Hoppin’ Frog founder steps back as brewery names new president

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery named Zachary Bastin president and moved founder Fred Karm into an advisory role, marking the first major leadership shift at the Akron brewery in 20 years. The change gives Bastin control of day-to-day operations and strategic direction while Karm stays on as brand ambassador, a handoff the company said is meant to add new ownership partners and strengthen the business for its next phase.

The move lands at a brewery that has spent nearly two decades building a reputation far beyond Northeast Ohio. Hoppin’ Frog was established in 2006 in Akron and now says it distributes in 22 states and 40 foreign countries. Karm, who has been brewing since 1994, has designed and produced 26 award-winning beers at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, numbers that help explain why any leadership change there carries weight.

Bastin is not a newcomer being parachuted in to fix a mess. He has worked alongside Karm for 15 years, and the brewery said the transition is meant to keep institutional knowledge in place while giving the operation more support, resources and investment. That matters for a brand that has built its following on technical brewing and a steady stream of medal winners, with anniversary coverage putting Hoppin’ Frog’s haul at close to 30 medals since opening.

Karm framed the milestone in personal terms, calling the past two decades a “wild ride.” It is also a clean succession story for a founder-led brewery at a time when plenty of craft peers are shrinking or selling under pressure. Instead of a breakup or outside rescue, Hoppin’ Frog is opting for an internal promotion, new ownership depth and a founder who is still visible, just less tied to the daily grind.

For drinkers, retailers and distributors, the key question is how much changes and how much does not. The brewery’s taproom at 1680 East Waterloo Rd. in Akron remains part of the brand’s identity, and the company’s growth into national and international markets suggests the next chapter is about preserving that reach, not reinventing it. Hoppin’ Frog is trying to keep the beer, the medals and the name intact while handing the keys to a leader who has already spent 15 years in the building.