Having food options is a way to bring in new customers and to keep fans coming back. There are many ways a small brewery can approach a menu and this month we’re talking with folks who have dedicated kitchens and robust food truck programs.

First up, Tony Cordova of New York's Scale House Brewing. Cordova, the Head Brewer, talks about the evolution of the company, what goes into running a pizza program of note, and how the brewhouse and the kitchen work together to create a memorable customer experience.

Then Jason Stengl of Colorado's Cannonball Creek shares insight into running a food truck program. When he and his partners started the brewery, they had come from a brewpub chain that did great business. They knew they wanted to focus on beer so opted against having a kitchen. Now they have a robust food truck program - at least one each day of the week they are open. He shares insight on how scheduling, managing, and working with those businesses has its own challenges. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 71  is sponsored by:

Five Star Chemicals
Brewers, listen up! Five Star Chemicals just dropped their newest EPA registered sanitizer called Saniclean PAA Pro. It’s a low-foam peracetic acid sanitizer that knocks out bacteria, yeast, and mold fast, leaving your tanks, lines, and kegs spotless with no rinse required. And right now, it’s Buy One, Get One Free through the end of the year. Email [email protected] or reach out through their website to order now.

Fermentis
Wanna brew a strong ale or a barrel aged beer? Discover SafBrew™ HA-18, a powerful solution consisting of POF+ Active Dry Brewer’s Yeast and enzymes! You can now brew high alcoholic beers, such as strong ales, barleywines, and barrel aged beers with very high density. A pro tool for pro brewers. More information visit Fermentis.com.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 71
Host: John Holl
Guests: Tony Cordova, Jason Stengl

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: by John Holl

Yeast is the critical ingredient that turns humble wort into magical beer. This month, a look at the microbe from multiple angles and how to make the most out of it in your small-scale craft brewery.

Guests:
Laura Burns, Ph.D. is the Director of Research and Development at Omega Yeast. After studying stress responses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for her graduate thesis at Vanderbilt University, she decided the best place to apply this knowledge was in brewing. She worked in production brewing for five years as Head Brewer and Director of Quality Assurance before heading back to the bench at Omega Yeast. Her undeniable curiosity drives her to tackle difficult questions that brewer’s face daily.

Technical Sales Manager for the home segment at Fermentis, Hugo Picard is in charge to support homebrewers, winemakers, cidermakers, in their hobby for beverage production at home. Hugo graduated with a Master’s in Science and Agricultural Engineering from ISA Lille in France. He also acquired a Master’s degree in International Marketing and Communication at Lille University. Before joining Fermentis, he has been president of a brewing and winemaking association and worked in several breweries and brewpubs in France and New-Zealand as a brewer or as a marketing/communication associate.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 70  is sponsored by:

BYO NanoCon on October 24
Next week on Friday, October 24, learn from craft brewing industry experts with live online sessions covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups.
• Full-Day of Live, Online Seminars and Q&A Panels
• Access to Video Recordings and Course Materials for All Sessions
• 3 Learning Tracks: Business & Sales, Brewing Operations, Start-Ups
• Get Your Questions Answered Live by Craft Beer Experts
• Interact with Other Small-Scale Craft Brewers & Breweries-In-Planning
• Q&A Sessions with Leading Small-Scale Brewing Suppliers
Check out https://byo.com/product/2025-nanocon-online/ for more details.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 70
Host: John Holl
Guests: Laura Burns, Hugo Picard

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: by John Holl

Lagers have been having a moment for a long time now. In this current age of brewing, there are many small breweries that are giving the time and attention to making lagers of note. We have two guests here that will explain how to best approach the style, and bring great pints to your patrons.

Andreas Miller has over 20 years of experience in the brewing industry, and has been an adjunct instructor, consultant, and one of the brewers for the Siebel Institute's pilot and research brewing department since 2023. A graduate of Doemens Akademie in Munich, Andreas has worked as a brewmaster for a number of breweries large and small internationally, and provided consulting services for many breweries worldwide. His expertise covers practically every phase of brewing, packaging, and engineering operations, along with troubleshooting.

