On today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Karl Sanford — co-founder of Manhattan Project Beer Company out of Dallas, TX. In just seven years, Karl and his team have grown the brewery to 17,000 barrels a year and show no signs of slowing down! With a clear strategy, a powerhouse flagship beer, and some Texas-sized expansion plans, MPBC is showing that craft is alive and well in 2025.

Highlights include:

• How Manhattan scaled from homebrewing for a wedding to a 17,000 bbl operation
• What a “profit-first approach” looks like in expansion and contract brewing
• How to maintain restaurant-quality hospitality in the taproom

As Karl puts it, “Quality never goes out of style.” And if you’ve ever doubted whether craft can still win big even in today’s market, this episode will change your mind.

Links

Manhattan Project Beer Company - Website
Manhattan Project Beer Company - Instagram

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In this episode, we sit down with Erik Shewmaker, co-founder of Field Day Brewing and longtime restaurateur. Erik shares how a quarter of a century in hospitality shaped the launch of Field Day in 2023, the challenges of navigating Iowa distribution laws, the early adoption of THC beverages, and everything in-between!

Highlights include:

• How a restaurant-first mindset changes how a brewery inherently operates
• What breweries can learn from scaling in the restaurant industry
• Why THC beverages are reshaping the hospitality space (despite it being a relatively new offering)

This episode unscores the importance of breweries not taking guests for granted and ensuring hospitality is at the forefront of every decision. As Erik puts it, “If we’re just order takers instead of order makers, we’re really doing guests a disservice.”

With 25 years in hospitality, Erik’s perspective is one you won’t want to miss!
 

Links

Field Day Brewing - Website
Field Day Brewing - Instagram

Daydreamer Cannabis Sparkling Water - Website
Daydreamer Cannabis Sparkling Water - Instagram

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On this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we chat with Adam Charnack, co-founder of Hi-Wire Brewing out of Asheville, NC. From weathering natural disasters like Hurricane Helene to shifting their business model to stay ahead of the ever-evolving craft beer industry, Adam shares what it takes to keep a brewery moving forward.

Highlights include:

• What to consider when expanding into multiple locations and new markets (and hear how Hi-Wire expanded to 11 locations in 4 different states!)
• How to plan for and recover from major setbacks that could hit your bottom line
• Why contract brewing may be an overlooked growth lever and what to do about it

This episode is filled to the brim with insights on resilience, strategy, and staying true to the thing that started the journey for so many brewery owners: the craft. Don’t miss it.

Links

Hi-Wire Brewing - Website
Hi-Wire Brewing - Instagram

Reach out to SBS to see how we can help your brewery

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Bobby Cheek of Heavale Brewing Company in Calhoun, GA. Have you heard of a new brewery opening for under $200k? With a turnkey space, secondhand tanks, and a dash of DYI, the small-but-mighty Heavale team did exactly that!

Bobby shares what it takes to build a brewery from scratch in a rural market and why community might just be the biggest ingredient.

Some highlights include:

• Creative ways Bobby kept startup costs to ~$165k with no loans
• The hurdles and perks of running a rural brewery (from educating patrons on beer styles to having close relationships with local officials)
• How unique programming like line dancing and cigar nights keeps customers coming back

If you’ve ever wondered how to build a brewery on a $165k budget (with a side of some unique ideas for event programming and taproom-focused initiatives), our chat with Bobby is one you’ll want to hear!

Links
Heavale Brewing Company - Website

Find more profit in your taproom and distro business

In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we chat with Doug Bellenger of Well Crafted Beer Co. out of Lansdale, PA to unpack the ever-present balance of running a brewery. From creating an enjoyable fast casual atmosphere in the taproom to recalibrating wholesale margins, Doug gives a clear-eyed look at the trade-offs breweries face today.

Doug also shares what he’s learned while operating two thriving taprooms, scaling to 2,000 barrels per year, and expanding distribution across 35 counties!

Some highlights include:

• How to use distribution as a way to drive traffic to the taproom
• The pricing strategy shift you can make without sacrificing quality
• What the “sweet spot” balance looks like in 2025 for growing craft breweries

If you're trying to balance running a profitable taproom with a growing distro program, this episode breaks down how one brewery is making it work while growing through it all.

