BYO Nano Brew Podcast

Beer is fun, but owning and working in a brewery comes with a lot of small business problems. Figuring out how to solve them does not need to be a solo endeavor. This month we’re talking with folks who offer insight on some common issues and how to best tackle them head on.

Guests:

Julie Rhodes is a 20-year veteran of the food and beverage industry, owning Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions, a fractional consulting and educational services company, and a Co-Founder of Kick Fizz, a low-dose hemp-infused beverage brand. She specializes in beverage sales, digital marketing, distributor management, and business strategy, helping craft beverage brands work smarter, not harder. A sought-after speaker, business journalist, and instructor for multiple university programs, Julie was named the 2023 Brewers Association Mentor of the Year. She is also an active member of numerous trade associations and state-level guilds.

Jonathan Golon is the co-founder, with his wife April, of Broken Loop Brewing in New York’s Capital Region. Jonathan has brewed for more than five years focusing on traditional: classic styles, careful process, and beers made for flavor and drinkability. They started Broken Loop Brewing to build a brewery that doesn't feel like another stop on your routine. The name, they way, is a reminder to step out of autopilot. Try something new. Slow down, even if just for a pint. There's a literal broken loop too: the traffic sensors at the intersection outside the brewery have been broken for years. If you've ever sat at that red light for no reason, you've felt it. They couldn't fix the loop, so they fixed the feeling.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 81 is sponsored by:

Five Star Chemicals
Running a nano brewery means making every minute count, and your cleaning products should work just as hard as you do. Five Star Chemicals' Saniclean PAA Pro combines an acid rinse and no-rinse sanitizer into one powerful solution, helping remove beerstone, protect your equipment, and simplify your cleaning routine. Spend less time switching between products and more time brewing exceptional beer. Learn more about Saniclean PAA Pro at FiveStarChemicals.com and keep every batch tasting its best.

NanoCon Online
Registration has opened for NanoCon Online. On October 23rd craft brewing industry experts will present a full-day of live seminars covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups for the small-scale, taproom-oriented brewer. Get your questions answered live and have future access to NanoCon Online video recordings and course materials for all sessions. Register now at NanoCon.beer and save $25!

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/nano-plus-membership for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 81
Host: John Holl
Guest: Julie Rhodes, Jonathan Golon
Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: by John Holl

Mid-August means attention is starting to shift to the hop fields of North America where soon enough harvest will begin. It’s a good time to take stock, catch up with the industry, and to get excited about advancements in the space and this year’s crop. On this episode we first chat with Michelle Palacios of the Oregon Hop Commission about this year's crop. Then, it's a conversation with Joel Franklin of Florida's Wood Foot Brewery on how he is using flowables and advanced hop products in his small batch beers.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 80 is sponsored by:

NanoCon Online
Registration has opened for NanoCon Online. On October 23rd craft brewing industry experts will present a full-day of live seminars covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups for the small-scale, taproom-oriented brewer. Get your questions answered live and have future access to NanoCon Online video recordings and course materials for all sessions. Register now at NanoCon.beer and save $25!

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/nano-plus-membership for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 80
Host: John Holl
Guest:  Michelle Palacios and Joel Franklin

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

From coffee to kombucha, wine, and spirits, there are a lot of different ways brewers are offering beverages beyond beer. There are some natural connections between some of the categories, but also a lot to learn. Often it comes with experience, passion, and a good push. 

This month, we're glad to be talking with Rich Michaels, who is the co-founder of Second Act Spirits in New York. As the name suggests, this is a new chapter for him and his wife Stacey. You’ll hear about his background in brewing in a moment and how he found his way into distilling and the work that goes into changing gears. 

There are a lot of important nuggets in this conversation that you’ll pick up along the way. If you’re thinking about adding a new fermentation program to your business or looking to make a switch, Rich is here with some guidance. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 79 is sponsored by:

Five Star Chemicals
Running a nano brewery means making every minute count, and your cleaning products should work just as hard as you do. Five Star Chemicals' Saniclean PAA Pro combines an acid rinse and no-rinse sanitizer into one powerful solution, helping remove beerstone, protect your equipment, and simplify your cleaning routine. Spend less time switching between products and more time brewing exceptional beer. Learn more about Saniclean PAA Pro at FiveStarChemicals.com and keep every batch tasting its best.

