Craft Brewery Financial Training Podcast

In this episode, Jake Lohse and I break down “The Financial Playbook for Profitable Breweries” - a practical framework for brewery owners who want to move beyond survival mode and build a more profitable, financially disciplined business. The conversation explores the financial realities of running a brewery, the key metrics that matter at each stage of growth, and the systems, dashboards, and routines that successful breweries use to make smarter decisions. From cash flow forecas...

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 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 ...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...