Daren Orr and business partner Matt Bartle decided that the town of South Hero, Vermont, would benefit from a public house with community (and great beer) at the forefront. While watching the brewery market for over a decade, they believed that a small town nano brewpub would be a stable model to both produce beer and run a local restaurant so opened Two Heroes Brewery in 2020 and expanded to their current brewpub public house in 2023. They believe that community is the most important aspect of the town and they serve to fill the void for a local gathering place for community members and visitors alike. And in keeping with the theme this month, they are brewing some lagers of note. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 69  is sponsored by:

Fermentis
Are you ready to add a cider to your brews? Whether you want a crisp, sweet or fruity cider, discover the SafCider™ range: 4 cider strains available in 5g pouches, the perfect size for you. Just make your choice or try them all! To learn more about how Fermentis can improve the quality of your fermentation, and for the latest on their exciting new product releases, visit Fermentis.com.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 69
Host: John Holl
Guests: Daren Orr, Andreas Miller

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: Lager at the Little Beer Festival. Photo by John Holl

While many of us are still holding on to the last days of summer, trying to make the most out of downtime, the work is gearing up on farms across the Pacific Northwest in North America. It’s almost hop harvest season and we’re going to talk with farmers and hop professionals on what is happening for the 2025 season.

Guests include Diane Gooding of Gooding Farms and Malissa Gatton and Josh Viganskyof Haas. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 68  is sponsored by:

Yakima Valley Hops
YakimaValleyHops.com is your simple and straightforward way to source hops.Everything from traditional pellets to innovative hop products and liquid extracts is available whenever you need them with just a couple clicks. No contracts. No guessing. No complicated terms. Just reliable access to the highest quality hops from the Yakima Valley and premium growing regions around the world. Explore the possibilities at YakimaValleyHops.com and see how simple hop sourcing can be.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 68
Host: John Holl
Guests: Diane Gooding, Malissa Gatton, and Josh Vigansky

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: Dolcita™ HBC 1019 c.v. hop cones and leaves on bine in hop field

Sensory analysis, setting up a lab for QC tests, and understanding your raw ingredients are all paramount when it comes to improving the quality of your beer. We talk with two experts - Lindsay Barr and Ashton Lewis - who are here to help you level up beer quality in a small-scale brewery.

Guests:
Lindsay Barr is the CSO and Founding Partner of DraughtLab Sensory Software where she helps food & beverage companies use tasting technology to make products that people love.  After earning a Masters in Food Science from UC Davis, she began her career at New Belgium Brewing Company managing the Sensory and Consumer Research program. Along with her work at DraughtLab, she teaches Sensory for the Master Brewers course at UC Davis and the Siebel Institute and judges global beer competitions. During her career, she has published numerous groundbreaking techniques to lower the barrier-to-entry into sensory science and continues to be passionate about making sensory accessible for all businesses. She currently lives in San Francisco and can be found running or lounging in Golden Gate Park, sailing, or playing around in the Castro.

For the last 29 years Ashton Lewis has worked for Brew Your Own Magazine as technical editor and “Help Me, Mr. Wizard” columnist.  His day job since December 2016 has been with RahrBSG where he is currently Manager of Training and Technical Support.  Prior to working in the world of ingredients, Ashton was the Staff Master Brewer and Brewing Group Sales Manager for the Paul Mueller Company living in the world of custom stainless steel.  He was also a partner in the Springfield Brewing Company (SBC) in Springfield, Missouri, and SBC’s master brewer from 1997 to 2019.  Ashton holds a B.S. in Food Science from Virginia Tech (1991) and a M.S. in Food/Brewing Science from UC Davis (1994), and is currently the MBAA District Great Plains Technical Chair.  In his spare time, he enjoys music, cooking, homebrewing, talking about beer, and playing with Excel.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 67  is sponsored by:

Five Star Chemicals

Looking for a powerful, no-rinse sanitizer that gets the job done fast? Meet Saniclean PAA Pro from Five Star Chemicals. This EPA-registered, PAA-based acid sanitizer is tough on beerstone and perfect for everything from kegs to packaging lines. Available in two convenient sizes, it’s ideal for coarse sprayers, fermenters, and more. Trusted by pros, designed for performance—Saniclean PAA Pro helps you brew with confidence. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. Brew better. Brew with Five Star.

Fermentis
Wanna brew a Lager? Discover the whole SafLager™ range by Fermentis. Whether you’re looking for floral, fruity, or even estery notes, Fermentis has your back! Want to know more about Fermentis yeasts? Visit www.fermentis.com! 

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 67
Host: John Holl
Guests: Lindsay Barr, Ashton Lewis

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

This episode takes a deep dive into malt offerings from both the larger suppliers and those on the craft side. As we take a look at this critical ingredient, experts will share insight on innovation, use, flavor, and more. This episode is in two segments, the first focusing on the larger malt companies, and what they are offering small craft breweries, and then a dive into the craft malt side of things and how your small brewery can best work with local farmers. Guests include Aaron Hyde, the Senior Director of Product Portfolio for RahrBSG, Steve Kurowski, the Executive Director of the Craft Maltsters Guild, and Ian A. Goering, the Director of Operations of the Blue Ox Malthouse in Maine. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 66  is sponsored by:

Siebel Institute
With the famous 12-week International Diploma in Brewing Technology program from Siebel Institute and World Brewing Academy, you will spend 6 weeks covering commercial-level brewing theory at Siebel Institute in Chicago followed by 6 weeks of practical brewing and advanced theory at Doemens Academy in Germany. With the next program starting soon, contact us today to start on a path to build your brewing career.Visit us at www.siebelinstitute.com for complete details.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 66
Host: John Holl
Guests: Aaron Hyde, Steve Kurowski, Ian A. Goering

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

The Craft Brewers Conference was held in Indianapolis last month and at the ingredients supplier booths, amid the talk of new hop varieties, there were several beers brewed with non-traditional grains. That’s worthy of a closer look and on this episode you’ll hear from two brewers - Garrett Oliver of the Brooklyn Brewery and Sandy Boss Febbo of Bang Brewing - who are all in on Fonio and Kernza.
 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 65  is sponsored by:

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Gambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/

Five Star Chemicals

Big news, brewers—Five Star Chemicals Saniclean PAA Pro officially launched at CBC. This powerful new acid-based sanitizer combines the best of Saniclean with the strength of per-acetic acid for fast, effective cleaning that keeps your equipment in top shape. Trusted quality, pro performance—now in a PAA formula. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. Brew better. Brew with Five Star.

Fermentis
Discover the whole SafLager™ range by Fermentis, covering traditional to modern-style lagers: elegant lagers with floral notes, fruity and hoppy ones. And you can even imagine an estery Lager with the new SafLager™ E-30, producing some fruity esters with subtitle banana characters. Available in 500g, 100g and 11.5g formats. Want to know more about SafLager™ yeasts? Visit www.fermentis.com.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 65
Host: John Holl
Guests: Garrett Oliver, Sandy Boss Febbo

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

These are confusing times, and hard times to work in a small business. As Bart Watson of the Brewers Association recently said, beer makers really dislike uncertainty. So, how can anyone plan when the global supply chain is changing minute by minute? On this epidode we talk about how to budget for the unknown.

 
The last few months have seen a fire hose of news coming out of Washington D.C., a lot centered around tariffs and global trade. Admittedly, it’s difficult to do a show on the topic because of the chaotic nature of the rollout from the White House and how seemingly concrete plans crumble minutes after they are announced. 

