MicroBrewr 083: Market branding for a cider company
Fran Toves’ son challenged her to enter cider into the homebrew competition. After her 3 entries made it to the top 10, she figured it time to take the product to market and started Common Cider Company in Drytown, California. “There is no need to start a cider company with a million dollars.” [Tweet This] […]
MicroBrewr 082: Gluten free beer for a large market
Brian Kovalchuck has a background in finance and marketing and came to beer late in his career. After he helped with the turnaround of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Brian became CEO of the gluten free Bard’s Tale Beer Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “I wish I had been in the beer business a long time. It’s a […]
MicroBrewr 081: An R&D laboratory for craft beer
The guys at Portland Kettle Works had the idea to start a nanobrewery. They needed one of their employees to run it, so Chris Sears stepped up and took charge of Labrewatory in Portland, Oregon. “If Portland is anywhere close to being saturated, the rest of the U.S. has a long way to go.” [Tweet […]
MicroBrewr 080: Brewing the American Dream winner for 2015
A friend asked Marta Jankowska and her husband whether they wanted to use his warehouse space and go pro with their brewing. The warehouse space fell through, but they were far along in the process, so they decided to go for it and opened ChuckAlek Independent Brewers in Ramona, California. “Your time is so much […]
MicroBrewr 079: The importance of budgeting for working capital
Wim Bens was born in Belgium and moved to Texas when he was 7 years old. He applied to American Brewers Guild just to have the option. Now, 3 years after opening Lakewood Brewing Co. in Garland, Texas he can barely keep up with demand. “If you start doubting what you’re doing, then you shouldn’t […]
MicroBrewr 078: Around the world and back with the craft beer industry
Bill Morgan has brewed on 2-BBL systems all the way up to 250-BBL systems. Craft brewing has taken him around the world and back. Now he’s gone full-circle, brewing on 4-BBL system and loving the flexibility it provides at The Blind Pig Brewery in Champaign, Illinois. “Is it really craft beer if it’s available in […]
MicroBrewr 077: The importance of writing your goals
Michael Peticolas learned about homebrewing from his mother. After achieving all the goals he set for himself in the legal field, he decided to pursue his passion of beer with Peticolas Brewing Company in Dallas, Texas. Michael says he feels very fulfilled with having achieved his list of goals. He saved a lot of money […]
MicroBrewr 076: Carrying the torch of authentic beer styles
After a microbiology degree and studies at the world’s premier culinary college, Seth Gross was working at a restaurant and hanging out at the nearby Goose Island Brewpub. Pretty soon they offered him a job. Today Seth owns his own brewpub, Bull City Burger and Brewery in Durham, North Carolina. “I have people who will […]
MicroBrewr 075: Recruit the right people for the right job
Mark Doble opened Aviator Brewing Company, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, in November 2008. In less than 7 years he has started a brewery, a trucking company, a restaurant, two bars, and soon a new brewery with a distillery. All of these business are still operating. “Not having to work at a corporate job anymore, that’s […]
MicroBrewr 074: Contract brewing for homebrew craft beer club
Noble Brewer is an online craft beer club featuring homebrewers’ best beers. It’s not exactly legal to sell homebrew by mail, so Claude Burns at Noble Brewer connects the homebrewer with a commercial brewery. Then they ship great homebrew from their base in Oakland, California. If you want your homebrew to be featured in one […]