NanoCon Online
Registration has opened for NanoCon Online. On October 23rd craft brewing industry experts will present a full-day of live seminars covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups for the small-scale, taproom-oriented brewer. Get your questions answered live and have future access to NanoCon Online video recordings and course materials for all sessions. Register now at NanoCon.beer and save $25!

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/nano-plus-membership for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 79
Host: John Holl
Guest: Rich Michaels

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: Second Act Spirits

Spending some time with beer’s raw ingredients is important. Finding out what is new, exciting, or how other brewers are utilizing them to create world class beer helps make the whole industry stronger and pints taste better. This month, we’re taking a look at malt and speaking with two industry professionals who are intimately involved in the processing and promotion of grain.

Andrea Stanley is the co-owner of Valley Malt, a craft malthouse in Western Massachusetts supplying craft brewers, distillers, and bakers with locally grown malts and grain. In 2009 Andrea read an article about local farms and bakeries in the fertile CT River Valley reviving the lost art of growing and processing local grains. As an avid supporter of local food, Andrea saw an opportunity to connect this emerging local grain growing with craft brewing. She reached out to a local vegetable grower in her hometown of Hadley and convinced him to plant 25 acres of barley as a crop rotation.

Initially her goal was to prove that malt barley could be successfully cultivated in Massachusetts and malted into an ingredient that local breweries would want to use. In October 2010, Andrea shoveled the first 1-Ton batch of locally grown malt and has since worked with her husband, malting team, and the local farming community to build a supply chain in the Northeast that continues to grow, despite many challenges to overcome. 

In 2022 Valley Malt underwent a major expansion, adding 1 million pounds of grain cleaning and storage and the capacity to malt 1.5 millions pounds annually.  Valley Malt now supports over 700 acres of grains annually in NY, VT, NH, MA, ME and CT with the plan to keep growing in the coming years by installing additional germination bins. 

On the larger-scale commercial side of malt, Zach Kelly the territory sales manager in Northern California for the Country Malt Group. After a career in the brewhouse - where he worked for companies like Russian River and Hen House, he now helps brewers make smart decisions when it comes to finding the right grain bill for their next brew. Passionate about lagers and west coast IPA, Zach shares insight on what’s exciting, reliable and available.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 78 is sponsored by:

NanoCon Online
Registration has opened for NanoCon Online. On October 23rd craft brewing industry experts will present a full-day of live seminars covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups for the small-scale, taproom-oriented brewer. Get your questions answered live and have future access to NanoCon Online video recordings and course materials for all sessions. Register now at NanoCon.beer and save $25!

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 78
Host: John Holl
Guests: Andrea Stanley, Zach Kelly

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: Andrea Stanley

The brewing world is grappling with a lot of challenges, but there are still some bright spots and things to look forward to. This month host John Holl talks with two brewers who are building community, making thoughtful beers, and working to better the industry each and every day. 

Jeremy Lees of Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough NJ and Justin Steinberg of Sacred Vice in Philadelphia are thoughtful owners who are focused on finding new ways to bring people into their taprooms and to offerer experiences of great quality. Visiting their breweries guarantees not only great pints, but a chance to learn something new about the industry and to see how thoughtful works in progress benefit us all. 

So as beer navigates 2026 and experiences what it is doing to the beer industry, Holl connects with them both to find out what’s happening within their walls and how we can learn from them.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 77 is sponsored by:

NanoCon Online
Registration has opened for NanoCon Online. On October 23rd craft brewing industry experts will present a full-day of live seminars covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups for the small-scale, taproom-oriented brewer. Get your questions answered live and have future access to NanoCon Online video recordings and course materials for all sessions. Register now at NanoCon.beer and save $25!