Links

Well Crafted Beer Co. - Website
Well Crafted Beer Co. - Instagram

Find more profit in your taproom and distro business

In this episode, we sit down with Ted Mitzlaff, Owner and CEO of Goodwood Beer & Spirits, to unpack how a Louisville, KY brewery grew from a small production operation into a multiple locations with restaurants, spirits, and experiences. (Anyone wanna go bowling?)

From navigating the market downturn to sometimes embracing necessary business pivots, Ted shares insights with over two decades of being in the business.

Highlights include:

• Learning the importance of maintaining great company culture while growing a business
• The operational structure that Goodwood uses for its various locations
• Why owners should introduce more experiences into their programming mix

As Ted says, “The name of the game is diversification,” and this episode gives owners ideas of how to tackle a diverse portfolio while marrying them with memorable experiences for customers. Enjoy!

Links

Goodwood Brewing & Spirits - Website
Goodwood Brewing & Spirits - Instagram

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In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Berger, co-founder of Denver Beer Company and now one of the minds behind Wilding Brands—the growing group that includes Denver Beer Co, Stem Ciders, Funkwerks, Howdy Beer, Great Divide Brewing Company, and (breaking news!) Station 26 Brewing Company.

Charlie shares how he and his team are bringing together some of Colorado’s most beloved breweries and cider makers to build something stronger, together.

Highlights include:

• What product diversity in a taproom looks like in 2025
• The 3-part growth strategy behind their next moves (hint: innovation, retail, and M&A)
• How Wilding Brands is helping “de-risk” the future of craft

As Charlie puts it, “I haven’t been this excited about the industry in years.”

At a time when many breweries are feeling the pressure, this episode offers a different kind of roadmap.

Wilding Brands - Website

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This week on The True Craft Podcast, we’re joined by Brian Walker, the co-owner of Cody Craft Brewing in Cody, Wyoming. A former tech professional turned brewery owner, Brian shares how he made the leap from cybersecurity to craft beer, and how he and his team have built a destination-worthy taproom in a town of just 10,000 people.

Some highlights include:

• Why Cody Craft never wanted to run a kitchen...and still doesn’t
• When to say yes (and when to say no) to distribution offers
• The state of change of craft beer and what’s causing a shift toward “beer that tastes like beer”

If you’re curious on what it takes to run a brewery in a small(er) market while growing at your own pace, this episode’s filled with stellar insight and grounded advice you’ll actually use!

Cody Craft Brewing - Website
Cody Craft Brewing - Instagram

Run a better, more profitable brewery

Adam Robbings of Reuben’s Brews returns to The True Craft Podcast to share how he’s putting AI to work behind the scenes, from forecasting taproom traffic to simplifying the hiring process. He and Chris also unpack key takeaways from this year’s CBC and preview Adam’s upcoming book on optimizing the way departments work together across a brewery.

Some highlights include:

• How his AI-powered tool, HospitalityWeather, predicts taproom traffic and improves daily operations
• The automation hacks he’s using to simplify reporting, hiring, and staff communication
• What his new book tackles that SOPs don’t...and why he wrote the first draft in just 8 days (!)

If you’ve ever been curious about how AI might shape the future of brewing, this conversation is a great place to start!

Reuben’s Brews - Website
Reuben’s Brews - Instagram
HospitalityWeather - Website

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On today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Duffy, co-founder of Isle Brewers Guild (IBG) in Pawtucket, RI. IBG is a 100-barrel contract brewing facility that also runs three successful retail locations under The Guild Brewing Company brand. Jeremy gives us a behind-the-scenes look into large-scale production with a strong retail presence focused on food, events, and sales (without sacrificing margin!)

Highlights:

• What a diverse beverage lineup looks like in 2025
• How to pull off 373 events in one calendar year (!)
• Making the transition from food trucks to an in-house kitchen

If you’ve been curious what it’s like to run a high-capacity brewhouse while building a consumer brand, or you’re looking for ideas on how to tackle your business’ retail strategy...you won’t want to miss this episode!
 

Links
Isle Brewers Guild - Website
The Guild Brewing Co. - Website

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