Dan "The Man" Johnston, Side Launch Brewery

In this episode, Troy sits down with Dan Johnston, VP of Sales at Equals and the man driving the bus at Collingwood's Side Launch Brewing Co. Known for his infectious energy, deep community roots, and a career that has taken him from the bars of Melbourne to the boardrooms of cannabis and back again to craft beer, Dan is one of Ontario's most recognizable faces in the industry - and one of its most enthusiastic advocates.

They get into Dan's winding road through hospitality in Australia, his formative years at Collective Arts, the highs and hard lessons of scaling a brand from 2,000 to 45,000 hectoliters, and what drew him north to Collingwood and Side Launch. It's a conversation about community, relationships, the grind of beer sales, and what it really means to wear a brand on your sleeve.

What's in this episode:

Dan's origin story - from Georgetown to Melbourne to craft beer sales
His years at Collective Arts and what he took away from that chapter
The cannabis detour, and why beer always called him back
The history of Side Launch Brewing from founding to Equals ownership
The "Built to Launch" rebrand and what it means for the brand's future
What the day-to-day of leading beer sales actually looks like
Industry headwinds, cautious optimism, and advice for anyone looking to break in

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.

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