As we all settle in for the cozy autumnal season, it’s hard not to think about comfort food and warm beverages. This month, we're glad to speak with the owners of two different breweries about their food and beverage program, and how they are approaching menu items that go beyond beer. Their insight might just help your own brewery. Guests include Keith Yager, owner and head brewer of Cross Eyed Owl Brewing in Decatur, Alabama and James and Paul Macchione, the co-owners of Flapjack Brewery. ...

Autumn has taken hold across North America and it’s a good time to start thinking about the colder months. First, we’ll visit with Evan Watson of Plan Bee, a farm brewery in New York’s Hudson Valley to learn about the land, coolships, and the evolving nature of the business. Then it’s a conversation with Trevor Zumpano of Brewery Branding Co. about merchandise and what your small brewery can be doing to deliver the goods to customers. The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 58  is sponsored by: Five...

There is uncertainty in the beer industry these days and if you’re a small brewery owner you might feel like you’re alone in the issues and struggles facing your small business. You’re not. On this episode we’ll check in with two small breweries on how they are operating, getting help, solving challenges, and looking forward. GuestsCelebrating six years in operation, Slate Town Brewery in Granville, New York has been through a lot in a short time. Owner Susan Knapp is here to talk about the...

It’s that time of year again: hop harvest across North America. We are going to check in with hop professionals on both coasts to get a better understanding on how the crop is growing, what is coming to market, and how small brewers can make the most out of their relationship with growers. On this episode you will hear from Graham Ollard of John Hollingbery and Son and Max Licker of Champlain Valley Hops.  The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 56  is sponsored by: Five Star ChemicalsBrewers, meet...

Growing season is in full swing across North America and on this episode we check in with two farmers who are brewing and will discuss what goes into making beers with ingredients grown from their own land. There is a bit of romanticism that goes into being a farmer. That and a lot of hard work. Add on a brewing career and there’s suddenly a lot more to attend to. But there are also rewards. On this show listen in as two farmers who are also brewers talk about the ups and downs, how to read...

Malt is the workhorse of every beer, but it doesn’t always get the close attention it deserves. I’ll talk with two people who are intimately involved in malt production and education, on both the large scale and the craft side. We’re talking about malt, both industrial and craft on this episode. From examining trends to learning about continuing education, best practices, and new breeds.   Guests Ashton Lewis joined BSG in December of 2016 and is currently Manager of Training and Technical...

Keeping an eye on the bottom line has never been more important. From rising ingredient costs to a shift in consumer spending. On this episode of the BYO Nano Podcast we spend some time talking about best practices for your brewery’s ledger. Then will visit to South Dakota to hear from a nano brewer building a community through neighbor connections and local ingredients. Guests: Audra Gaiziunas  is an owner in DSSOLVR in Asheville NC and serves as the brewery CFO. She also serves as an...

Let’s take an exploration into yeast. From fermentation through history, to unlocking new secrets and strains, a world-renowned expert is here on this episode  to share his insight and knowledge to give us all a better understanding of beer. Dr. Martin Zarnkow is the Head of Research and Development at the Research Center at Weihenstephan for Brewing and Food Quality. He has traveled the world unlocking new information around yeast and fermentation. He’s built a career around knowledge-based...

Events are a great way to bring regulars and new comers into your taproom. On this episode we talkk with three brewers who are working to bring new and exciting experiences to their breweries. From celebrations around new events, to yoga, live music, crafts, and working with charities, events are commonplace again four years since the start of the COVID 19 Pandemic. This episode explores what works, what doesn’t and how can nano breweries reach new customers while keeping the existing ones....

Human Resources might not be the most exciting topic for brewery owners, but it’s important and there are enthusiastic individuals ready to tackle that part of the business. Having the right person in your corner can only help your business operate on solid ground. Emily Cripe, the Senior Director of Human Resources of Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Co. is here to explain. Cripe has 18 years of HR experience across a variety of industries. As an HR generalist by training, Emily’s specialty is...

There are multiple ways to build a community around your brewery, and one way is through membership clubs and offering your beer through community supported agriculture-type programs. Two brewers embracing that model are here to discuss their initiatives.  January and February can be tough months for brewery taprooms. The collective societal hangover both on the waistline and wallet looms large. It can make running a small brewery even more difficult. But there are some ways to cultivate a...

The end of a year is a good time to look back, take stock, and to plan for what is to come. For professional brewers and drinkers 2023 is going to be remembered for a number of reasons. There’s a lot of strong feelings and a lot of realities coming to roost, but so much of that rests on the numbers.  Bart Watson, the chief economist for the Brewers Association is here for a conversation about the year that was and what the new year might look like.  He is the Chief Economist for the Brewers...

As we head into a cozy season of gathering with family and friends and our attention turns to big meals shared together, we have a trio of brewers here to talk about their food programs. From pairings to working with food trucks, this episode is stuffed with practical tips and insight from nano brewers, for nano brewers.  From food trucks to in-house kitchens, food can be an an important part of brewery life and the consumer experience. Three brewers are here to talk about their experiences,...

This is as good a month as any to be thinking about your brewery’s finances - both long term and short term - and the best practices for a check in or to get your money situation in order. Most brewers don’t open a brewery to get into finance, but managing cash flow is a necessary part of the job.  Our guest on this episode is Kary Shumway,  CPA, former CFO for a beer distributor and current CFO for Wormtown Brewery in Worcester, MA. He’s here with insight and a checklist to help get your...

This month we are talking about distribution. Every brewery owner needs to decide if it’s right for their business and to weigh the pros and cons between a distribution partner, self distribution, or keeping your beer sales solely in house. First we’ll hear from Laura Lodge the Owner of Customized Craft Beer Programs, Start a Brewery and author of Distribution Insight for the Craft Brewer.Then we’ll hear from Will Loring of Lesser-Known Brewing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.    The...

This month we are focusing on the 2023 hop crop. From what’s happening in the Pacific Northwest, to the fields of Michigan, we’ll talk about what is already in the ground, how the yield is looking, exciting hops, and how small brewers can foster a relationship with farmers. This is the time of year that we start thinking about the North American hop harvest, and before the farmers got too busy in the fields we invited two of them to share updates from the ground. John Segal Jr. of Segal Ranch...

This month we are focusing on festivals and events. The summer is the season to get outdoors, mingle, and experience all that your town, state, or region has to offer. Fortunately nano breweries are playing a big role in that space.  Beer festivals are at a crossroads right now. It’s harder to get folks to come out and drink beer in a crowd, but there are chances for smaller breweries to make an impact in that setting. Chris Rhodes of Portland, Oregon’s Nano Beer Festival is here to talk...

Malt is our topic this month. We’ll get a report from one of the larger malting companies on what small brewers can do with grain, and then head to a nano brewery and malt farm for insight on making the most from the land. We spend a lot of time talking about raw ingredients, and rightly so. They are the building blocks of every keg and pint, and having the insight into ingredients makes us all better brewers and drinkers. Our guests are Mike Scanzello, the director of brewing and distilling...

Water is our topic this month. From how a proper education can help you better understand beer’s most important ingredient, to how to properly treat it for your recipes. Then we’ll discuss its other uses around the brewhouse and best practices for effluent.  Despite being necessary for life and all around us, water can often be overlooked in breweries. It is hard to explain to drinkers, and is often taken for granted when we simply turn on a tap or valve.  However, having a deeper...

Let’s talk about the taproom experience. From proper flow, how best to decorate, and ways to give your customers a pleasurable visit, our guests will offer insight and tips to doing it right. The good weather is here for most of us around the country and that means people headed out to enjoy their local breweries. Brewers are striving to create delicious and innovative pints, but should be putting equal thought into taproom aesthetics.  Having a welcoming taproom is important. The decor...

Having a virtual presence for your small brewery is imperative to help the physical business grow. We’ll do a deep dive into social media to learn about best practices from a leading expert and we’ll hear how one nano has approached building an online community.   We spend a lot of time thinking about physical spaces. Taprooms, brewhouse layouts, beer gardens, that it can be hard to focus on the virtual spaces. But Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and more are important ways to keep a...

There are innovations in the microscopic world of yeast. From thiols to hybrids this episode will discuss best practices and paths forward. There is so much innovation and excitement happening in the world of raw brewing ingredients. On this episode we’ll go into the research and development lab with Laura Burns of Omega Yeast and into the brewhouse with Adam Cieslak and Roger Cuzelis of Maplewood Brewing in Chicago to talk about how to best put new strains to work for your small brewery and...

The customer experience is crucial to making sure your brewery can continue to operate in a meaningful way. We have an expert coming up with insight into what patrons are looking for.

As the end of the year is in sight we take some time to reflect on 2022 and talk about some best practices for small breweries to evaluate finances, workflow, and the future.