This obviously creates uncertainty in the markets and on main street. This episode features two conversations that center around what might be coming and how to best prepare. Bart Watson the president and CEO of the Brewers Association talks about the bigger picture and then Audra Gaiziunas of Brewed for Her Ledger tells us how you can best budget for uncertainty. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 64  is sponsored by:

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Gambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/

Five Star Chemicals

Big news, brewers—Five Star Chemicals Saniclean PAA Pro is officially launching at CBC. This powerful new acid-based sanitizer combines the best of Saniclean with the strength of per-acetic acid for fast, effective cleaning that keeps your equipment in top shape. Trusted quality, pro performance—now in a PAA formula. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. Brew better. Brew with Five Star.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 64
Host: John Holl
Guests: Bart Watson, Audra Gaiziunas

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

How can your brewery make the most out of the holidays? More than just slinging stout on St. Patrick’s Day, or a festbier during Oktoberfest, there are ways to create a welcoming vibe that will get people coming back year after year and can establish your brewery as a hospitable spot.

One person who has been working to crack the code is Sam McNulty. He has developed and operates seven restaurants and breweries on West 25th Street in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland's Near West Side. 

Three of these concepts are brewpubs of vastly different scale: One a nano brewery where experimental beers are concocted, while another is a brewpub restaurant with close to five hundred seats, and in 2016 he rebuilt a 43,000 square foot warehouse that dates back to the 1800s and launched a full-scale production brewery sending Market Garden Brewery beers out across Northeast and Central Ohio.

He has lived largely car-free in Ohio City for the past 20+ years. And one of his guiding investment principles is to nest his businesses within a 15-minute bicycle ride from the Market Garden Brewery. As one of his former professors once said: “Sam is a beer entrepreneur fermenting the rise of a post-industrial frontier with opportunity galore. Sam is building on the Pride of Cleveland.”

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 63  is sponsored by:
Fermentis
How can you make your beer stand out? There might not be one magic answer, but one thing is certain: yeast plays a pivotal role in shaping your beer's unique character. Explore the Fermentis range, crafted to support your brewing ambitions with:
- Unmatched quality
- Simplicity in use
- Boundless creativity
Ready to elevate your brew? Visit www.fermentis.com and start crafting the beer of your dreams!”

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 63
Host: John Holl
Guest: Sam McNulty

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

While it is rewarding and exciting to own a small brewery, there is also a lot of worry that comes with it. Over time things can snowball, accumulate, and become a burden. Regular check-ins on mental health are important, and no matter who you are in the brewing space, or your role, taking care of yourself is paramount. That’s the focus on this episode. 

Everyone is feeling the stress these days. From outside influences to internal worry, everyone is carrying a lot of weight on their shoulders. If you’re running a small business, the worry of your staff is on you as well. While there are many things in our control, there are also a lot of things that are simply not easily dealt with. Finding balance from within and managing what you can is important to mental health. Being pulled in a dozen different directions all at once rarely brings calm, but by focusing on what you can control and finding the moments - or longer - to take a break adds up to a better human experience. Of course there are other considerations to mental health in the beer space, and other challenges to navigate. 

To get a better understanding on what is available out there and how to best access it, we're pleased to be joined by J Jackson-Beckham, the Director of Member Resources for the Brewers Association, better known in the industry as Dr. J.

A former professor of Communication Studies, Dr. J dedicated her academic career to the study of American beer. She is an author, speaker, vocal advocate for the craft beverage community, homebrewer, and Certified Cicerone. In 2018, Dr. J was named the Brewers Association's first-ever Diversity Ambassador. In 2020, she was named Imbibe Magazine's Beer Person of the Year. Today, she helps craft beverage organizations develop practices that drive success, build communities, and empower individuals as the Brewers Association Director of Member Resources.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 62  is sponsored by:

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Gambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/ 

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 62
Host: John Holl
Guest: Dr. J Jackson-Beckham

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell