Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Colvin and Jacob Baumann . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Ben & Jacob thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Ben:
Our mission at Devil’s Foot has always been about more than making great soda — it’s about creating a more inclusive beverage culture and doing business in a way that gives back to the community that we love. Our group had been using homebrew equipment to test better cocktail mixer options for fun. And then when my wife and I were celebrating her pregnancy at a local brewery, we realized there just weren’t any thoughtful, non-alcoholic options for her and the idea of Devil’s Foot was born. We didn’t want to just fill a gap in the market — we wanted to create something crafted, intentional, and celebratory for everyone, whether you’re drinking or not.
My background is in nonprofit conservation work and study, so I’ve always looked at business through the lens of impact, sustainability and building upon a foundation of values. We built Devil’s Foot to be a vehicle for supporting local farmers, reducing food waste, and reinvesting in the place we call home. Every can is an opportunity to tell that story — from the imperfect fruit we upcycle to the community organizations we support. The mission is personal, because it’s rooted in relationships, real experiences, and a vision of doing good through business.
Jacob:
And from day one, we’ve tried to make sure that mission is built into the bones of the company — not just in what we say, but how we operate. We’re local-first, community-backed, and we don’t cut corners on quality or values. For us, the mission isn’t a marketing tagline. It’s the reason we get up and do this work every day.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Ben:
I come from a background in environmental nonprofit and conservation work, which might sound like an unusual path to craft soda, but it really shaped how we built Devil’s Foot. I’ve always believed in a sense of place and the power of local ecosystems — whether that’s preserving land or supporting local economies. When my wife and I were celebrating her pregnancy and couldn’t find a non-alcoholic drink that felt intentional or celebratory, it sparked and empowered this idea: Why shouldn’t we have craft beverages that are just as thoughtful as a good beer or cocktail?
Our backyard hangouts turned into late night experiments with ginger beer, borrowing equipment from our brewer friends, and eventually launching Devil’s Foot with a mission: to create fresh, organic, low-sugar sodas and mixers that uplift local agriculture and celebrate community. Everything we make from our ginger beer to our sparkling lemonades and now even our ready-to-drink cocktails is brewed with real roots and fruits, no artificial junk, and with as many local, imperfect, or upcycled ingredients as possible.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just talk about sustainability and community, we live it. We work with regional small farms, we partner with nonprofits and community orgs, and we prioritize transparency in our supply chain and our growth. We also love collaborating – whether it’s with breweries, distilleries, chefs, or other makers – and those partnerships allow us to keep innovating while staying true to our roots.
We don’t take shortcuts when it comes to quality or values. We’re proud of the fact that our drinks are inclusive whether someone’s sober, sober-curious, the designated driver, or just wants something refreshing that isn’t loaded with sugar or chemicals. We’re giving people a different kind of option, something that feels like it belongs in your hand at a party, a picnic, or on a hike. That’s what keeps us going knowing we’re changing the way people think about what a soda can be.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Ben:
I met my wife while working in Wyoming and followed her back to Western North Carolina – and it was the best decision of my life for many, many reasons. But one of those gifts she gave me was the introduction to my co-founder and business partner, Jacob, and our friends that became our business group. Jacob and I became really close and we were the ones able to start transitioning out of our work/careers and dive into craft beverage manufacturing. My advice to any founder is to identify, recruit or hold close that co-founder that is as excited and inspired as you about the business. There is NO way to grow a big successful business alone – it requires support, collaboration, diverse experiences and lots of sweat to succeed and grow. When we started Devil’s Foot, Jacob and I secured brewing equipment from local breweries outgrowing their tanks and started working out of a 2500 square foot production facility. I would brew in the heat and cold and Jacob would roll all over the city delivering cans from a weighted down station wagon. I’d put my daughter to bed and come back at 9pm to can – just me and Jacob canning after hours and watching Seinfeld episodes! We are now in a 15,000 sq ft production facility with 15 staff, diverse production portfolio and distribution across 9 states. We could NEVER have done this without each other and a strong co-founder is an essential need for a growing business.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Ben:
We built our reputation the same way we built the company — through relationships, collaboration, consistency, and showing up for our community. From day one, we were out there delivering cans ourselves, setting up at events, supporting fundraisers, and saying yes to collaborations that aligned with our values. We didn’t just want to be another product on the shelf, we wanted to be part of something bigger. And I think people recognized that. They saw that we weren’t just talking about doing good, we were living it, in real ways, with real people.
Jacob:
Honestly, a big part of it has been word-of-mouth. We’ve grown because folks believed in what we were doing and told their friends, their coworkers, their customers. That trust takes time to build, but when you’re consistent with quality, with values, with how you show up, it sticks. And especially in a place like Asheville, people remember how you make them feel. We’ve always tried to lead with care, transparency, and a sense of humor. That goes a long way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://devilsfootbrew.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devilsfootbrew/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devilsfootbrew
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@devilsfoot6113
Image Credits
Girls Cheersing: Stephan Pruitt
Cooler: Katie Smith
Line of cans: Stephan Pruitt
Production Photos: Katie Smith
Hammock Photo: Stephan Pruitt