He Went Bankrupt… Then Built One of Indiana's Best Breweries | Brian Graham, Four Day Ray

Recorded live from Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I sat down with Brian Graham, owner and president of Four Day Ray Brewing, about launching the Fishers brewpub in 2016 before the Nickel Plate District fully developed.

Graham shares how the City of Fishers partnered on a long-term vision, how Four Day Ray built early traction with a beer truck and contract brewing at Tow Yard, and how lessons from a failed prior restaurant helped him rely on partners and team support.

He explains Four Day Ray's scratch-kitchen approach, signature smoked-then-fried wings, and a hospitality culture focused on high standards, staff development, work-life balance, and mental health.

Graham also discusses Tapped for a Cause donations, a second Yorktown location, Indiana's collaborative craft beer ecosystem, Brewers Guild advocacy, Indy 500 weekend impact, and the origin of "Four Day Ray" as a railroad slang term.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - How Partners, Team Support, and the City of Fishers Helped Four Day Ray's Vision - Four Day Ray's Kitchen Approach and Hospitality Culture - Tapped for a Cause - Four Day Ray's Expansion to Yorktown and Future Plans

Thank you to our partners: Hope Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Keller & Keller

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Jump In Mindset 00:23 Show Intro Live IMS 01:29 Guest Introduction: Brian Graham, Four Day Ray Brewing 02:34 Carb Day Beer Tasting 02:54 Why Fishers Location 03:50 Beer Truck Origins 04:49 Bankruptcy To Brewery 05:37 Finding A Head Brewer 07:27 First Sales And Popups 08:34 Building Brick And Mortar 10:30 Menu And Wing Legend 12:49 Downtown Growing Pains 13:50 Opening Nerves Course Correct 15:31 Nickel Plate Takes Off 17:18 10-Year Anniversary Plans 18:22 Tapped For A Cause Giving 19:56 Avoiding Shiny Object Trap 21:02 Yorktown Expansion Story 22:02 Yorktown Menu Changes 22:14 Why Yorktown Works 22:42 Expansion Plans Ahead 23:15 Keeping Staff Long Term 24:28 Brewers Support Network 26:18 Brewpub vs Production 28:17 Guild Events and Advocacy 30:52 Co-Packing Future Talk 33:52 Building Hospitality Culture 36:01 Indy 500 Weekend Boost 37:45 Indiana Quickfire Qs 41:33 Wrap Up and Credits 42:25 Four Day Ray Origin

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