Betting on Yourself After 25 Years - Ted Golden & AZ LocAle Brewing | EP211

Step into Episode 211 of On The Delo as Delo sits down with Ted Golden — Arizona craft beer veteran, former Four Peaks sales director, and founder of AZ Locale Brewing — for a wide-open conversation about what it really takes to leave a 25-year career and bet on yourself. From skateboarding in Southern California and busing tables at a Manhattan Beach boutique hotel to building one of Arizona's most exciting independent beer brands with his wife Stephanie, Ted brings the kind of energy, humor, and hard-won wisdom that makes this one impossible to put down.Ted pulls back the curtain on how a rivalry with San Tan's Anthony Kanekia turned into the opportunity that launched AZ Locale, why he designed every beer at 4.8% ABV (a nod to Arizona being the 48th state), and what it looks like to grind 20 accounts a day as both the owner and the salesperson. Delo and Ted also dig into the real philosophy behind ethical selling, how Ted navigated self-distribution before landing statewide partners including Crescent Crown, and what brewing brands across Arizona need to hear about protecting their backyard before chasing national expansion.If you love craft beer, entrepreneurship, or just a great origin story rooted in Arizona pride, this episode delivers.Chapter Guide (Timestamps):(0:00 - 1:30) Freestyle Intro, Ted's Skateboard Tap Handle, and Episode 211 Kickoff(1:31 - 4:44) Running a Business With Your Spouse and Experiencing Arizona Together(4:45 - 7:08) Tommy Boy Sales Philosophy, Joe Dirt, and Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap(7:09 - 10:33) Ted's Origin Story: Southern California, Alpha Beta, Haagen-Dazs, and Barnaby's Hotel(10:34 - 13:05) 22 Years at Four Peaks: Growth, Sales Director, and the Identity of a Brand(13:06 - 16:22) The AZ Locale Birth Story: San Tan's Anthony Kanekia and the Deal That Started It All(16:23 - 18:27) Designing Beer With a Sales Mindset: 4.8% ABV, Food Pairings, and Differentiating in a Crowded Market(18:28 - 21:24) Self-Distribution Hustle: Honda Ridgeline, 100 Draft Accounts, and the Move to Crescent Crown(21:25 - 27:16) Statewide Distribution, Forecasting Logistics, and Always Reinvesting in Your Brand(27:17 - 31:32) The Beer Lineup: Toasty, Cactus Bird, Drafternoon, and What's Coming Next(31:33 - 36:36) Daily Habits, Gym Routines, and Rapid-Fire Questions With "TheOG" Ted Golden(36:37 - 40:36) Arizona Pride, Staying Local, and Where to Find AZ Locale Beer Right Now(40:37 - 42:33) Where to Find Ted, Closing Thoughts, and Delo's Send-Off👉 If Ted's story of grinding 25 years, building relationships, and finally betting on himself resonated with you, hit Subscribe so you never miss a conversation about entrepreneurship, hustle, and Arizona's best kept secrets.🍺 Drop a comment with your favorite AZ Locale beer or the account where you first spotted that skateboard tap handle — and share this one with anyone building something from the ground up.🔗 Find Ted and AZ Locale Beer at https://www.azlocale.com and on Instagram @AZLocale.🔗 Connect with DELO: https://linktr.ee/barrest💡 Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com 📚 Grab DELO’s Free eBook: https://toastability-production.s3.amazonaws.com/iiaxm3o0iqiawpe96g9o5efki5gh📲 DELO’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect📋 Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025