Join us as we dive deep with John Szymankiewicz of the Beer Law Center! In this episode, John tackles the critical legal questions surrounding the booming THC beverage market and other evolving trends in the craft industry. Learn why solid employee policies and adapting to trends are non-negotiable for success.

For more information on John and the Beer Law Center, head over to https://beerlawcenter.com/

-Music Credit-

Neon Drive by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deck 

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com 

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

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Grant Pearce, founder of Live Tap List, explains how his software streamlines menu management for breweries. Inspired by his brother's struggles, Grant created Live Tap List to centralize menu updates across digital displays, websites, and print, while also integrating with POS systems. At the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), he will demonstrate the software's flexibility and efficiency, particularly for marketing and customer engagement.

For more information on Grant and Live Tap Lists, head over to https://livetaplists.com/

-Music Credit-

Neon Drive by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deck 

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com 

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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This episode of the "Get Optimized" podcast features Ryan Halleman of Apex Group 360, who provides insights into the craft beer industry and the upcoming CBC 2025. 

Ryan discusses his excitement exhibiting at CBC 2025, which He views as the "Super Bowl of craft beer." He anticipates a shift in focus at this year's event, with more emphasis on cost reduction and margin improvement rather than big equipment purchases, due to current industry challenges.

For more information on Ryan and Apex Group 360 head to https://www.apexgroup360.com/

-Music Credit-

Neon Drive by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deck 

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com 

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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In this podcast episode, Chris interviews Ricky Wojcik of Perfectly Dosed, a Chicago-based company specializing in hemp emulsions. They discuss the growing market of THC-infused beverages, particularly in states where cannabis is legal, and how these products are appearing in regular retail stores. 

Ricky also shares his excitement about attending the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) 2025, where Perfectly Dosed will be showcasing their expertise and answering questions about integrating THC into brewing operations.

For more information on Ricky Wojcik and Perfectly Dosed, head over to https://www.perfectlydosed.com/

-Music Credit-

Neon Drive by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deck 

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com 

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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In this episode of the Get Hoptimized Podcast, Chris interviews Ross Stensrud, co-founder of TapWyse, about the Craft Brewers Conference #CBC 2025 and how TapWyse helps breweries boost revenue through mobile apps. They discuss taproom maximization, industry trends like alternative beverages, and the benefits of membership programs. 

Ross also provides advice for first-time CBC attendees and emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interactions. He encourages breweries to consider TapWyse's solutions for enhancing customer engagement and creating new revenue streams. 

For more information about Ross and TapWyse, head over to https://tapwyse.com/

-Music Credit-

Neon Drive by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deck 

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com 

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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In this episode, we dive into the upcoming Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), known as the "Super Bowl" of brewing events, with Dan Klasen from the Beverage Federation.

Dan shares his valuable insights for navigating CBC, especially for first-timers and growing breweries. We discuss the evolving brewing industry, including the rise of contract brewing and alternative beverage lines like wine and THC-infused products.

Dan emphasizes the importance of planning ahead, scheduling vendor meetings, and reviewing operational costs to maximize your CBC experience. We also explore strategies for business owners to delegate tasks and focus on strategic growth. Whether you're attending CBC or looking to improve your brewery's operations, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

For more information about Dan and the Beverage Federation, head to www.beveragefederation.com/

-Music Credit-

Neon Drive by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deck 

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com 

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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In this interview, we are speaking with Ross Stensrud, Co-Founder of TapWyse. His company builds apps for breweries that add revenue streams and improve customer communication. We’ve had the chance to see the data for ourselves and speak with Ross on multiple occasions about the work TapWyse is doing – we like what we see! So we asked Ross onto the show to answer questions about what apps can really do for your brewery and things you should consider when building one. 

Learn more about TapWyse at www.tapwyse.com and connect with Ross at ross@tapwyse.com. 


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Intro/Outro Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay 

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This monthly edition of the podcast is all about answering YOUR questions on digital marketing and craft beer. 

This month, we're talking about: 

• Why Your Reach on Instagram Posts is Low Recently
• How To Structure Ads for Multiple Locations
• Should You Care About Email Marketing
• What is Up With TikTok Lately

Want to get your questions answered next month? Shoot us an email at podcast@gethoptimized.com. 

