{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthe-true-craft-podcast.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fe130-brinton-vUahra_R","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"E130: Managing Margins in the Modern Market with Alan Brinton of Grey Sail 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/8bcc795c-d8e7-4443-8ad5-56601dde0d90\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"E130: Managing Margins in the Modern Market with Alan Brinton of Grey Sail Brewing\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"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.\n\nWe 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.\n\nSome highlights include:\n\n* Why managing repairs and maintenance costs is the \"next shoe to drop\" for maturing breweries.\n* How a single double IPA, Captain's Daughter, completely transformed Grey Sail's trajectory and fueled their expansion.\n* Why treating your distributors as your true customers is essential for long-term retail success.\n\nAs 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.”\n\nEnjoy the episode!"}