pubs can still teach us, and how to blend both worlds

👉 Whether you’re opening your first taproom or refreshing your space, this episode is full of big ideas and practical tools to help you level up.

Social media won’t save your brewery. But owned media just might. 📧📲

In this episode, I chat with Chris Overlay from Get Hoptimized, a beer-focused marketing agency, about why email, SMS, and loyalty tools should be your marketing MVPs.

We dig into:
– What owned media really is (and why it beats social)
– How to grow your mailing list without annoying your audience
– Real tactics that build loyalty and drive taproom visits
– Whether you really need an app, or just a great email

👉 If you’re tired of chasing followers and want marketing that actually works, this episode is your no-fluff playbook.

Brewing great beer is easy. Building a brand that sells it? That’s the real challenge. 🍻💡

In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Bruns, founder of Ale Advised, to help you turn passion into profit by thinking like a brand.

We dive into:
– Why passion alone won’t pay the bills
– Why brand voice matters more than visuals
– How to turn your staff into your best storytellers
– What to do if you hate being on camera
– How to stay authentic and serve your market
– One small mindset shift that changes everything

👉 If you’re stuck between what you love and what actually sells, this episode gives you the mindset, tools, and language to bring your story, and your taproom to life.

Feel like your brewery’s marketing is reactive, inconsistent, or just chaotic? You’re not alone, and there’s a better way. 🧠🍺

In this episode, I’m joined by Warren Bondi, co-founder of Beer Marketeers, to reveal the systems, tools, and strategies that help breweries streamline their marketing and sell more beer.

We cover:
– The #1 reason brewery marketing fails (and how to fix it)
– “Bare bones but brilliant” setups for small teams
– Project management tools that actually work for brewers
– How to align sales, taproom, and marketing goals
– When to bring in outside help, and when to DIY
– Why better organisation leads to faster growth

👉 Whether you’re a one-person team or scaling to multiple locations, this episode will help you get your marketing ducks in a row, once and for all.

The LoNo beer market is booming, but are breweries keeping up? 🍻🚫

In this episode, I’m joined by Ben Gibbs, aka Sober Boozer’s Club, to explore how indie breweries can better connect with the fast-growing alcohol-free market and meet the expectations of today’s sober-curious drinkers.

We cover:
– Why alcohol-free beer is growing, but still misunderstood
– What drinkers actually want from LoNo beer (hint: it’s not big “0%” labels)
– How to position your non-alc range without alienating core fans
– Common brewery mistakes in branding and marketing LoNo products
– What indie brewers can learn from Guinness, Lucky Saint, and Mash Gang

👉 If you're serious about making your alcohol-free beer sell, this episode is your playbook.

How do you create a beer so tied to a city, people think it’s always been there? 🖤🍺

In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Anspach, co-founder of Anspach & Hobday and one half of the team behind London Black, the Nitro Porter taking on Guinness from the heart of the capital.

We dive into:
– How London Black became a brand Londoners genuinely own
– Why every beer needs a sense of place, and how to build one
– The David vs Goliath dynamic with Guinness
– How the brand was developed fully in-house
– How a Nitro Porter became a movement, not just a product

👉 We also talk naming, posters, design, and how lockdown gave them time to build something iconic.

Perfect for brewers, designers, and brand builders alike.

What really makes a beer independent, and why should drinkers care? 🍺

In this episode, I’m joined by Neil Walker, Head of Marketing at SIBA, to explore how breweries can use the Indie Beer badge to stand out, win trust, and grow their audience.

We cover:
– “Craft” vs “independent”: what drinkers actually think
– Why 30% of 18–24s already care about indie status
– How to use the Indie Beer badge to boost visibility
– What the latest research says about consumer expectations
– Practical ways to join the campaign and amplify your message

👉 If you run an independent brewery and want to grow your reach, this episode is packed with tools and insights you can use right now.

Think packaging is just about looking good? Think again. Your can could be your strongest sales tool. 📦🍺

In this episode, I’m joined by James Mataczynski, engineer, brewer, and founder of CraftCrate, to unpack how beer packaging can drive sales, boost your brand, and reshape customer habits.

We cover:
– Why packaging isn’t just marketing, it’s a revenue stream
– What drinkers really notice on your can
– How Gen Z is reshaping packaging trends
– Why sustainability matters more than ever (and how to respond)
– The ROI of custom formats, cheeky details, and bold visual design
– What most breweries get wrong when trying to bring drinkers back

👉 Plus: James’s wild journey from Iron Man suit dreams to real-world beer innovation.

Think your beer will sell itself just because it’s good? That’s the biggest lie in brewing, and it’s holding indie breweries back. ⚠️🍺

In this episode, I’m joined by marketing veteran Grant McKenzie (Peroni, Asahi, Pilsner Urquell) to bust the biggest myths around brewery marketing and brand growth.

We dig into:
– Why “great beer” isn’t a strategy
– What big beer brands get right (and indies must learn)
– Why loyalty is a myth, and growth matters more
– Product, price, placement, and positioning done right
– 2025 beer trends: non-alc, mid-strength, flavour-forward

👉 If you want your brewery to survive, and thrive, this is essential listening.

Winning a medal is great, but turning it into sales, brand value, and momentum? That’s where the magic is. 🏆🍻

In this episode, I’m joined by beer judge and Advanced Cicerone Josh Lindsay to explore how breweries can make the most of beer awards.

We cover:
– What really sets award-winning beers apart
– The biggest mistakes breweries make when entering
– How to promote your win without sounding boastful
– Why “promote, educate, celebrate” should be your mantra
– How to use awards to boost visibility without being defined by them

👉 Whether you’ve got gold or you’re thinking about entering, this episode gives you the tools to make awards work for your brand.