About this episode

Brad Fitzgerald discusses the challenges and strategies of running a successful brewery in a tourist-driven economy.

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 we sit down with Brad Fitzgerald of Swellsa Brewing about building a modern craft staple in the heart of Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina. From navigating the unique challenges of the Outer Banks to winning a World Beer Cup gold medal, Swellsa has been creating a community hub that thrives in a "feast or famine" tourist economy. Some highlights include: * Why skipping a kitchen to maintain local restaurant partnerships could be a move for breweries who are hesitant to have their own in-house food program * How Swellsa scales for summers that jump from a local annual population of 7k to over 40k * What skipping a traditional distribution strategy looks like when scaling in 2026 (and what to do instead) From navigating coastal logistics to launching a hemp-derived beverage brand, Brad’s "move fast" mentality is a masterclass in modern brewery scaling. There is a lot packed into this episode for owners looking to grow their business in 2026.

People in this episode

Guest: Brad Fitzgerald

Topics covered

• brewery management
• tourist economy
• business growth
• craft beer
• local partnerships
• distribution strategy

Keywords

• craft brewing
• business strategy
• tourist season
• community hub
• hemp-derived beverage
• scaling business
• local restaurants

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Swellsa Brewing

Books & works: World Beer Cup

Places: Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks

More episodes of The True Craft Podcast

• E126: Marketing Strategy vs. Execution with Warren Bondi of Wood Foot Beer Co. and Beer Marketeers · March 20, 2026 · 40 min
• E125: Modern Brewery Ops, Guild Leadership, and Parenthood with Hannah Ison of Zeroday Brewing and Brewers of Pennsylvania · March 6, 2026 · 45 min
• E124: Winning in Wholesale with Brian Durand of Asbury Park Brewery · February 20, 2026 · 41 min
• E123: The Entertainment-Driven Brewery Model with Chris O’Neill from One Well Brewing · February 6, 2026 · 1h 2m
• E122: Making the Shift to Contract Brewing with Kevin Drake of Alibi Ale Works · January 23, 2026 · 49 min
• E121: Crafting Award-Winning Bourbon in a Control State with Doug McLaughlin and Mike Orozco of M&O Spirits · November 14, 2025 · 42 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The True Craft Podcast podcast page.