How Brewery Operators Can Cut Through Technology Hype and Focus on What Actually Works | Mike Wakerly, Taplist

How Brewery Operators Can Cut Through Technology Hype and Focus on What Actually Works | Mike Wakerly, Taplist

Brewery operators are constantly being pitched new technology. QR codes. AI tools. Loyalty platforms. Digital signage. Marketing software. Analytics dashboards. But how do you know which solutions actually help your business and which ones are simply adding cost and complexity? In this episode of Behind the Tab, Patricia Mejia sits down with Mike Wakerly, founder of Taplist, to discuss how brewery operators can evaluate technology with confidence, demand measurable results from vendors, and focus on the tools that truly improve guest experience and operations. They explore: • Why every brewery needs a technology "BS meter" • How to evaluate vendor claims and ROI • The state of brewery technology in 2026 • Why the best operators lean into what makes them different • Open ecosystems versus all-in-one platforms • The importance of guest feedback and continuous improvement • Lessons from hundreds of breweries using hospitality technology today Whether you're operating a neighborhood taproom, destination brewery, or large beer garden, this conversation offers practical advice for making smarter technology decisions and building a stronger hospitality business. Learn more about Taplist at taplist.io.

The Future of Dine-In Theaters: Aloma Cinema's Playbook for Operational Efficiency (Part 2)

In Part 2 of Behind the Tab, Adam Howe sits down with Jim Matthes, owner of Aloma Cinema & Grill in Winter Park, Florida, to explore how a 50-year-old dine-in movie theater successfully transformed its operations through mobile ordering. Jim shares a fascinating side-by-side comparison of serving the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie versus the 2026 release, revealing how QR code ordering helped Aloma dramatically reduce ticket times, improve service speed, and handle high-demand movie launches with fewer operational bottlenecks. Topics include: * The operational lessons learned from high-volume movie premieres * How Aloma increased QR ordering adoption from 15% to more than 90% * Why mobile ordering improved both guest satisfaction and staff efficiency * The challenges of modernizing a legacy hospitality business * The future of dine-in theaters as community gathering spaces * How technology can help theaters compete in a changing entertainment landscape Whether you operate a movie theater, entertainment venue, restaurant, brewery, or any high-volume hospitality business, Jim's insights offer a practical look at how technology can enhance service without sacrificing hospitality. About Behind the Tab: Behind the Tab is a GoTab-produced podcast exploring the evolving world of hospitality through the lens of technology, creativity, and community. Each episode features operators, innovators, and industry leaders sharing real-world lessons on building better guest experiences.

How Crushyard Is Scaling the Future of Pickleball Entertainment | Food, Hospitality & Venue Growth Strategies

What does it take to build a profitable large-format pickleball and eatertainment venue in today’s market? In this episode of Behind the Tab, Adam Howe sits down with Joe De La Torre, General Manager of Crushyard, to unpack the operational playbook behind one of the fastest-growing pickleball entertainment brands in the country. From converting big box retail spaces into high-energy social venues to balancing court reservations, food and beverage, hospitality, and events, Joe shares how Crushyard is building a scalable model for the future of eatertainment. The conversation explores: * Why location strategy and foot traffic matter more than destination real estate * How Crushyard evolved its hospitality and service models across multiple locations * The role food quality plays in profitability and guest retention at entertainment venues * Lessons learned opening pickleball venues in Charleston, Orlando, and Nashville * Why hybrid hospitality experiences outperform “courts only” concepts * How technology integrations support court reservations, events, and guest experience * What operators should know before expanding or franchising an entertainment venue * The operational realities of scaling social gaming and pickleball concepts nationwide Whether you operate a pickleball club, entertainment venue, sports complex, brewery, food hall, or large social hospitality destination — this episode offers practical insights into how modern operators are designing experiences that increase dwell time, food and beverage sales, and long-term guest loyalty. Learn more about GoTab’s entertainment venue solutions at GoTab.com.

Craft Beer Growth in 2026: Taproom Strategy, Super Fans & Brewery Profitability | CBP Connects Chicago

The craft beer industry may be flat — but that doesn’t mean breweries can’t grow smarter. In this episode of Behind the Tab, Patricia Mejia sits down with: * Kevin Irvin (“Swirv”) of Atlantucky * Andrew Coplon of Craft Beer Professionals * Chris Farmand of Small Batch Standard Together, they unpack one of the biggest themes coming out of the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia: Is flat the new growth for craft beer? The conversation explores: * Why breweries are shifting away from distribution-first growth * How successful taprooms are building “super fans” and community * Why hospitality and experience now matter as much as beer quality * New brewery revenue strategies focused on events, food, and loyalty * How operators can improve profitability without chasing aggressive expansion * Actionable ideas breweries can implement before summer The episode also previews CBP Connects Chicago, where brewery owners and operators will gather for practical conversations around margins, operational efficiency, hospitality, and sustainable growth. GoTab is a proud sponsor of the event and can provide complimentary passes for qualified operators. Request your pass here:GoTab CBP Connects Chicago Registration [https://gotab.com/events/join-gotab-at-cbp-connects-chicago]

How Self-Pour Technology Increases Revenue and Reduces Labor

Can self-pour technology help you increase revenue while reducing labor costs? In this episode of Behind the Tab, Patricia Mejia sits down with Darren Nicholson, CEO of iPourIt [https://ipouritinc.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com], to discuss how self-pour beverage systems are helping breweries, hotels, food halls, theaters, and entertainment venues serve guests faster while improving margins. Darren shares how operators are using self-pour to: * Reduce labor costs by up to 30–40% * Increase beverage and food sales * Eliminate lines and ordering friction * Extend service hours without adding staff * Improve beverage yield and inventory control The episode also covers the latest enhancement to the GoTab + iPourIt integration [https://gotab.com/integrations/ipourit], which allows guests to open a tab on their phone and pour directly from the wall by scanning a QR code—no RFID cards, wristbands, or app downloads required. You’ll hear real-world examples from Bear Cave Brewing, Portofino Hotel & Marina, and The Green Door Tavern. If you’re evaluating self-pour beer systems or looking for new ways to increase revenue in a high-volume hospitality business, this episode offers practical guidance and ROI benchmarks. Join the GoTab and iPourIt teams for a happy hour on May 18 at The Green Door Tavern [https://ipouritinc.com/ipourit-happy-hour/] during the National Restaurant Association Show.