How NOT To Start ADamn Brewery

07/25/2024

Ran into one of the few bar owners I truly miss today and he had a bottle of Self Medication for me.

Who knows where I am?

07/25/2024

Yes it has been a minute since I released an episode but I’ve got something unique and special to make up for my laziness.

Listen to Megan tell the story of building a boutique winery - Margins Wine - marginswine - this is an incredible tale and I promise you’ll learn something.

07/10/2024

This is a pretty big deal in beer.

But it’s an equally big deal that one of the most influential voices in craft beer operated at such an enormous financial loss for so long.

It is so sad and so fitting of craft beer at the exact same time.

# On Becoming Hawk Hi there - this is Michael Kiser, founder and publisher of Good Beer Hunting. I’m coming to you today with a difficult message—but a simple one.  Good Beer Hunting—after nearly 15 years, and at least 10 of that that I would consider serious years—is going on a platfor...

07/01/2024

Once again the civilians struggle to understand what we’ve known for years.

Ardagh Glass in the east side of Houston will close in July, according to reports. The manufacturer is also closing a Seattle plant.

06/20/2024

Friday June 21 at 11 I'll have 45 minutes' worth of the attendee's attention at this year's Crafted For Action Conference in Atlanta.

I'll be answering the question: Is there room for one more brewery? Here's a sneak peak of some of the data I'm sharing - can you guess what conclusion I came to?

06/01/2024

I shared some life lessons on Robert’s podcast recently.

Go take a listen

Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with highs and lows, successes and failures, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. But here's the thing: failure isn't the ...

05/29/2024

I'm about to hear a fantastic story of a California winemaker that would inspire any artistic brewer.

She makes wine that's esoteric, funky and unique.

Anything you want me to ask her?

05/25/2024

Y’all. We can do better.

Craft beer is one of the most capital-intensive, low margin businesses you can invest in.

It’s not a hobby. And passion won’t pay the bills. If you’re a homebrewer that makes great beer, keep doing it. But please wait to open a business until you have some experience in business.

I honestly wish everyone who wants to be in this industry the best - but we need to be better.

Buy your Smittox merch and swag here

05/24/2024

What are YOU doing next month? This. Likely this.

05/21/2024

The goal of the book & podcast is to prevent this.

Less brewery closings. Less money lost.

More profit. More happy people.

05/18/2024

Yes it’s been a pretty hot minute since I released an episode.
And yes, it was worth the wait.

A few seasons back I realized that to truly tell the story of the business of craft beer, we needed input from other countries. So I reached out to Canadian, Australian, Norwegian, UK and South African breweries. Some of those interviews have already been released. But the very first international g...

11/23/2023

James shared his story this season and now he’s sharing his equipment.
If you’re in the market, this is what you need.

NEW Online Auction: Urban Brew Labs. https://ow.ly/zmMs50Q8sUy

11/22/2023

Hanging with Ben - I learned about Canada’s craft scene, dropped some knowledge and failed his quiz miserably.

But the episode was badass.

Ben chats with Kelly Meyer, author of the book "How Not to Start a Damn Brewery" and host of the podcast of the same name. They talk beer in Texas, the mistakes most brewery owners make, and why he swears he's not bitter about selling his brewery; plus Ben rants about the allegedly impeding demise o...

11/21/2023

Jonathan Harris shares the story of homebrewer turned owner, turned brewer, turned happy.

Listen in as we autopsy what happened at Cedar Park's late Hedgehog Brewing in the latest podcast release

Hedgehog Brewing was founded by Jonathan Harris and his brother Chris in April 2019 just outside of Austin, TX. After home brewing voraciously for years they’d honed their recipes, harvested their own yeast and set about making their unique mark on craft beer. They focused on fermenting beers with...

11/16/2023

Brand-new Episode

Zach Rabun opened ⁠Mockery Brewing⁠ in Denver’s ubiquitous RiNO district long before it was cool. Most of you know that it's now become one of the best-known beer destination in the states.

11/16/2023

Dropped by my local.
Signs on the wall:
5 are closed
1 went bankrupt twice
At least 3 were sold
2 I’ve never heard of
1 belongs to Keith and Anna who deserve your love

And I’m the as***le for pointing out that profitability is a dirty slut?

