Advertise on podcast: Taproom Success

Sometimes the best taproom ideas come from outside the beer industry. In this episode of the Taproom Success Podcast, Andrew shares an experience at a bowling alley where guests were given free samples of food and shortly afterward ordered both items they had sampled. That simple interaction sparked a question: Could breweries use free food samples to introduce guests to menu items and increase average check size? In this episode we explore how breweries might test this strategy, particularly when launching a new kitchen, adding menu items, or encouraging guests who normally only order beer to try the food. We also discuss the economics: Andrew shares data showing that taproom guests who order food can have significantly higher check totals. The idea is to run a small, measurable experiment and see whether a little taste can lead to a much bigger sale. A free sample can create demand. Giving guests a small taste may introduce them to something they didn't know they wanted and encourage them to order the full item.Food can dramatically increase average check size. Andrew cites taproom data showing average checks were about 95% higher when guests ordered food versus when they didn’t. Use sampling strategically. Consider testing it when introducing a new menu, opening a kitchen, promoting a high-margin item, or during a slower shift rather than giving samples to everyone all the time. Borrow ideas from outside the beer industry. Bowling alleys, Costco, ice cream shops, and other retailers offer lessons breweries can adapt to help guests spend more, stay longer, and have a better experience. Join the conversation at Taproom Success.com!

In this episode of the Taproom Success Podcast, we break down taproom growth into 3 simple drivers: Traffic, average guest spend, and frequency of return visits. We explore practical tactics for each driver - from thinking beyond social media and using private events to attract new guests, to training staff to simply ask for the next purchase, to ending a guest interaction with the powerful question, “When will I see you again?” Key Takeaways: Focus on the Big Three: Grow taproom sales by increasing traffic, average guest spend, and visit frequency.Look beyond social media: Private events, email, text, your website, in-taproom promotion, and even old-school grassroots marketing can all help drive traffic. Train your staff around one simple, measurable behavior: Asking about food, another beer, to-go beer, loyalty programs, or the guest's next visit can increase sales without requiring more traffic. Turn ideas into action: Use an Impact/Effort Matrix to prioritize opportunities, choose one initiative, establish a measurement, set a deadline, and test whether it actually works. Join the conversation at Taproom Success.com!

Running a successful taproom requires more than great beer and great hospitality, it requires a solid financial foundation. In this episode of Taproom Success, Kary introduces his new book, Brewery Finance Basics, a practical handbook designed to help brewery and taproom owners and managers build stronger, more financially sustainable businesses. The book is organized into 12 sections covering everything from growing sales and improving margins to managing cash flow and building financial standard operating procedures. Kary also shares one practical sales-growth strategy from the book: how to build a taproom ambassador program that turns your best customers into advocates who help spread the word, bring in new guests, and strengthen your brewery community. Financial skills are operating skills. Understanding the numbers helps taproom owners and managers make better everyday decisions about sales, labor, costs, pricing, and cash. Build simple financial systems. Brewery Finance Basics breaks brewery finance into 12 practical sections that can be used to create repeatable habits and financial SOPs. Turn your biggest fans into ambassadors. A taproom ambassador program gives loyal customers a reason -and a simple way - to introduce more people to your brewery. Start with one idea and put it into action. You don't need to overhaul everything at once. Choose one sales or financial improvement, implement it, measure the results, and build from there. Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

Great hospitality starts with the basics: greet guests warmly, take care of them while they’re there, and thank them before they leave. But there’s one more simple step that can help turn a great visit into a return visit: ask when you’ll see them next. In this episode, we explore how taproom staff can make the most of that final customer interaction. From mentioning an upcoming event or beer release, to inviting guests into your loyalty program, to offering a “gold envelope” mystery reward they can only open when they return, small prompts can give guests a reason - and a reminder - to come back. Don’t stop at “Thanks for coming in.” Add a simple question like, “When will we see you next?” to plant the seed for another visit. Give guests a specific reason to return. Mention an upcoming event, new beer release, weekly special, or other occasion and encourage them to put it on their calendar. Create a way to stay connected. A free loyalty program, email list, or text program allows you to continue the conversation after the guest leaves. Make the return visit fun. Try a “gold envelope” - a sealed mystery offer or gift that guests can only open when they come back. Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

Taproom managers are busy working in the business, but the best operators make time each week to work on the business. In this episode, we break down a simple weekly financial huddle that takes 30 minutes, covers a handful of key numbers, and has the team ask and answer a few important questions. Learn how this weekly habit can help your team spot problems sooner, turn numbers into action, and build managers who think and act more like owners. Key Takeaways: Build a simple weekly rhythm. Set aside 30 minutes at the same time each week to review results, identify gaps, and decide what needs to happen next. Focus on the numbers that drive the taproom. Track a handful of metrics such as sales, customer traffic, average check, labor cost, events, loyalty sign-ups, or to-go sales. Turn numbers into action. Ask three questions every week: What’s working? What’s not working? What are we going to do about it? Then assign specific actions and review progress at the next meeting. Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

A packed taproom creates its own energy, but what happens on a slow weekday afternoon when only a handful of guests walk through the door? In this episode, we explore how breweries can create a memorable experience regardless of how busy the room is. We’ll look at Secret Hopper data on staff engagement, music, atmosphere, and simple hospitality habits that can keep guests longer, increase spending, and give them a reason to come back. Key Takeaways: Your staff become the atmosphere when the room is quiet. Learn the simple engagement habits like introductions, recommendations, conversation, and check-ins, that can transform an awkward visit into a memorable one. Create a vibe that doesn’t depend on a crowd. Music, art, décor, and other thoughtful touches can make even an empty taproom feel welcoming and worth sticking around in. Turn slow periods into an opportunity. When staff have fewer guests competing for their attention, they have more opportunities to deliver exceptional hospitality, encourage another round, and turn first-time visitors into regulars. Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

Summer brings the crowds, but busy doesn't automatically mean profitable. In this episode of Taproom Success, Kary and Andrew discuss how taproom managers can turn increased foot traffic into higher sales by mastering the basics, creating more buying opportunities, and making it easy for guests to spend more. Key Takeaways Start with the fundamentals. Friendly service, fast execution, and a clean, welcoming environment create the foundation for a memorable guest experience and stronger sales.Increase the value of every visit. Beyond beer and food, promote merchandise, mug clubs, gift cards, beer-to-go, private tours, and other high-margin offerings that guests may not know exist.Visibility and asking drive revenue. Make products easy to see, train staff to confidently recommend additional purchases, and remove any friction that makes it harder for customers to buy.Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

In this episode of Taproom Success, we dive into data from Secret Hopper that reveals how guest spending changes as taprooms get busier, why staff are actually less likely to ask one simple question during peak periods, and how asking "Want another?" can significantly increase average guest spend. Key Takeaways Learn how guest behavior changes as taprooms fill up and why a second drink often depends on a simple prompt.Discover the relationship between busy taprooms and the likelihood that servers suggest another beverage.Train your team with simple cues and service standards so asking "Want another?" becomes a consistent part of every guest interaction, especially during your busiest shifts.Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

Looking for fresh ideas to increase taproom revenue? In this episode of Taproom Success, we share five practical strategies breweries are using right now to drive repeat visits, deepen guest engagement, and increase average spend. From turning memberships into gifts to creating memorable guest experiences that generate loyalty and word-of-mouth, these ideas are simple, actionable, and designed to help grow sales today. Key Takeaways: Turn memberships into gifts that keep customers coming back. Position them as gifts for Father’s Day, birthdays, holidays, and special occasions. Unlike gift cards, memberships create ongoing visits and encourage guests to bring friends along. Create connection through a Pay-It-Forward programBuild goodwill and meaningful guest experiences by giving customers a chance to buy a future beer or experience for someone else. Use the “Steal the Glass” promotion to boost average spend. Offer guests the opportunity to keep branded glassware for a small add-on charge. A simple upsell can create incremental revenue while also marketing your brand. Build your email list like your business depends on it -because it might. Social media changes constantly, but your email list is an owned asset. Use creative tactics like Wi-Fi access capture, events, and loyalty signups to steadily grow your audience. Obsess over average check size. Small increases in spend per guest can create major revenue gains over time. Train staff to suggest flights, merchandise, to-go beer, memberships, events, and food add-ons to maximize each visit. Want EVEN MORE ways to grow taproom sales? Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com.

Most taproom owners want more customer feedback but don’t know where to start. You may assume it requires complicated surveys and expensive tools, but getting feedback can be as easy as asking one simple question. In this episode of Taproom Success, we explore why customer feedback may be one of the most underutilized growth levers in your business. Inspired by a recent experience in small-town West Virginia and insights from Secret Hopper, we discuss common misconceptions about gathering feedback, practical ways to collect it starting today, and creative approaches to uncover what your guests are really thinking. Key Takeaways: The biggest opportunities often come from simply asking your customers for feedback - great insights can come from conversations, quick polls, comment cards, or a single thoughtful question. Most taprooms hear from extremes not the silent majority. We often overreact to loud complaints or glowing praise while missing the broader patterns hidden among everyday guests. Borrow ideas from unexpected places. A recent visit to a small West Virginia town by Andrew revealed how one small businesses asked for customer feedback using a simple white board. Start collecting useful data today. Add one feedback mechanism this week: QR code surveys on table tents, post-visit emails or simply asking departing guests: “What’s one thing we could improve?” “If you could ask every guest just one question before they leave your taproom, what would it be?” Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

Fresh off the Craft Brewers Conference, we break down key lessons from Will Guidara’s keynote on creating unforgettable guest experiences. From the psychology behind memorable moments to why the final interaction with a guest matters more than most breweries realize, this episode explores practical ways taprooms can deliver hospitality that stands out. Small, thoughtful gestures often create stronger guest loyalty than expensive marketing campaigns.The study highlighted in the keynote reinforced that people remember experiences based heavily on emotional peaks and the ending moments of the interaction. “Unreasonable hospitality” in a taproom doesn’t have to mean giving things away - it means creating intentional, memorable moments that fit your brewery’s personality. The final moments of a guest visit - the goodbye, check-out, thank you, or invitation to return - can have an outsized impact on whether customers come back and recommend the brewery to others. Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

Great taprooms don’t manage finances once a month, they build systems that create daily accountability, smarter decisions, and stronger profits. In this episode, we break down the Brewery Financial Operating System: a practical framework to train your team, build simple scorecards, track the right KPIs, and install weekly financial huddles that keep everyone aligned. Learn how breweries can create a culture where managers understand the numbers, take ownership, and drive better financial results without getting overwhelmed by spreadsheets or meetings. Build a simple financial operating system that connects long-term financial goals to daily and weekly action.Learn how to train managers and staff to understand the key numbers that drive brewery profitability and cash flow.Understand how short weekly financial huddles can improve accountability, identify problems faster, and create better decision-making across the brewery.Walk away with one practical first step you can implement immediately to begin installing a financial operating system in your brewery.Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

In this episode, we break down real Q1 2026 taproom data and uncover a surprising trend: engagement dropped nearly 40% in Q4 2025 to Q1 2026. We dig into what’s really driving the decline, why “friendly service” isn’t enough to win today’s guests, and the simple, high-impact actions taproom owners can take right now to boost traffic, increase guest spend, and re-engage their customer base. Key Takeaways: Seasonality is real—but not an excuse: Q1 slowdowns are expected, but the magnitude of the drop reveals missed opportunities in programming, marketing, and guest engagement. Friendly ≠ Profitable: Great service is the baseline. The real opportunity lies in intentional guest engagement that drives repeat visits and higher check averages. Engagement drives revenue: When guest engagement drops, frequency of visits, spending, and loyalty follow—this is the leading indicator taprooms must track. One move to make this week: Implement a simple, structured guest engagement tactic (events, staff prompts, or loyalty hooks) to immediately start rebuilding traffic and momentum. Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

After participating in a panel discussion at the Vermont Craft Brewers Conference alongside leaders like Sean Lawson of Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Ralph Crowley of Polar Beverages, one theme stood out: great businesses don’t grow in isolation. In this episode, we explore how taproom owners can build a small but powerful advisory board to sharpen strategy, improve financial performance, and increase accountability. You don’t need a formal board of directors, just the right mix of perspectives, skill sets, and structure to help you make better decisions and execute with confidence. Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!

In this episode of Taproom Success, we explore an unexpected business lesson inspired by Minecraft: the difference between Survival Mode and Creative Mode. In the game, survival mode is all about staying alive, managing scarce resources, and reacting to threats. Creative mode, on the other hand, unlocks freedom, imagination, and long-term building. Many taprooms today are operating in survival mode - reacting to slow weeks, watching cash closely, scrambling with staffing, and hoping the next event boosts revenue. But thriving taprooms intentionally shift into creative mode by planning ahead, building systems, strengthening margins, and designing experiences that drive sustainable profit. The question is: which mode are you in? Join the conversation at TaproomSuccess.com!