The Start A Brewery Podcast: Recent Episodes
StartABrewery LLC
The Start A Brewery Podcast covers all things with regard to starting (or growing) a brewery. New episodes are available every other Tuesday and track the process from the original vision, through developing a business plan and into Plan, Act, Open & Grow.
Proforma, Sales, and Cash Projections, oh my! Episode 019 literally “Gets Into the Numbers”, with a ton of guidance about approaches to the tasks, available templates, and other resources to help you with the financial side of your business plan. Our guests discuss the strategy around conservative plans & projections and what lenders/investors are looking for…and break it down into terms that our hosts can understand. Audra Gaiziunas and Kary Shumway both are chock full of experience, offer different perspectives around how to work into the numbers, and provided such a wealth of information that we are recording again for Getting Into the Numbers Part II.
Audra Gaiziunas, Brewed For Her Ledger
Audra is the owner of Brewed For Her Ledger, LLC. Prior to owning her own company, she served as Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s Controller 2009-2010 and Mother Earth Brewing’s Chief Financial Officer 2011-2014. She has been working exclusively in craft beer for 11+ years and joined the Brewers Association’s Finance Committee in January 2020.
A graduate from the prestigious Kenan-Flagler OneMBA program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Audra possesses over a decade and a half of experience in senior leadership roles in craft brewing, manufacturing, services, non-profits and startups. She earned her undergraduate degree in accounting and business management (double major) from Loras College (Dubuque, IA) in 1997. Her passions include home brewing, mobile marketing, crafting stories from numbers, and paying it forward.
Kary Shumway, Beer Business Finance and Craft Brewery Financial Training
Kary is a CPA, former CFO for a beer distributor and current CFO and Partner of Wormtown Brewery in Worcester, MA. He has spent the last 20 years using finance to help improve financial results in our businesses. Now, he’s helping other breweries, wholesalers and cideries to do the same. His financial training programs have been developed on a new learning platform in order to deliver the best experience. The programs are designed specifically for non-financial people who have the responsibility of either managing or contributing to the success of business.
About StartABrewery
StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.
Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
What does it mean to set goals and create projections for your business plan? How do you pull those numbers out of the sky? And running your brewery, regardless of any other variable, requires setting goals to optimize your business success. Mark Boelman of Triple Bottom Line Brewery Consulting starts off Episode 018 with practical goal setting advice, and Tim Myers of Strange Craft Beer Co and Matt Del Vecchio of Duck Foot Brewing follow by sharing their personal experience. In addition to initial goals, Tim and Matt share how they work with their team now to set goals and communicate for day to day operations.
Many thanks to Harvest Hosts for sponsoring Episode 018 and to All About Beer for partnering in the creation of this podcast!
Guests:
Mark Boelman, Principal, Triple Bottom Line Brewery Consulting
Mark is an industry veteran with an MBA in accounting and finance who led the business side of Left Hand Brewing Co for many years. He founded the Craft Beer Accounting Group, a network of 100+ regional brewery CFOs, Owners, and Controllers, is a National BJCP judge, and an avid (award-winning) homebrewer.
Tim Myers, Founder/Head Brewer, Strange Craft Beer Company
Tim Myers is a father, husband, and brewer, in that order. He started Strange Craft Beer Company in May 2010, brewing one barrel at a time in Denver’s first taproom brewery. In the past 11 years, Tim has helped over a dozen breweries open, taught brewing classes at Metro State University, and served on the board of the Colorado Brewers Guild.
Matt Delvecchio, Founder/ Head Quack, Duck Foot Brewing Company
In 2012, Matt Delvecchio, at the time a financial planner living in New York, was diagnosed with Celaic Disease, a gluten-intolerant disease. Instead of letting this get him down in the dumps, he researched ways to make beer with virtually no gluten, and thus, duckfoot was born upon Matt’s arrival in Encinitas, CA. Matt enjoys spending time with his wife, and two children, and working on ways to give more gluten free beer to the people!
About StartABrewery
StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.
Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Continuing the two part conversation about the necessary – nay, essential - systems for your brewing business, our guests take a hard look at the key people who make up your brewery business team. Who are they, how did you find them, and how much of a voice do they have in the direction and decision making for your business? The conversation hits highlights about business structure, communication, sharing of business progress, supporting your team, and ultimately how many hours there are in a day. Larry Chase and Matt Hughes have lived experience from so many different perspectives around this topic, and their wisdom is helpful on just as many levels.
Guests:
Matt Hughes, USI Insurance
Matt has been a commercial insurance and risk consultant for 18 years. In addition, he has been a brewer for Wynkoop Brewing Company & founder/ former head brewer for Goldspot Brewing Co.
Larry Chase, Great Game of Business Certified Coach
Beer flavor variety brought Larry to craft brewing in 1997. Today he supports and coaches owners who want to build a culture of ownership and employee involvement.
About StartABrewery
StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.
Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Beginning a two part conversation about the necessary - nay essential - systems for your brewing business, our guests dig into their areas of specialty to talk through both the philosophy and mechanics interwoven behind the scenes. Mary Brettmann offers insight around the critical financial/Accounting hub of information gathering for effective decision making, Ethan Tsai speaks to the production side of brewing with the realities of the 5S approach to success, and Nancy Trigg talks through the tap room, staff and customer service systems that are so important. While brewery owners of all levels will find good information in this episode, start up, young, and expanding breweries may expand their vision and practical understanding of solid brewing business best practices.
Guests
- Mary Brettmann, President, Beverage Business Builders. Mary has 25+ years of experience in the corporate world. In prior lives, she has been a state auditor, a sales controller, an international treasury professional, a business owner and - finally - a craft brewing CFO for a fast growing regional craft brewery. She calls both California and Minnesota home, plus has clients all throughout the country. She enjoys digging in and creating change with every client.
- Ethan Tsai, PhD, is a Brewing Operations Consultant, formerly GM of brewing operations for Cigar City Brewing and Tivoli Brewing Company in addition to teaching/assisting in the creation of the Brewing & Fermentation Science Program at Metro State University in Denver.
- Nancy Trigg, Owner, Trigg Performance Collective. With 20 years as a high-performing operational leader (7 in the brewing industry), and equal experience coaching and mentoring from within organizations, Nancy blends coaching and business advising to be a great partner to leaders of all levels, helping to optimize both business and individual performance.
About StartABrewery
StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.
Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
While podcast episode 014 focuses primarily on Contract Brewing, 015 takes us down the path of Alternating Proprietorships. Jamil Zainasheff shares his experience brewing his recipes for Heretic in an Alternating Proprietorship arrangement before he had his own location, and Candace offers a wider lens with regard to contracts and the legalities of different Contract/Alt Prop combinations of services, licenses, and facility usage. Chock full of tips, tricks, and best practices, this episode is an extremely practical and useful way to expand your perception of what it takes to open a brewery.
Guests
Jamil Zainacheff, award-winning homebrewer, author, beer judge, and host of “The Jamil Show” and “Brew Strong” shows on The Brewing Network, and Founder of Heretic Brewing Co.
Candace L. Moon, Co-Founder of Start A Brewery and Founder/Attorney at The Craft Beer Attorney
Candace L. Moon is a San Diego-based attorney who handles many different legal areas including alcoholic beverage law, contract review and trademark law. (also Co-Host of the podcast)
About StartABrewery
StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.
Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Episode 014 explores the business approach to opening a brewery based on contract brewing and alternating proprietorships. Alisa Bowens-Mercado of Rhythm Brewing tells her story of the search for contract brewing, while Phil Markowski of Two Roads and Matthew Osterman of Sleeping Giant share the backstory and intent behind their purpose built contract brewing facilities. Relationships are key, as we learn, and all three guests share tips, tricks, and best practices throughout this episode.
Phil Markowski, Master Brewer/Co-Founder, Two Roads Brewing Co.
Master Brewer Phil Markowski comes from an engineering background. After dabbling in home brewing and winning a few competitions back in the 1980s Phil made the bright decision to go into the craft beer world as a career.
A long career at various breweries has led to dozens of medals from the GABF and WBC, along with many other medals at regional and international competitions. Phil also wrote the book on Farmhouse Ales, literally, and is thrilled to be in his dream job: working with friends to create a brewery from scratch with state-of-the-art equipment.
Alisa Bowens-Mercado, Owner/Brewmaster, Rhythm Brewing Co.
Rhythm Brewing Co. is a New Haven, CT based brewery, founded by Alisa Bowens-Mercado. Realizing the lack of craft lagers on the market, Alisa decided to create her own. Her flagship beer, Rhythm, is a modern American-style lager with an ABV of 5.5%. Brewed with South African hops, Rhythm is unfiltered, flavorful, and has a slight bite that leaves you wanting more.
Music, Dance, and Beer have played a significant role in Alisa’s life. Both of Alisa’s Grandmothers’ were beer drinkers, and on special occasions, they would sip, dance and converse about “Finding your Rhythm in Life”.
Matthew Osterman, President & Founder, Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. is the result of President & Founder, Matthew Osterman creating the type of contract brewing facility that he and his business partner were looking for when they needed one. Listen for the colorful story of his homebrewing journey in his college dorm through the advent of Sleeping Giant and its current role in the Denver and regional area.
About StartABrewery
StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.
Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Episode 013 continues the discussion with Chris Leach of Wild Goose Filling, Alex Smith of ABS Commercial, and Brian Mollohan of Ruby Street Brewing about all things equipment. Where 012 was more shopping information and considerations, 013 takes us further into customized equipment, the entirety of costs associated with brewing equipment, and all things cans….including growlers vs. crowlers. Listening to both episodes will give you confidence in both shaping your vision and searching for the right vendors to work with to get you there.
Episode 013 is sponsored by ABS Commercial.
Brian Mollohan, Owner, Ruby Street Brewing
Brian Mollohan founded Ruby Street Brewing after years of homebrewing and building custom brewing systems for friends. Ruby Street is a family owned manufacturing business that specializes in building small scale nano and pilot brewing equipment. Ruby Street is unique in that all equipment is built to order with flexible designs, customizable options, competitive pricing and unrivaled customer support.
Alex Smith, Midwest Sales Consultant, ABS Commercial
Alex’s first foray in to fermentation was actually at a wine growers internship through the University of Georgia Sustainable Ag program. Realizing he had neither the patience of palate for wine, he soon pivoted to beer and never looked back. Since then he has worked in almost every aspect of the beer industry from retail to production and everything in between. Over 5 years ago, he helped open our sister company, Raleigh Brewing Company, where he served as yeast manager, head brewer and productions manager. Now with ABS commercial he wears just as many hats, covering sales, technical consulting and on-site brewing support. Alex resides in Denver, CO and heads up the Colorado wing for ABS Commercial. When not in the office or on the brewhouse, Alex can be found roaming the mountains with his wife, Natalie and their two dogs, Gracie and Wren. He also enjoys wrenching on and riding bikes, fermenting foods and tinkering with whatever needs tinkering.
Favorite Beers: A roasty schwarzbier, a juicy IPA or Schlenkerla Urbock
Chris Leach, Regional Sales Manager, Wild Goose Filling
Chris Leach is the East Coast Sales Manager for Wild Goose Filling. He comes from a background in the hospitality industry, attending the Culinary Institute of American and working in all facets of the restaurant industry. Chris shifted course in 2006 to the beer industry brewing at Keegan Ales in upstate NY before moving into consultative sales. His sales experience includes off-premise retail, distribution, cidery/distillery representative and packaging equipment. Chris has been working with breweries to design, configure and implement over 300 packaging lines over the past 5.5 years.
About StartABrewery
StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.
Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license