Advertise on podcast: Craft Brewery Financial Training Podcast

Benchmarking is one of the most powerful—and underused—tools in a brewery.  In this episode, we break down how brewery owners and managers can turn complex financial statements into simple, actionable scorecards that drive better decisions. You'll learn how top breweries use key metrics, industry benchmarks, and weekly financial meetings to identify profit leaks early, improve margins, and strengthen cash flow.  Instead of waiting for month-end financial reports, breweries can install a simple financial operating system that provides real-time visibility into the numbers that truly matter. Key Takeaways Why financial statements alone aren’t enough Monthly reports are often backward-looking and complex. A simple benchmark scorecard provides real-time visibility and early warning signals.The small set of metrics that truly drive brewery profitability Numbers like EBITDA, debt service coverage, gross margin, and key cash-flow drivers help determine whether the business model is sustainable.How to build a simple weekly financial scorecard Focus on just 3–5 key metrics per department to track performance, identify gaps, and drive accountability across the team.The Financial Operating System breweries should install The cycle is simple: set targets → measure performance → identify gaps → take action → report results weekly.How leading breweries use benchmarking to stay ahead Top breweries track margins, cash, sales velocity, and marketing ROI to make faster decisions and protect profitability.Resources Sign up for the Brewery Profit Brief -  Clear Numbers, Cash Flow Clarity, and One Practical Action to Improve Your Brewery's Profit  Get the free mini-course Brewery Key Performance Indicators - scorecards, templates and best practices to improve your most important numbers Take the Brewery Financial Health Check -  A quick self-assessment that shows where your brewery stands on the key drivers of profitability Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In this episode, Sam Calagione shares the journey of building Dogfish Head Craft Brewery from the smallest commercial brewery in America to a nationally recognized brand.  Sam shares how he started the business with $220,000 in personal loans, navigated decades of growth, and balanced creativity with financial discipline.  He discusses key decisions around capital, distribution, and profitability, along with lessons learned from missed opportunities and strategic bets.  The conversation also dives into the merger with Boston Beer Company, the importance of cultural alignment, and Sam’s perspective on the evolving craft beer landscape and what lies ahead. 🍺 Key Takeaways Start Small, but Think Long-Term Financially Dogfish Head began with limited capital, but growth was supported through a mix of bank financing, investors, and disciplined reinvestment over time.Growth + Profitability Can Coexist The company achieved 15 consecutive years of top-line growth while improving EBITDA - proving that scaling doesn’t have to come at the expense of profitability.Taproom & Direct Sales Should Come First For today’s breweries, maximizing on-site sales and margins is critical before expanding into wider distribution.Strategic Decisions (and Mistakes) Matter Missed investments—like delaying a canning line—highlight how timing and capital allocation can significantly impact long-term results.The Right Partnership Is About More Than Money The Boston Beer merger worked because of strong cultural alignment, shared values, and continued founder involvement - not just financial upside.Resources Get the FREE Brewery Profit Brief - tips, tactics and strategies to build a more profitable beer business Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In today's podcast, you’ll learn how to turn your numbers into a real-time management system.  We’ll show you how to identify the few key metrics that matter, assign clear ownership across your team, and install a simple weekly rhythm that turns financial data into action so you can improve performance before the month is over, not after it’s too late. Key Takeaways: How to build a focused weekly scorecard (3–5 key metrics) A clear, simplified set of numbers your team can influence in real timeTactics to create clear ownership across your organization Learn how to assign “one name on each number,” so every key metric has accountabilityHow to install a repeatable financial huddle system A simple weekly meeting structure that turns numbers into conversations, conversations into decisions, and decisions into resultsTips to create stronger alignment between operations and financial outcomes Connect daily actions (sales, ops, inventory, collections) directly to financial results so your team understands how their work drives profitResources Get the Brewery Profit Brief - weekly tips, tactics and strategies to build a more profitable brewery Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

Production planning is one of the bigger challenges in brewing. In this episode, Jeremy Carney from Central Coast Analytics and Dru Ernst from Dru Bru break down how breweries can move from reactive, spreadsheet-driven decisions to proactive, data-powered planning. You’ll hear a real-world case study from Dru Bru, explore how forecasting by brand, package, and channel actually works, and learn how better planning directly impacts cash flow, margins, and operational efficiency.  We also look ahead at how AI is beginning to shape the future of brewery production decisions. 🎯 Key Takeaways Why production planning is a hidden profit leak Poor planning leads to excess inventory, stockouts, lost sales, and tied-up cash, often without breweries realizing the true financial impact.What most breweries are doing today (and why it’s not enough) Many breweries rely on manual processes, gut instinct, and disconnected spreadsheets, creating inefficiencies and costly mistakes.How data-driven forecasting changes the game Planning by SKU, package, and sales channel gives breweries real visibility into demand, allowing for smarter brewing and inventory decisions.Real-world results from Dru Bru’s transformation Moving to a structured, data-informed system improved visibility, reduced guesswork, and enabled better in-season decision-making.Where AI fits and the practical first step to get started AI is about better recommendations. The first step is getting clean, usable data and a consistent planning process.Resources Connect with Jeremy, [email protected] and Dru, [email protected] Get the Brewery Profit Brief - short, actionable insights to drive profitabilityReady to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In this episode, I sit down with Marc Rice of Brytos Accounting Services to talk about something that sounds simple, but is often a mess behind the scenes: brewery bookkeeping.  Marc shares what he sees when he opens up a new client’s QuickBooks file for the first time - liabilities showing up as revenue, duplicate expenses from bank sync errors, unreconciled accounts, and charts of accounts that make it nearly impossible to understand what’s actually happening in the business.  We dig into why complete, accurate, and timely reporting isn’t just about compliance, it’s about decision-making.  Marc explains how a properly structured chart of accounts, clear separation of business segments using classes, and regular weekly reconciliations can dramatically improve financial clarity.  We also discuss when it makes sense to outsource bookkeeping, how to assess whether your books are healthy, and why clean financials are the foundation for improving margins, cash flow, and long-term profitability. Key Takeaways Reconcile Weekly, Not Just Monthly Don’t wait until month-end. Weekly bank and credit card reconciliations prevent duplicate entries, missing transactions, and costly clean-up work later .Design a Chart of Accounts That Works for a Brewery Your chart of accounts should separate taproom, wholesale, and other segments clearly—and properly classify COGS, labor, and overhead so you can see true margins .Watch for Common Brewery Bookkeeping Mistakes Be on alert for liabilities recorded as revenue, double-entered expenses from bank feeds, and unreconciled accounts—these distort profitability and cash flow .Use QuickBooks Classes (or Similar Tools) to Separate Business Segments Segment reporting helps you see which channels (taproom, distribution, events) are driving profit and which need attention .Outsource When You’re Wearing Too Many Hats If bookkeeping is something you “get to when you can,” it’s probably time to bring in a specialist who understands brewery accounting .Resources Get the Brewery Profit Brief - tips, tactics, and strategies to create more profit and better cash flow in your brewery. Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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 to measure membership revenue, reward value, and guest engagement in ways that turn loyalty from a “nice idea” into a measurable profit driver. Ross and Kary also discuss what separates breweries that succeed with loyalty programs from those that struggle. The key themes: staff buy-in, active marketing campaigns, data-driven decision making, and operational simplicity.  Rather than relying on gut instinct, Ross emphasizes the power of using app data to identify top guests, track recurring revenue, and refine marketing strategies.  Together, we make the case that loyalty programs—when structured and promoted correctly—can become a meaningful recurring revenue stream and a powerful tool to smooth seasonal revenue swings. Key Takeaways: Track Revenue, Not Just Sign-Ups: Measure estimated reward value, recurring membership revenue, and average tab size to understand the true financial impact of your loyalty program.Use Push Messages Strategically: Data shows strong engagement (including high visit rates per push message) and intentional communication drives repeat traffic.Create a Dynamic Rewards Model: Move beyond static mug clubs to systems that reward repeat behavior and build long-term belonging.Set Clear Membership Goals: Establish targets for monthly and annual membership sales, track progress on a dashboard, and adjust campaigns accordingly.Drive Staff Buy-In: Train your team to promote the program, personalize guest interactions, and make reward redemption easy.Resources Learn more about Tapwyse and schedule a demo Get the Brewery Profit Brief - tips, tactics and strategies to run a more profitable brewery business Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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, we’ll share a practical SOP template you can use immediately. Actionable Takeaways Install Clear Inventory SOPs Learn how to document and standardize receiving, transfers, adjustments, and returns so inventory accuracy doesn’t depend on memory or good intentions.Move from Guesswork to Measurement with a Scorecard Identify the key metrics (turnover, days on hand, shrinkage %, slow-moving SKUs) that quantify what strong inventory management actually looks like.Protect Gross Margin Through Better Valuation & Reconciliation Understand how counting discipline and consistent valuation methods improve COGS accuracy and prevent margin distortion.Identify and Plug the “Inventory Leaks” Discover the most common breakdown points — from receiving errors to production yield loss — and how to install controls that prevent them.Free Up Cash Without Increasing Sales See how improving inventory turns and reducing excess stock can unlock working capital and strengthen your financial position.Resources Get the free Brewery Profit Bulletin - tips, tactics and strategies to create more profit in your beer business. Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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 directly impact liquidity and financial stabilitySimple systems to improve collections, inventory management, and spending disciplineA framework for making better day-to-day decisions that strengthen cash flow and long-term growthResources Get the Brewery Profit Brief - actionable tips to improve cash flow today. Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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, data discipline is separating the breweries that survive from those that thrive in a maturing market. Aaron also shares insights on three major initiatives coming soon from Beer30  and what they signal about the future of operational intelligence in craft beer. ✅ Actionable Takeaways 1️⃣ Treat Data as a Strategic Asset — Not Just Recordkeeping High-performing breweries don’t just collect data — they structure it, review it consistently, and use it to drive pricing, production planning, inventory control, and profitability decisions. 2️⃣ Build a Single Source of Truth Disconnected spreadsheets and siloed systems create confusion. The best breweries integrate accounting, production, and inventory data so everyone operates from the same numbers. 3️⃣ Use AI as an Assistant, Not a Replacement AI tools can help analyze trends, forecast demand, flag anomalies, and generate insights faster — but they work best when clean, organized data feeds them. Garbage in, garbage out still applies. 4️⃣ Create a Weekly Data Review Rhythm Competitive breweries establish weekly operational and financial huddles where key metrics are reviewed, variances are discussed, and decisions are made quickly — before small issues become big problems. 5️⃣ Invest in Systems That Scale with You Whether it’s inventory management, production planning, or forecasting tools, investing in scalable systems early allows breweries to grow efficiently instead of rebuilding their back office every few years. Resources Connect with Aaron - [email protected] Get the Brewery Profit Bulletin - tips, tactics and strategies to build a more profitable brewery Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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. From there, we zoom out and tackle some of the biggest strategic issues facing breweries today — the pros and cons of contract brewing, what’s really happening in brewery mergers and acquisitions, and how forward-thinking operators are creatively converting underutilized production space into high-margin event venues.  This conversation is packed with insights for breweries looking to adapt, optimize, and build a more profitable business model in a maturing market. Key Takeaways Taproom Profit is Still King Why maximizing retail sales, optimizing labor, and dialing in guest experience remains one of the most powerful levers for margin expansion.Distribution Strategy Requires Discipline The importance of understanding true margins by channel — and when distribution helps (or hurts) your bottom line.Contract Brewing: Strategic Tool or Risky Shortcut? A practical look at when contract brewing makes sense, when it doesn’t, and the financial implications owners often overlook.M&A Activity Is Evolving What’s driving brewery mergers and acquisitions in today’s market — and what owners should consider before buying, selling, or partnering.Repurposing Production Space for Higher Margins How breweries are converting excess capacity into event space, private rentals, and hospitality experiences to capture more profitable retail dollars.Profit Requires Intention, Not Hope The common thread across all strategies: knowing your numbers, understanding channel-level profitability, and making proactive financial decisions instead of reactive ones.Resources Learn more about the Brewery Profit Workshop - Monday April 20th of Craft Brewers Conference week Get the free Brewery Profit Brief - a weekly newsletter packed with tips, tactics, and strategies to drive more profit in your beer business Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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 gross margin % trends and compare draft vs package so you can catch margin decline early.Break down margins by brand and package. Don’t rely on blended averages - calculate COGS and margin by SKU to identify profit drivers and margin killers.Allocate labor and overhead intentionally. Use simple drivers to create a realistic cost per BBL — clarity beats perfection.Turn margin insight into action. Use what you learn to adjust pricing, rationalize SKUs, improve efficiency, negotiate with suppliers, and drive profitability.Resources Get the Brewery Profit Brief - actionable tips, tactics and strategies to run a more profitable brewery. Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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-making.  Instead of drowning in reports, they focus on a small set of leading indicators that flag issues early — while there’s still time to act. This isn’t about becoming a CPA - it’s about knowing where to look, how often to review, and what actions to take when numbers move out of range. Key Takeaways Most brewery financial problems show up early — but only if you know which signals to watchA focused red-flag dashboard is more powerful than dozens of backward-looking reportsCash flow issues are usually operational problems in disguiseReviewing financial signals weekly creates faster, calmer course correctionStabilizing cash flow and margins must come before growth or optimizationResources Get the Brewery Profit Brief - tips tactics and strategies for a more profitable brewery Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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 transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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 of packaged product, strong retail relationships, and authentic brand loyalty kept the business resilient. As a certified B Corp, Lawson’s and has contributed millions to nonprofits focused on healthy communities—proving that purpose can be a growth engine, not a side note. On the operational side, Sean opens the playbook: annual planning with monthly and quarterly reviews, KPI dashboards that spotlight cash, gross margin, COGS, and velocity, and a quarterly advisory board that challenges assumptions without dictating decisions.  We dig into the hard lessons from overcommitting on hops and preprinted cans, why vendor relationships matter when renegotiating contracts, and how to make tough people decisions while staying transparent and fair.  If you’re scaling a craft brand you’ll leave with practical tactics for forecasting, budgeting, negotiating, and building a cadence that turns numbers into action. Grab the free Brewery Profit Brief - financial tips, tactics and strategies to build a more profitable brewery.  Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

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 control, unlocked flavor innovation, improved margins, and gave the team agility to grow without supply constraints.  Chris explains how the brand story evolved from convincing people to try non-alcoholic beer to showing who it’s for: active, balance-minded drinkers who want great beer flavors throughout the week.  Together, they share how “cans in hands” at race finish lines and community events are key to brand building, how partnerships and earned media create the surround sound needed to convert trial into repeat purchase. If you care about brewery finance, brand strategy, or the surge in non-alcoholic beer, this podcast is packed with practical and clear frameworks you can apply at any scale.  Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies.