E130: Managing Margins in the Modern Market with Alan Brinton of Grey Sail Brewing

E130: Managing Margins in the Modern Market with Alan Brinton of Grey Sail Brewing

Author: Small Batch Standard June 12, 2026 Duration: 59:54
In this episode, we are sitting down with Alan Brinton, the co-founder of Grey Sail Brewing, located right on the coastal border of Rhode Island and Connecticut. Alan shares his journey from brewing "God-awful" beer in his college apartment to establishing one of Rhode Island's largest production breweries and successfully navigating 15 years of industry evolution. We dive into the realities of scaling a bootstrap operation, the intricate dynamics of distributor relationships, and the shifting economic landscape facing modern craft brewery owners. Some highlights include: * Why managing repairs and maintenance costs is the "next shoe to drop" for maturing breweries. * How a single double IPA, Captain's Daughter, completely transformed Grey Sail's trajectory and fueled their expansion. * Why treating your distributors as your true customers is essential for long-term retail success. As the craft beer market matures and overhead costs fluctuate, mastering your financials is no longer optional. As Alan puts it: “Just understand your product costs and your margins... it's basic, but it's hard.” Enjoy the episode!

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: 50

The True Craft Podcast
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