SESSION SUMMARY: In Session 7 of the Breaking Brews Podcast, Jason Cercone goes one on one with Nick Bogacz, the Founder of Caliente Pizza & Draft House, in Pittsburgh. Nick, his wife Angie, and their entire crew have grown the Caliente brand from one successful location to five in less than seven years. Today, we are going to tap into some of the elements that have helped make Caliente a recognizable brand in Pittsburgh and beyond.

We kick off the show talking about Nick's background and discover he was working FIVE jobs prior to his decision to go into business for himself. We learn about his unquestionable work ethic, his patience to wait for the right opportunity, and how he knew the time was right to take the entrepreneurial path that's led to his success today.

Nick goes on to discuss how he purchased the former 'Caliente Pizza & Bar' in Bloomfield, changed 'Bar' to 'Draft House,' and began incorporating craft beer into his operations almost immediately. Craft beer paired with a unique, custom-made pizza containing fresh ingredients not only made for the perfect marriage, it showcased the strengths Nick saw in craft breweries and how he could succeed practicing the same principles.

We also talk about Caliente hitting the mainstream by capturing World Championships at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas on three separate occasions, how Nick was able to open second, third, fourth, and fifth locations, and his new book, The Pizza Equation. You can learn more about the book and pick up a copy on Amazon right now!

Connect with Caliente on the interwebs:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

To wrap up this installment of the podcast, I announce the winner of the Release Week Beer Money Giveaway. Find out who's getting $100 in beer cash courtesy of the Breaking Brews Podcast!

MUSIC CREDIT: All music on this installment of the podcast is courtesy of purple-planet.com.

SESSION SUMMARY: In Session 6 of the Breaking Brews Podcast, host Jason Cercone is joined by Dennis Hock, Founder of Strange Roots Experimental Ales, and Bert Mooney, Director of Operations at Strange Roots, to discuss the ins and outs of rebranding. In 2017 and stemming into 2018, the Strange Roots brand underwent a complete company rebrand from their original name, Draai Laag Brewing. In this Session, Dennis and Bert share some what it took to execute the rebrand effectively.

Before breaking into rebranding, Jason, Dennis, and Bert discuss the evolution of Draai Laag/Strange Roots, their foundation as a traditional farmhouse brewery utilizing only wild yeast to produce their beers, and how they've grown an incredibly loyal fan base by staying true to their original motives and continuing to push boundaries with their wild, sour offerings.

If you are considering initiating a rebrand, you'll want to listen to this session of the podcast to determine if A) it's the right move for your company and, if it is B) what areas you'll need to focus on to execute your rebrand.

Hook up with Strange Roots on your favorite corner of the web:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

MUSIC CREDIT: All music on this session of the Breaking Brews Podcast is courtesy of purple-planet.com

SESSION SUMMARY: In Session 5 of the Breaking Brews Podcast, Jason Cercone covers some basic social media tips and strategies that all beer brands of any size can implement immediately. The three networks covered in this session are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. There's not a lot of technical detail shared about these platforms (that will be covered in future episodes of the show with emphasis on one network per show), but some basic principles are discussed and can be utilized if you're looking to bolster your social media presence. 

Jason's two biggest principles with social media are as follows:

1. No matter what your posting strategy is, do it consistently.
2. Social media should be fun. So...have fun!

This episode covers some basics of each network, why a consistent approach will help your brand visibility in the grand scheme, how you can compartmentalize each network to get the most return on your time and money, some trends of social media that will never change and will help your practices as you adhere to them, and much more.

Connect with Breaking Brews online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

MUSIC CREDIT: All music in this session is courtesy of purple-planet.com

SESSION SUMMARY: In Session 4 of the Breaking Brews Podcast, Jason Cercone is joined by Ian Staab, Co-Owner and Brewer at Yellow Bridge Brewing Company in Delmont, PA, to discuss one of the biggest phenomenons in the craft beer industry today: cans. Without question, cans have helped put many breweries on the map with sleek label art, increased accessibility, ability to be transported, and, of course, because of the great liquid inside. There are numerous advantages to cans and many breweries are factoring in cans to their initial business plans today.

We start off the show hearing about Ian's background, then learn about how Yellow Bridge came to life in 2016. From there, Ian shares how he and his crew started canning beer around their one-year anniversary and haven't looked back. They've tried many methods of canning and have invested in a canning line that helps them get 20+ cases of beer ready for consumers to grab on-the-go. We talk about how this has helped generate additional revenue in their taproom and has resulted in increased brand exposure for Yellow Bridge as their beer has landed in various parts of the country it normally wouldn't thanks to the trade market.

If your brewery is considering canning or looking to improve current practices, this is the podcast for you.

Catch up with Ian and Yellow Bridge online:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

MUSIC CREDIT: Music in this session is courtesy of purple-planet.com

SESSION SUMMARY: Session 3 of the Breaking Brews Podcast takes a look at brewery production management! Host Jason Cercone is joined by Lauren Baker, Production Manager at North Country Brewing Company in Slippery Rock, PA, to discuss the many roles she plays to keep her brewery running efficiently. The great thing about this interview is that it's not limited to production management. Lauren and Jason discuss a wide variety of topics in the beer industry throughout the show. 

We start off hearing about Lauren's background and how she broke into the craft beer world while living in Texas. Her experience took her from bartending to brand rep to sales management before landing in her present role at North Country. Jason and Lauren also discussed the importance of drinking responsibly while working in the beer industry and the role craft beer professionals play in educating consumers each and every day.

North Country Brewing is located in a college town and Lauren believes their business plays a big role in helping introduce college kids to better beer options. While they still may frequent bars with $1 PBR nights, they also have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with artisanal beers right in their backyard. In addition to that, Jason and Lauren discuss how North Country has evolved in the Slippery Rock community, from their humble beginnings at their brewpub to their expansion to a 30-bbl production brewery and additional pub space at the Harmony Inn. 

Connect with North Country on the webs: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Lauren on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram | Twitter

MUSIC CREDIT: All music on this session courtesy of purple-planet.com

SESSION SUMMARY: Session 2 of the Breaking Brews Podcast is all about the Cicerone! Host Jason Cercone is joined by Brian Reed, one of only 18 Master Cicerones in the world, to discuss many aspects of the program, including Brian's plight to obtain his Master level certification, how the Cicerone program is helping men and women understand beer on a higher level, and how they can pass along that knowledge to consumers at bars, restaurants, and taprooms.

FROM THE CICERONE WEBSITE: The Cicerone Certification Program certifies and educates beer professionals in order to elevate the beer experience for consumers. The program has four levels:

LEVEL 1: Certified Beer Server - First-level certification for those who work with beer
LEVEL 2: Certified Cicerone - Certification for professionals dedicated to beer
LEVEL 3: Advanced Cicerone - A designation of distinctive expertise and tasting skill
LEVEL 4: Master Cicerone - The ultimate test of beer expertise

If you've been considering taking the Cicerone and would like to learn more about the program, visit www.cicerone.org. The first level is highly recommended for beer servers to gain a better understanding of the liquid they're presenting to customers.

Connect with Brian online!

Twitter | Instagram

MUSIC CREDIT: All music in today's session is courtesy of purple-planet.com.

SESSION SUMMARY: It's the world premiere of the Breaking Brews Podcast! This show is focused on the business side of the craft beer industry. Each session will bring you scenarios, experiences, and banter from industry professionals that will help you improve upon your day-to-day practices. Or, if you're a beer enthusiast, you'll gain a better understanding of the subject at hand to build upon your appreciation for the thriving landscape of beer.

To kick things off, host Jason Cercone sat down with Zack Morrow, co-owner and head brewer at Noble Stein Brewing Company in Indiana, PA. Noble Stein has been going strong for 2+ years and Zack took some time to share some of the tips and strategies he and his partners practiced when getting their brewery off the ground.

We start the show hearing about Zack's background and discovery of craft beer. From there, we delve into how the idea of Noble Stein Brewing came about and how Zack and crew brought things to life, including discussion on picking a location, managing start-up capital, gaining community acceptance, and adjusting to commercial equipment. We round out the session with Zack covering some of his top Do's and Dont's that you should consider if you're thinking of starting your own brewery.

Connect with Noble Stein Brewing on the World Wide Webs:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

MUSIC CREDIT: All music heard in today's session comes courtesy of purple-planet.com

SESSION SUMMARY: The Breaking Brews Podcast makes its debut (ish) with a special sneak preview of the first five sessions, all of which will go live the week of March 4th. In this introductory episode, you will get a feel for what the show is all about: a strong focus on the business side of beer with stories, experiences, and real-world scenarios discussed by industry professionals. Beer industry professionals and beer enthusiasts alike will be able to walk away from each session having learned something to help them in their day to day relationships with the world's greatest adult beverage.

The introductory session has clips from Sessions 1-5, featuring the following:

Session 1 - Zack Morrow from Noble Stein Brewing discusses some do's and dont's you'll want to consider when opening a brewery. Full session debuts Monday, March 4th.

Session 2 - Master Cicerone Brian Reed gives us an in-depth look at the Cicerone Certification Program. Full session debuts Tuesday, March 5th.

Session 3 - Lauren Baker, Production Manager at North Country Brewing, talks about her role in helping the brewery grow, both internally and externally. Full session debuts Wednesday, March 6th.

Session 4 - Ian Staab, Co-Founder of Yellow Bridge Brewing, talks about how canning their beer has helped increase their exposure and strengthen the bottom line. Full session debuts Thursday, March 7th.

Session 5 - Jason Cercone, Founder & CEO of Breaking Brews and host of the Breaking Brews Podcast, shares some easy-to-implement social media marketing tips and strategies. Full session debuts Thursday, March 8th.

MUSIC CREDIT: "Hot Rod" and "Big Vision" courtesy of purple-planet.com