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If you're headed to Vegas for CBC, here's your local's guide to finding great drinks and eats. The Las Vegas Strip is massive, with many tantalizing options for any palate. You won’t have any trouble finding world-class restaurants and bars named after celebrities. This guide isn’t for that. 

This is for folks looking for local secrets and undercover gems. If you’re in search of the best craft beer in town, delicious food that won’t blow your budget, or just some help to not feel lost, you’ll find it here. 

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas! 

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We're joined by Derek Smith, a Brewery Consultant with Small Batch Standard, to discuss profitability for breweries in 2024 and beyond. Derek and his team are doing incredible work helping breweries break down their finances into specific "business units" and then analyze profitability from there. This conversation is packed with valuable insight into how that works and other trends for maximizing profits. 

Derek and Small Batch Standard are also giving you a FREE 2-page Business Unit Breakdown report. Just head to sbstandard.com/hop to take advantage. 

You can also connect with Derek on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dereksmith9/ or by emailing him at derek@sbstandard.com. 

Learn more about Small Batch Standard at sbstandard.com 

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This monthly edition of the podcast is all about answering YOUR questions on digital marketing and craft beer. 

This month, we're talking about: 

• Marketing a brewery in a remote location
• Tips for promoting a seasonal beer garden 
• Which website builder to use for your brewery

Want to get your questions answered next month? Shoot us an email at podcast@gethoptimized.com. 

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This monthly edition of the podcast is all about answering YOUR questions on digital marketing and craft beer. 

This month, we're talking about: 

• Meta/Facebook account violations and how to get out of them
• Spam Messages within Meta Manager
• Best practices for sharing marketing assets

Want to get your questions answered next month? Shoot us an email at podcast@gethoptimized.com. 


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Intro/Outro Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay 

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For more information on Get Hoptimized, check out our website or follow us on social media.
www.gethoptimized.com
@gethoptimized

This monthly edition of the podcast is all about answering YOUR questions on digital marketing and craft beer. 

This month, we're talking about: 

• Where to get the most bang for your buck with digital marketing right now
• Whether or not you should use cloud storage systems 
• Promotional timelines for events like Valentine's Day and Super Bowl 

Want to get your questions answered next month? Shoot us an email at podcast@gethoptimized.com. 


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Intro/Outro Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay 

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For more information on Get Hoptimized, check out our website or follow us on social media.
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Really excited to chat Label and Package Design with a pro like Jillian. She's got a TON of experience and has done work for some great brands like Central Waters, Omni, and Lagersmith. Whether you are working with designers or doing design yourself, there is a lot to glean from this interview. 

Learn more about Jillian and her company, Elbongürk, at www.elbongurk.com 

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When I hear "app," I usually cringe a little bit. There are seemingly a million of them out there and it's hard to find anything that actually works... But I tell you what, a new-ish app called Crackem has actually proven some success.

Founded by Aubrey Perry on the heels of the pandemic, Crackem is helping breweries 4X their return on investment into their program that gamifies user visits and rewards. Plus, they have over 4,000 active venues in all 50 states. So there is at least something working and worth asking a few questions about, right? 

Check out the full interview and learn more about Crackem at crackem.us

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A website is one of the most essential components of a marketing strategy, but building one can be downright painful. So how can you better navigate the process? 

We're joined by website expert Marcus Ohanesian, Founder of Perfect Evolution, to discuss website design and how to better plan for the process yourself. Marcus has over a decade of experience building websites and has lots of experience working with breweries too. 

So whether you're shopping for website builders right now, planning to DIY, or considering a redesign, this podcast will be super helpful. 

And if you want to get in touch with Marcus and his website design company, head over to www.perfectevolution.xyz

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We recently had a neat conversation about T-90 pellets. More specifically about their efficiencies… and inefficiencies. Our good friend Chris Holden chimed in on the topic. He is the dude heading up sales and marketing for The Hop Guild up in New York.

So if you're a brewer, you're going to be fascinated by what Chris has to say about ways you can save money, produce more revenue per batch, save water, and more.

