{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthe-true-craft-podcast.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fe127-fitzgerald-JgDR3uzL","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Strategic Expansions and Outlasting Tourist Season with Brad Fitzgerald of Swellsa Brewing","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/08d545a3-9203-4abd-86bc-4e3550b24030/f4664578-634a-4340-bcb3-919e2cf7aeee/podcast.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/2f6c5447-eea8-4f7b-9bc7-00ecaa01355a\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"Strategic Expansions and Outlasting Tourist Season with Brad Fitzgerald of Swellsa Brewing\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"Join us at CBC 2026 for our free Brewery Profit Workshop on Monday, April 20th. Learn more and grab a spot at sbstandard.com/cbcprofit\n\n—\n\nIn this episode we sit down with Brad Fitzgerald of Swellsa Brewing about building a modern craft staple in the heart of Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina. From navigating the unique challenges of the Outer Banks to winning a World Beer Cup gold medal, Swellsa has been creating a community hub that thrives in a \"feast or famine\" tourist economy.\n\nSome highlights include:\n\n* Why skipping a kitchen to maintain local restaurant partnerships could be a move for breweries who are hesitant to have their own in-house food program\n* How Swellsa scales for summers that jump from a local annual population of 7k to over 40k\n* What skipping a traditional distribution strategy looks like when scaling in 2026 (and what to do instead)\n\nFrom navigating coastal logistics to launching a hemp-derived beverage brand, Brad’s \"move fast\" mentality is a masterclass in modern brewery scaling. There is a lot packed into this episode for owners looking to grow their business in 2026."}