Claim OwnershipCraft Brewery Financial Training Podcast
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© 2026 Craft Brewery Financial Training Podcast
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Financial Intel Brewed Daily
190 Episodes
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Today we chat with Ross Stensrud from Tapwyse and explore how modern brewery loyalty programs are evolving far beyond the traditional “mug club.” Ross shares exciting performance data from Tapwyse breweries, including a 387% increase in app installs and a 418% surge in membership revenue year-over-year, along with insights into how breweries can now quantify the estimated revenue impact of rewards programs . The conversation highlights how breweries are using real-time dashboards ...
Inventory is often the largest asset on a brewery’s balance sheet and the biggest source of hidden margin leaks. In this episode, we break down how to build a profitable inventory system that protects cash, improves COGS accuracy, and creates operational discipline. You’ll learn how to install simple standard operating procedures, use scorecards to quantify what “good” looks like, and turn inventory management from a monthly headache into a competitive advantage. Plus,...
Cash flow is what determines whether a brewery survives and grows. In this episode, we break down the core fundamentals of cash flow management and share practical strategies you can use immediately to gain control, avoid crunches, and build a stronger financial foundation for your brewery. Key Results You’ll Get from Listening: A clear understanding of the difference between profit and cash flow and why it mattersPractical steps to avoid cash crunches before they happenThe core KPIs that dir...
In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Gore, VP of Sales & Marketing at Beer30, to talk about the upcoming American Craft Beer Hall of Fame induction ceremony and what today’s high-performing breweries can learn from the legends of our industry. We explore how leading breweries are using data management not just to “keep records,” but to gain a true competitive edge. From tighter inventory control and margin visibility to AI-powered forecasting and smarter decision-making, dat...
In this episode, I sit down with Chris Farmand of Small Batch Standard, a brewery accounting, tax and advisory firm that works with breweries across the country, to talk about one thing every brewery owner cares about: profit. We kick things off with a preview of Chris’s all-day Brewery Profit Workshop at the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference (Monday, April 20th), where he’ll dive deep into taproom performance, distribution strategy, and practical ways to unlock more profit in your business...
In this episode, we break down what really belongs in COGS, how to read gross margin correctly, and how to dig deeper to uncover hidden margin leaks. If you want stronger cash flow, smarter pricing, and better decisions, this episode will help you master the numbers that matter most. 🎯 5 Actionable Takeaways Define COGS correctly and clean up misclassifications. Only direct materials, direct labor, and production overhead live in COGS. Calculate and monitor gross margin. Track gros...
In this episode, we dig into how financial trouble usually shows up months before it becomes a crisis, and why so many owners and managers miss the warning signs. When you’re busy fighting daily fires, reviewing financials weeks after month-end, and unsure which numbers truly matter, problems stay invisible until cash runs tight . We walk through the concept of a financial early-warning system and explain how profitable breweries shift from reactive panic to calm, data-driven decision-m...
In today's podcast we cover the basics of brewery budgeting, keys to success and 3 simple steps to get started building your plan today. Key Topics Budget questions: Who, what, where, why, when and howCommon obstacles and how to overcome themBudget quick-start guideThe details: How to build the plan, models, tools and templatesFinancial cadence: How to use the plan every dayResources Get the brewery profit brief - tips, tactics, and strategies to build a more profitable beer businessReady to ...
Today, I sit down with Sean Lawson the founder behind Sip of Sunshine to unpack how careful planning, advisory boards, and a purpose-first mindset can carry a brewery through hypergrowth, supply shocks, and a once-in-a-century pandemic. Sean walks us through the early days of homebrewing, the decision to contract brew at Two Roads to meet demand without giving up ownership, and the leap to a state-of-the-art Vermont facility just 16 months before lockdowns. We explore how a high share ...
What does it take to scale from a bold idea to a beverage category leader? We sit down with Athletic Brewing’s CFO Evan Zawatsky and communications leader Chris Furnari to dig into the decisions that powered Athletic’s rise: owning production, investing in quality, and building a marketing engine that turns awareness into velocity. Evan opens the playbook on why Athletic poured serious CapEx into state-of-the-art breweries in Connecticut and San Diego. That move secured quality c...