This conversation is also for the folks selling products to brewers - hops, grain, stickers, tap handles, etc. There's a subtext to this conversation about understanding what problems you solve for your customer and communicating the value around those problems.

You're gonna love it. 

If you want to find out more about The Hop Guild and their new HOPSAUCE product, head to thehopguild.com/hopsauce 

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We've got a story for you. It starts with a couple of buddies who met in college, graduated, and then decided to start a brewery together. Since then, they have grown the brewery to be quite a staple in their community.

In fact, their beer is served around the world, including in Virginia. New York, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and even New Zealand. So what started out as just a couple of buddies in college has grown into something quite amazing. We're talking about the Virginia Beer Co and were joined by founders Chris Smith and Robby Willey on the latest Get Hoptimized Podcast.

We could have them on just because they've grown a successful brewery, but they've recently gone through a rebranding which we thought was especially fascinating. So, dive into this episode to hear about why they decided to update the brand and what their experience was like along the way.

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Andrew Coplon joins us to answer some questions about the upcoming Craft Beer Professionals Connects Workshop in Milwaukee this June. Their event is very different from other conferences/expos, and we wanted to uncover what actually makes it so unique. Andrew answers a ton of questions and shares a little secret about the event that you won't find online.

To register and learn more about CBP Connects, go to craftbeerprofessionals.org/cbp-connects

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We FINALLY get to talk about NA beer! Our Guest, Alan Lapoint from 1820 Brewing, geeks out with us. We talked about branding, the brewing process, and how the e-commerce business model works for Non-Alcoholic beer.

For all our listeners, 1820 is offering 20% off on their website when you use the code Gethop20. Just head to 1820brewing.com and get some of their amazing N/A beer shipped right to you.

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We get an insider preview of the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville this May. Ann Obenchain, Marketing & Communications Director for the Brewers Association, joins us. She answers questions about how to make the most of your conference experience, where to find the best Nashville hot chicken, and more. 

Learn more about CBC and register at www.craftbrewersconference.com

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We're joined by Kary Shumway of Craft Brewery Financial Training to talk about how to better control costs in 2023. A very timely episode considering the current economic climate. Even if we weren't dealing with a recession or inflation, the insights from Kary on this topic are still really useful. 

If you are looking for more financial insight, head to Kary's website, www.craftbreweryfinance.com. 

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An article from Marketing Brew about Dry January trends data raises some questions about the hype vs. participation of Dry January.  We take a look at the data ourselves and give an analysis. Then, we take a look at Google Trends data for Valentine's Day, Super Bowl, and St. Patrick's Day. 

Reference: https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2023/01/25/how-alcohol-brands-are-embracing-the-rise-of-dry-january

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This week, we're changing things up with the podcast format. We'll be reviewing a few pieces of news relevant to the craft beverage industry and marketing. Links to the articles discussed in this episode can be found on our blog at gethoptimized.com. 

News This Week: 
- Buddhist sue over beer name
- Drinkers might be less price sensitive than we thought
- Fat Tire has a new look
- Instagram reveals new feed filtering controls
- The Twitter rival you've never heard of
- AI and retail inventory tech

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When we think about Public Relations, a lot of questions come to mind. 
As a craft beer business, should you care about public relations? And what the heck does "public relations" really mean?  How can you get started with PR??? 

So many questions... 

In short, YES! You should absolutely care about PR. 

To help us understand why and to unpack this marketing concept for the craft beer industry, we're joined by Kevin York. 

Kevin is one of the few people who has done PR, social media, and content marketing at both the strategic and tactical levels. Prior to founding KYC (Kevin York Communications), he worked at Edelman Digital and Voce Communications, a Porter Novelli company, where he served as head of Porter Novelli’s global digital technology practice. He also founded and managed The Couchletes, a national sports editorial site with seven regional writers. 

KYC is hosting a new conference all about marketing in the craft beverage industry called Beer Amplified. The idea is to bring marketing people from lots of different industries (not just beer) and have them share their insights to craft beer industry people. 

The conference takes place this March in Boston. You can learn more at Beeramplified.com

You can also learn more about Kevin's company at kevinyorkcomms.com

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