11/13/2023

Zach and his team made a Mockery of the German Reinheitsgebot - hear his story on the latest episode.

Zach Rabun opened Mockery Brewing in Denver’s ubiquitous RiNO district long before it was cool. Most of you know that it's now become one of the best-known beer destination in the states. After working at Coors and Denver area brewpubs, he set a concise theme for his brewery: First, take a detaile...

11/11/2023

Spent some time discussing what led to this happening.

Jason has an amazing story but you’ll have to wait a few weeks to hear it because I’m a little behind.

11/05/2023

Thanks for joining

11/01/2023

11/01/2023

Tonite I'm trying something new.

We recorded the first 4 segments of the Fractal Brewing Project's story a few weeks ago and released the podcast episode today.

But we've got one final segment to finish up and it's the part about the actual closing and how it all went down, what's going on with the 3 million dollar price tag on the assets and what Bradley, "Robo" Robison has planned next.

So we're going LIVE on this page tonite at 6pm CDT. Tune in, send in your questions and be part of the process. The video will be posted to the podcast in a few weeks as a follow-up to Episode 53.

See y'all tonite at 6!

10/30/2023

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this.
On the one hand, a brewery finding creative ways to stay open.
On the other, asking their fans to throw good money after bad

What do you think?

R.Shea Brewing is facing tough times from a variety of issues including high interest rates on o… Ronald Shea needs your support for Help Save R.Shea Brewing

10/29/2023

This week my interview with the creative brains behind Huntsville, AL’s late Fractal Brewing, Robo, comes out.

The brewery’s for sale if you’re looking………

Introducing a Craft Beer Brewer's Dream Venue! 5,000 sq ft indoor taproom space with stage & audio to support large music shows 1,000 sq ft private event roo...

10/28/2023

Years ago I owned a small brewery.
We were tired of the InstaPromoDouche culture but needed to release a new beer.
So I asked my brewer and friend Nathan to share a photo poking some fun at it. Well, it wasn’t received all that well from the socials.

So when I shared a vintage beer he made, one of our absolute favorites, last weekend, he was inspired to recreate it.

Dysco Fyre is still one of my favorite beers of all time and it held up fantastically for the last 6 or 7 years. We barrel-aged Lenoir grapes with the beer for 12 months, giving a beautifully sour, tannic and, somehow, delicate beer.

See, I don’t totally miss owning a brewery, I just prefer to enjoy beer from THIS side of the bar.

10/20/2023

I know I don’t thank y’all enough for grabbing a seat on this bus.

On the road to making a difference I get pulled over a lot by the no-progress police.

But when ‘We’ make comments like this I am reminded why I do this and who I do it for.

Love you guys and can’t wait to keep surprising y’all!

10/18/2023

You don't want to miss the first episode with an Australian Brewery - it's out today!

Steven Henderson is a craft beer rockstar. He goes by the moniker Hendo and he’s one of the best-known personalities in the Australian craft beer industry. Well-loved and well-respected. And, from what I can tell, well-deserved. He started a contract, or gypsy, brewing brewery called Brewcult. He ...

10/15/2023

After 2 years the podcast was just awarded Honorable Mention in this year's Best Technical Beer or Brewing Podcast by the North American Guild of Beer Writers.

Gaining credibility when challenging the status quo is an uphill climb. This is a win for making the industry better and I'm going to sit back and enjoy it today.

10/12/2023

Steve "Hendo" Henderson is sharing the story of Australia's BrewCult on the next release of the podcast.

In 2016 his brewery won Gold & Silver in AMERICAN STRONG STYLE for his IPA, Thanks Captain Obvious.

The brewery shut down a few years later but really, that's an awesome achievement.

10/11/2023

In 2016 Steve "Hendo" Henderson's brewery, BrewCult, won Gypsy Brewer of the Year in the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA).

A few years later the brewery was closed down. His story is inspiring and uniquely interesting - and it isn't over yet. Not by a mile.

Look for the story of Hendo and Brewcult on the next podcast episode released this weekend