There is uncertainty in the beer industry these days and if you’re a small brewery owner you might feel like you’re alone in the issues and struggles facing your small business. You’re not. On this episode we’ll check in with two small breweries on how they are operating, getting help, solving challenges, and looking forward.
Guests
Celebrating six years in operation, Slate Town Brewery in Granville, New York has been through a lot in a short time. Owner Susan Knapp is here to talk about the early days, the help she’s received along the way, and advice and changes that have helped keep the doors open. Slate Town is a small New York State Farm Brewery dedicated to brewing outstanding, small-batch beer using local, seasonal ingredients.
Twisted Fate Brewing is a small Nano-brewery taproom in Danvers, Massachusetts managed by Head Brewer and Co-Owner David Pinette. Helping to run the business side of the brewery is David’s wife Erica Tritta. Erica brings seventeen years of legal experience and running a small business to the ownership group. Co-Owner Bill McNamara is also a valuable member to the ownership group with his financial experience. And Co-Owner Kim McNamara brings her prior restaurant and mother of two experience to the brewery.
Pinette studied business, with a concentration in accounting during his undergraduate studies at Bridgewater State University. David went on to work for some of the largest financial institutions in the world while doing investment and tax accounting. In 2010, David decided to leave the business world and make a jump to education, where in 2017 he received a Master’s degree in education. Over seven years ago, David brewed his first batch of beer and fell in love with the process. Since that moment, David has worked on numerous recipe creations and perfecting the process of brewing beer. David is in charge of the general operation of the brewery.
Erica Tritta, Esq., serves as counsel and operations director for the brewery. She has been practicing law in Massachusetts since 2007 as a sole practitioner at her own firm. In addition to practicing law, Erica served in a consultant role for 5 years for an international Massachusetts based quick service restaurant franchise. In her law practice, Erica works with families and individuals in Probate and Family Court and Juvenile Court. Much of Erica’s advocacy is for parents and children when the state intervenes to seek custody.
The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 57 is sponsored by:
Fermentis
Do you want to brew wheat beers? Whether you want to brew a Belgian Witbier, a German Weizen or your own wheat-beer style, Fermentis has the solution for you! Visit Fermentis.com and check out their complete solutions for wheat beers, available in flexible 100g pouches.
2024 NanoCon Online
Save the date and save $100. Registration is now open for the 2024 NanoCon Online taking place on Friday, October 25. Don't miss this full day of business and brewing strategies for running or launching a successful small-scale, taproom-focused craft brewery. The seminars will be live and online but you'll also have access to video replays of every session. Register now for the October 25 event and you'll save $100 at nanocon.beer.
BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s new Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual print magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.
BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 57
Host: John Holl
Guests: Susan Knapp, Erica Tritta, David Pinette
Contact: nano@byo.com
Music: Scott McCampbell
