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In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we’re chatting with Kevin Drake of Alibi Ale Works. We unpack how operating two busy brewpubs in a tourist-driven market ultimately pushed them toward contract brewing (and why it turned out to be one of the most stabilizing decisions they’ve made...despite the emotional challenges).

Highlights include:

• The hidden inefficiencies of producing beer in a remote, seasonal market
• How focusing on the taproom experience and NA offerings led to more predictable margins
• Why partnering with both large and small contract brewers could be the big move in 2026

Kevin shares that contract brewing “was the hardest decision [he’s] ever had to make, because [he’s] the homebrewer that started a brewery—it’s part of [his] identity to make the beer.” If you’ve been wrestling with making a similar move, this episode is filled with honest and helpful insight from someone who has been in this business for over a decade.

Learn more about Alibi Ale Works at their website: https://alibialeworks.com
Follow them on Instagram: @alibialeworks

In this episode, we chat with Doug McLaughlin and Mike Orozco (the “M” and “O” behind M&O Spirits), a small but mighty distillery just outside Columbus, Ohio. What started as a bourbon experiment in a basement quickly turned into an award-winning craft distillery!

Doug and Mike share how years in the film industry led to distilling, how a curious neighbor sparked their decision to “go legal,” and why they’ve stayed fiercely independent.

Highlights include:

• How distribution hurdles keep small producers stuck…even when demand is there (and what to do about)
• Grassroots approaches to grow traffic without a marketing budget
• Weighing the choice between staying small and handcrafted vs. chasing volume and big equipment

In the episode, Doug sums up their operation as: “Everything is in-house, by hand.” And this episode truly highlights what it takes to be in craft in 2025. Don’t miss this one!

Learn more about Wanderback Beer Works at https://www.mospirits.com
Follow them on Instagram: @mospirits

You can subscribe for SBS insights at sbstandard.com/insights
Or see what SBS can do for your brewery or distillery: sbstandard.com/contact

In this episode we are sitting down with Justin Vitti, co-founder of Wander Back Beerworks in New Jersey. After helping Cape May Brewing grow from 1,200 to over 40,000 barrels in distribution, Justin launched Wanderback—a self-distributing brewery...without a taproom!

Some highlights include:

• The simple distribution equation every brewery needs to master: Volume = Points of Distribution × Rate of Sale
• Why “going deep before wide” still wins in today’s crowded craft beer market
• How phone-level shelf placement and consistent relationship building can actually drive velocity

Justin also shares why the industry needs to rediscover its collaborative roots. And how making beer fun again may actually be the way to win over the next gen beer drinkers. Enjoy the episode!

Learn more about Wanderback Beer Works at wanderbackbeer.com
Follow them on Instagram: @wanderbackbeer

You can subscribe for insights at sbstandard.com/insights
Reach out to SBS: sbstandard.com/contact