E101: “The Suburban Pub” Boom with Phil Humphrey of 608 Brewing

E101: “The Suburban Pub” Boom with Phil Humphrey of 608 Brewing

Author: Small Batch Standard January 10, 2025 Duration: 39:18
Kick off 2025 with Episode 101 of The True Craft Podcast! This week, we’re chatting with Phil Humphrey, Founder of 608 Brewing Company in La Crosse, WI. From launching a lean startup in 2018 to opening a second suburban taproom in 2023 (that is outperforming their original location 20%-40%!), Phil shares his story of determination, creativity, and pushing boundaries in craft beer. Some highlights include: * How Phil got 608 Brewing off the ground with a budget under $500k (!) * The operation behind brewing 400+ unique beers in six years while trying to stay ahead of industry trends * An inside look at 608’s thriving suburban taproom and their bold leap into hemp-derived THC beverages Phil’s journey shows that combining the charm of a suburban pub with bold vision, creative recipes, and a knack for adapting can transform a lean startup into a thriving craft beer success story. We hope that you enjoy this episode and we look forward to bringing you more True Craft in 2025!

Every week on The True Craft Podcast, hosts Chris Farmand and Katy Noel pull up a chair for the kind of frank talk you’d usually only get in a private office or after hours at a trade show. This isn’t about surface-level success stories. Instead, each episode features a genuine conversation with a craft business owner, digging into the real and often messy details of running an operation. You’ll hear about the specific hurdles they’ve faced, the unexpected opportunities they’ve seized, and the tough, daily decisions that define life as an entrepreneur in this hands-on world. Created by Small Batch Standard, the podcast serves as an essential resource for practitioners who want to move beyond theory and into the practical realities of management and growth. The discussions are grounded, insightful, and focused entirely on the experiences of people who are actually doing the work, making it a unique listen for anyone building a business with their own hands. Tune in for a dose of honesty and actionable perspective that cuts straight to the heart of what it means to be a craft owner today.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The True Craft Podcast
Podcast Episodes
E113: De-Risking Craft Beer with Charlie Berger of Wilding Brands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:44
In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Berger, co-founder of Denver Beer Company and now one of the minds behind Wilding Brands—the growing group that includes Denver Beer Co, Stem Ciders, Funkwerks, Howdy Beer, Great…
E111: AI and the Craft Brewery with Adam Robbings of Reuben’s Brews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
Adam Robbings of Reuben’s Brews returns to The True Craft Podcast to share how he’s putting AI to work behind the scenes, from forecasting taproom traffic to simplifying the hiring process. He and Chris also unpack key t…
E108: The Future Is Retail with Jeff Heck of Monday Night Brewing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:39
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: retail is the future of craft. On this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Jeff Heck, co-founder of Monday Night Brewing out of Atlanta, GA, to talk about how…