Episode Details

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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