E118: Lessons from 25 Years in Hospitality with Erik Shewmaker of Field Day Brewing

E118: Lessons from 25 Years in Hospitality with Erik Shewmaker of Field Day Brewing

Author: Small Batch Standard September 26, 2025 Duration: 46:40
In this episode, we sit down with Erik Shewmaker, co-founder of Field Day Brewing and longtime restaurateur. Erik shares how a quarter of a century in hospitality shaped the launch of Field Day in 2023, the challenges of navigating Iowa distribution laws, the early adoption of THC beverages, and everything in-between! Highlights include: How a restaurant-first mindset changes how a brewery inherently operates What breweries can learn from scaling in the restaurant industry Why THC beverages are reshaping the hospitality space (despite it being a relatively new offering) This episode unscores the importance of breweries not taking guests for granted and ensuring hospitality is at the forefront of every decision. As Erik puts it, “If we’re just order takers instead of order makers, we’re really doing guests a disservice.” With 25 years in hospitality, Erik’s perspective is one you won’t want to miss!

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

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