Shownotes
(00:57) Introducing Beyond the Tap
(2:16) How Beyond the Tap got started
(8:12) Most surprising drink from the show
(21:40) How are breweries, wineries, and distilleries changing in the times of COVID
(33:02) Brian talks about goals for Beyond the Tap
(37:35) Brian gives advice to his younger self
Quotes
“We really just want to expose people to the amazing things that are going here in Northwest Arkansas and take that out to the world and then bring the world right back here.” (34:18)
“If you have an idea to do something like this, you can make it happen.” (38:07)
Links
Beer Saves The World… Again
Startup Junkies Podcast had the chance to chat with Brian Crum and Bianca Montoya of Beyond the Tap Podcast.
Beyond the Tap is a podcast and web show dedicated to bringing listeners and viewers the best of craft beer, wine, and spirits made in Northwest Arkansas. They aim to inspire and educate listeners and viewers through their conversations with brewers, distillers, and vintners from across the region.
They got their start less than a year ago, in November of 2019. Brian approached Zak Heald, owner of Intercut Productions, about the idea for the show, and Zak was on board from the start. They brought in Bianca, co-leader of NWA Ladies Beer Club, and 110 days later, they released their first episode.
Fast-forward to now and Beyond the Tap has released 11 of the 12 episodes scheduled for season 1 of their show, and they have grandiose plans for the future. They hope to bring guests on from Little Rock, Tulsa, Springfield, and Kansas City soon, and they have long-term goals to travel globally. Brian mentioned that he hopes to be drinking Sake in Japan, attending Oktoberfest, and expose the world to the extraordinary things happening in Northwest Arkansas’s adult beverage industry.
Through the first season, Brian and Bianca have learned a lot, and they’ve been surprised by drinks they did not expect. Bianca notes a fig vodka from RG Macon and Carson, a distiller in Bentonville, Arkansas. Brian was most surprised by Core’s hard seltzers.
While they have been surprised by a few drinks, Brian and Bianca have also learned from the brewers, distillers, and vintners throughout the first season. One specific thing that Brian points out is that he had no idea how many different yeast strains there were and what effect they had on the beer.
Beyond the Tap’s newfound connections with local breweries, wineries, taprooms, etc. provides Brian and Bianca with a unique perspective on how COVID-19 has affected the adult beverage industry. While each company has been affected differently, the situation forced Arkansas leadership to relax liquor and alcohol laws throughout the state. One way that this most-notably presents itself is through beer delivery. Patrons can now order alcohol from breweries and taprooms and have it delivered straight to their door. While there are obvious positives and negatives to the short-term modification of state-wide alcohol rules, it can have long-term effects on the way consumers purchase alcohol.
When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, Brian said, “If you have an idea to do something like this, you can make it happen.”
For more information on Beyond the Tap, click here.
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