Justin Hoak didn’t set out to build one of the most unique brewery models in Pennsylvania - but that’s exactly what Yah Brew has become. In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Justin breaks down how Yah Brew grew from selling crowlers at pop-ups to launching a full production facility, multiple taprooms, and a completely original 90s-themed brand experience that’s pulling people in for more than just beer.

We talk about the real decisions behind expansion, how to avoid the traps that shut breweries down, why nostalgia still sells, and how a one-barrel basement system is feeding two taprooms while a turnkey production site comes online. Justin also opens up about the early days bartending, learning the craft, shaping a brand built on fun, culture, and details, and building revenue streams that actually make sense in today’s market.

If you’re a founder, brewer, or anyone paying attention to where the industry is heading, this is a masterclass in strategic creativity and survival.

Chapters include:
– The origins of Yah Brew and the 90s theme
– Expanding into Hershey and Middletown
– Hoagie shop and food strategy
– Contract brewing, collaborations, and industry decline
– How to expand without sinking the ship
– Game nights, community, and keeping people in the taproom
– The new production facility and full co-op brewery model

More Stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com

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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Moon Flower Hemp isn’t just another hemp brand - it’s a family legacy built by three generations of Appalachian women, rooted in the moment the 2018 Farm Bill cracked the door open for innovation. In this episode, I sit down with co-founders Riley and Macie Queen to talk about their beginnings, “their father’s early vision”, and the moment their one-acre experiment turned into a vertically integrated craft cannabis business trusted across the country.

We dig into why transparency matters, what it takes to control every step from soil to final product, and why “regulate don’t eliminate” isn’t just a tagline - it’s a call to protect an industry that has given people real alternatives, real relief, and real choices.

We get into the politics, the infighting, and the bad actors hurting honest operators. And we talk about the blended regulatory model that can actually work - borrowing the best of commercial alcohol distribution and the tracking systems used in medical cannabis.

We also talk about unity: between cannabis companies, between craft brewers, and between everyday Americans who are tired of watching their industries get reshaped by people who have never worked a day in them.

Moon Flower Hemp’s West Virginia roots run deep, and their commitment to their community is impossible to miss. This is the kind of story our industry needs right now.

Check out MoonFlowerHemp.com & ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com

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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

On this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down with Pete Olander, founder of Happie Beverages, for one of the most candid and grounded conversations we’ve had on the show. Pete walks through the early spark that launched Happie, the years he spent in nutrition and regulated cannabis, and the unexpected realities of building a beverage company from scratch in an industry that shifts under your feet.

We get into the origin story of both lines under the Happie umbrella - the THC beverages built on clean labels and tight compliance, and the functional mushroom line that’s now gaining national traction. Pete also talks openly about regulatory turbulence, why structure is an opportunity rather than a threat, and how founders can stay steady in moments that would shake most people out of the game.

From California’s regulated market to national e-commerce, from formulation work to distribution partnerships, and from the entrepreneurial grind to the role of culture and family in shaping a brand - this is a deep look at what it really takes to build a company that lasts.
If you’re a beverage founder, investor, retailer, or someone following the rise of functional and THC beverages, this is an important episode.

New episodes of Ready To Drink Podcast roll out weekly, featuring the founders, makers, operators, and innovators shaping the future of beverages.

Full Story on ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com

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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com