E119: Brewing Growth That Lasts with Karl Sanford of Manhattan Project Beer Company

E119: Brewing Growth That Lasts with Karl Sanford of Manhattan Project Beer Company

Author: Small Batch Standard October 10, 2025 Duration: 36:31
On today’s episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Karl Sanford — co-founder of Manhattan Project Beer Company out of Dallas, TX. In just seven years, Karl and his team have grown the brewery to 17,000 barrels a year and show no signs of slowing down! With a clear strategy, a powerhouse flagship beer, and some Texas-sized expansion plans, MPBC is showing that craft is alive and well in 2025. Highlights include: * How Manhattan scaled from homebrewing for a wedding to a 17,000 bbl operation * What a “profit-first approach” looks like in expansion and contract brewing * How to maintain restaurant-quality hospitality in the taproom As Karl puts it, “Quality never goes out of style.” And if you’ve ever doubted whether craft can still win big even in today’s market, this episode will change your mind.

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
E76: A Deep Dive on Cider with Adam Ruhland of Wild State Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:11
Join Katy Noel and Chris Farmand for a very special episode of The True Craft Podcast. In this week’s episode, we welcome Adam Ruhland of Wild State Cider to dive into the dynamic world of cider. We explore trends shapin…
E73: SBS: A Year in Review with Chris Farmand & Katy Noel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In a special iteration of The True Craft Podcast, Katy interviews Chris on his reflections of the various investments made at Small Batch Standard in 2023. Get a glimpse at the inner workings of SBS, including how we’ve…
E70: Minuscule Margins with Katy Noel and Chris Farmand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:44
It’s no secret: We both know you’re likely not raking in cash from the wholesale side of your business. Join Chris and Katy on this week’s episode of the True Craft Podcast to get a peek at an internal conversation we’re…
E68: The Portfolio Puzzle with Ben Hugus of Ursa Minor Brewing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:45
All aboard the THC train? Where does NA fit into our business model? How do we create a thriving portfolio that kills it in distro? How do we stay relevant without exhausting our resources and losing focus? As we all kno…