I’m Bryan Roth, and you’re listening to the Good Beer Hunting podcast.
A growing business can be a funny thing in normal times. Early years are marked by the hustle and extra effort needed just to keep up, and if you’re lucky enough, knock it out of the park. There are also lots of surprises, and for many of today’s entrepreneurs, COVID-19 has been the biggest one of all.
In today’s episode, we’re talking virtually with Nick and Tania Mader, co-owners of Alma Mader Brewing in Kansas City. The company was barely one year old when the pandemic hit, and like so many of its peers, its taproom focus and the local love it had garnered were suddenly up against the unprecedented health and financial challenge that the pandemic presented, as well as the changing behaviors of drinkers.
The need to adjust on the fly is not a new challenge for Nick and Tania, but you’ll hear insights about what it’s like to do so in real-time—and the brewing and logistical jiu jitsu needed to keep a business afloat. You’ll also hear anecdotes about the personal side of it all: like when the Maders decided to rent a truck to drive to Nebraska so they could get a better deal on a collection of crowler cans to fill with draft beer.
Finally, you’ll hear why brewing along easy-to-understand flavor experiences is ideal in today’s climate—and what it’s like to celebrate a one-year anniversary milestone amidst a health crisis.
These are strange times for everyone, and I hope that getting to know this pair and their business offers you a peek behind the curtain of the awkward pressures of growing up fast when the world around you is forced to slow down.
This is Tania and Nick Mader of Alma Mader Brewing. Listen in.