In today's podcast we show how breweries can turn recipe development and process innovation into real cash using the federal R&D tax credit, plus a clear path to claim refunds retroactively. Maggie Crowley and Devin Medrick from Leyton explain the IRS tests, missed opportunities, state add-ons, and energy efficiency deductions. • What the IRS four-part test means for brewing work • Real examples: first-batch runs, recipe changes, process tweaks • Eligible costs: wages at three leve...
In today's podcast we lay out a simple path for Massachusetts breweries to use the Workforce Training Fund Express program for up to 100% reimbursement on financial training. From eligibility to application steps, we reveal each step in the process to turn free training dollars into better profits and steadier cash flow. • who qualifies and what reimbursement you can expect • how to find and choose pre-approved courses in the catalog • what documents you need for the application • typi...
What does it really take to scale a brewery without losing your soul or your margins? We sit down with Nicole Smith, co-owner of South Lake Brewing Company, to trace a path from high school sweethearts in Tahoe to a two-location operation balancing community, cash flow, and culture. Nicole shares the unvarnished story of opening a second taproom and kitchen, why owner presence matters, and how to avoid cannibalizing your original location while still growing revenue. We cover the...
In today's podcast, Ross Stensrud from Tapwyse shares how craft breweries turn memberships, flash rewards, and push messages into recurring revenue and reliable taproom traffic. Real data from 100+ brewery apps shows why monthly loyalty programs outperform annuals and how simple offers can drive measurable visits. Key Takeaways • Monthly memberships outperform annuals for recurring revenue • The $1 weekly beer case study • How to use flash rewards to move slow i...
Today on the podcast Andrew Coplon opens the playbook on Secret Hopper’s 10,000-visit dataset and shows how mystery shopping metrics translate into increased sales for your taproom. We talk through the staff behaviors that lead to high engagement—prompt greetings, informed recommendations, and closing gratitude—and the numbers that follow: bigger tabs, higher tips, and dramatically faster return visits. You’ll hear why a simple flight suggestion makes guests 350% more likely to or...
Beer volumes are down, dollars are soft, and the usual playbook isn’t working. We brought back Lester Jones, chief economist at the National Beer Wholesalers Association, to cut through the noise with data, plain talk, and a clear plan for getting back to growth. Lester breaks down what’s structural—demographics, consumption occasions, and channel mix—and what’s cyclical—slower hiring, fewer hours worked, and sticky inflation—and shows how those forces collide to shape beer demand in 20...
A CFO who became a head of marketing, eliminated millions in debt, and then built a company to fix distribution blind spots—Doug Veliky’s journey is a masterclass in making beer businesses sturdier and smarter. We dig into the decisions that actually move the needle: building an internal audit team at Reyes that focused on real compliance risk, redesigning systems at Revolution to produce market-level P&Ls, and consolidating a spaghetti bowl of loans into a revolving line that turne...
What if your taproom’s biggest growth lever isn’t price or new styles—but the first 15 seconds after someone walks in? Today on the podcast we welcome back consumer insights expert Michael Varda of Craft Beer Advisory Services to unpack the data behind modern taproom behavior and why food, events, and hospitality now sit shoulder to shoulder with great beer. The headline: beer gets guests in the door; the experience keeps them in their seats and brings them back. We trace the pos...
New tax law just handed breweries a playbook to keep more cash in the business—if you know how to use it. Today we’re joined by Brent Williams, CPA and brewery tax manager at Small Batch Standard, to translate the One Big Brewery Bill (OB3) into clear, practical moves owners can make right now. From tips and overtime changes your team will feel on payday to the return of 100% bonus depreciation and immediate expensing for domestic R&D, we connect the dots between policy and da...
Ready to stop guessing about your brewery's food profitability? Today's podcast reveals exactly how to transform your taproom food program from a necessary evil into a genuine profit center. Most brewery owners didn't get into the business to become restaurateurs, yet many find themselves reluctantly managing food programs because customers expect food options. The challenge? Food operations are notoriously complex both financially and operationally, leading many breweries to operate f...
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