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 77
Host: John Holl
Guests: Justin Steinberg, Jeremy Lees

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: Sacred Vice Brewing's cream ale. Photo by John Holl

Expanding your brewery's beverage program beyond beer can be tricky, but rewarding as a way to widen your customer audience. Expanding your physical footprint from indoors to outdoors when weather allows can also be a challenge with similar business rewards when done well. On this episode we have a conversation with Chelsea Rhodes of Alley Brewing in Denver about how and why a Nano brewery can also offer much more than beer on the menu and the evolution of using outdoor taproom spaces in better weather.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 76 is sponsored by:

NanoCon Online
Registration has opened for NanoCon Online. On October 23rd craft brewing industry experts will present a full-day of live seminars covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups for the small-scale, taproom-oriented brewer. Get your questions answered live and have future access to NanoCon Online video recordings and course materials for all sessions. Register now at NanoCon.beer and save $25!

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 76
Host: John Holl
Guest: Chelsea Rhodes

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: by Chelsea Rhodes

There’s a reason IPA is the most popular style in craft beer today. This episode examines how nano brewers can improve recipes and offers inspiration from colleagues on how to bring hops to vibrant life in your next batch. Guests include Niko Tonks of Yakima Chief Hops and Double Elbow Brewing, and Brian Shirley of Time & Materials Beer. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 75 is sponsored by:

NanoCon Online
Registration has opened for NanoCon Online. On October 23rd craft brewing industry experts will present a full-day of live seminars covering Brewery Operations, Business Operations & Sales, and Start-Ups for the small-scale, taproom-oriented brewer. Get your questions answered live and have future access to NanoCon Online video recordings and course materials for all sessions. Register now at NanoCon.beer and save $25!

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 75
Host: John Holl
Guests: Niko Tonks, Brian Shirley

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

There’s more you can do with your taproom and brewery space than just serve beer. We’ll talk with Christian Weber of Common Roots Brewery in upstate New York. He is using his brewery locations for weddings, office parties and more. On this episode he offers tips and insight on how you can add private events as a revenue source to your small brewery business. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 74 is sponsored by:

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Brewers, meet To Thee!—a new North American pils malt built specifically for the craft beer industry by Rahr Malting Co. To Thee! was developed in collaboration with pFriem Family Brewers in Hood River, Oregon, and crafted in Alix, Alberta from Canadian-grown barley.
Beer writer Jeff Alworth calls it “a watershed moment” for craft. With low color and low modification, To Thee! creates a clean, bright base that lets your beer shine—perfect for classic continental pilsners, craft lagers, or as a base for light-colored, hop forward West Coast IPAs.
To Thee! is available now. Contact your RahrBSG account manager, or visit RahrBSG.com to learn more.

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 74
Host: John Holl
Guests: Christian Weber

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

As we kick off another year of the podcast, let’s talk about yeast. From innovations in the space, to creative uses, and how to foster a house culture that can define your beers, we chat with passionate experts from Berkeley Yeast and the brewer/owners of Oregon's Funky Fauna Artisan Ales about beer’s most important ingredient.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 73  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/ 

Fermentis
It’s here: the new Lager strain by Fermentis has finally been released! Discover SafLager™ SH-45, the yeast that enhances thiols in Lagers! 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 73
Host: John Holl
Guests: Charles Danby, Anthony Bledsoe, Michael Frith, Danielle Burns

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell
Photo: Funky Fauna Artisan Ales

You’re living through some serious headwinds in the beer industry right now. There’s a lot of worry, a lot of gloom, but also a lot of positivity on the horizon. As we head into the end of 2025, it’s a look forward with a trio of guests who believe the best in beer is yet to come. On this episode you'll hear from Paul Leone, the Executive Director of the New York State Brewers Association, beer educator LaTreace Harris a.k.a. The Beery Godmother, and Brandon Hernández, the editor-in-chief of San Diego Beer News. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 72  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 72
Host: John Holl
Guests: LaTreace Harris, Paul Leone, Brandon Hernández

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell