About this episode

Kevin Drake discusses the transition to contract brewing and its impact on his brewery's stability and identity.

Join us at CBC 2026 for our free Brewery Profit Workshop on Monday, April 20th. Learn more and grab a spot at sbstandard.com/cbcprofit — In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we’re chatting with Kevin Drake of Alibi Ale Works. We unpack how operating two busy brewpubs in a tourist-driven market ultimately pushed them toward contract brewing (and why it turned out to be one of the most stabilizing decisions they’ve made...despite the emotional challenges). Highlights include: * The hidden inefficiencies of producing beer in a remote, seasonal market * How focusing on the taproom experience and NA offerings led to more predictable margins * Why partnering with both large and small contract brewers could be the big move in 2026 Kevin shares that contract brewing “was the hardest decision [he’s] ever had to make, because [he’s] the homebrewer that started a brewery—it’s part of [his] identity to make the beer.” If you’ve been wrestling with making a similar move, this episode is filled with honest and helpful insight from someone who has been in this business for over a decade.

People in this episode

Host: Small Batch Standard

Guest: Kevin Drake

Topics covered

• contract brewing
• brewery management
• business strategy
• taproom experience
• profit margins

Keywords

• contract brewing
• brewpubs
• tourist market
• NA offerings
• predictable margins
• brewery profit
• business decisions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Alibi Ale Works

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