Starting a brewery from scratch is hard, but so is taking over an existing one. Our panel of experts is here to talk through the many layers that come with buying and running an existing brewing business.
Show Notes
On this episode of the BYO Nano Podcast we’re talking about best practices and advice for someone who wants to take over a small, existing brewery.
The idea came from a listener who wrote: “I'm someone who is overwhelmed by the non-beer aspects of starting a taproom from scratch - legal, regulatory, architectural design and layout, branding, marketing, and a blank sheet of paper. I've explored a couple of taprooms and small brewpubs for sale. What's a smart way to go about this?”
That’s a jumping off point and our panel will start with the from scratch aspect then transition into what it takes to acquire an existing brewery.
The lessons shared are also applicable to someone just starting out as well.
The panel includes:
Jon Carpenter who his career as a summer brewing intern at Drakes Brewing Co in 2002 while attending UC Davis, studying Brewing Science. After graduating with a BS in Food Science & Technology (Brewing Emphasis) and a BA in Political Science in 2005, he went on to work for Anheuser-Busch in their Research Pilot Brewery. From there he went onto Dogfish Head, and then to Golden Road followed by Alchemy and Science, the Boston Beer collection of breweries. Today he works at Opensō Consulting, Independent Brewery and Craft Beverage Consulting firm.
Michael Brewer, the president of Alcoholic Beverage Consulting Service, a leading alcoholic beverage licensing firm. Alcoholic Beverage Consulting Service represents numerous alcoholic beverage licensees in all segments of the alcohol industry. Brewer was a regulatory auditor for the United States Custom Service and holds a Master’s degree in accounting from San Diego State University.
And Matthew McLaughlin, founder of McLaughlin, PC, a boutique commercial law firm specializing in the beverage industry. He has represented breweries and distilleries throughout the United States for nearly 20 years advising clients on business entity formation, ownership structure, startup financing and expansion financing, federal and state regulatory matters, and intellectual property.
Matthew has also served as the executive director of the Mississippi Brewers Guild and was instrumental in the passage of House Bill 1322, a bill that expanded retail sales opportunities for breweries in Mississippi and fundamentally changed Mississippi’s brewpub laws. In April 2017 at the Brewers Association’s annual Craft Brewers Conference, Matthew received the F.X. Matt Defense of the Industry Award.
The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 33 is sponsored by:
Fermentis
Hello nanobrewers! Try adding a cider to your brews! Fermentis, the obvious choice for beverage fermentation, has made it really easy for you by developing 4 strains specifically for cider. Whether you want a crisp, sweet or fruity cider, discover the SafCider™ range. The 4 cider strains are available in 5-gram pouches, the perfect size for you. Just make your choice or try them all! To learn more about how Fermentis can improve the quality of your fermentation, and for the latest on their exciting new product releases, visit fermentis.com
Fermentis
Hello nanobrewers! Try adding a cider to your brews! Fermentis, the obvious choice for beverage fermentation, has made it really easy for you by developing 4 strains specifically for cider. Whether you want a crisp, sweet or fruity cider, discover the SafCider™ range. The 4 cider strains are available in 5-gram pouches, the perfect size for you. Just make your choice or try them all! To learn more about how Fermentis can improve the quality of your fermentation, and for the latest on their exciting new product releases, visit fermentis.com
Blichmann Pro Brewing
With superior engineering and unrivaled service, Blichmann Pro Brewing equipment is the right choice for pro results. Whether it’s for your pilot system or production line, their robust systems come fully equipped with everything you need to hit the ground running. Designed for easy setup and intuitive use, their brewhouse systems and cellaring equipment deliver uncompromising quality and reliability backed by a name you trust, so you can focus on what matters most - your beer. Visit Blichmannpro.com today!
ABS Commercial a full-service brewery outfitter, proud to offer brewhouses, tanks, and small parts to brewers across the country. They stock equipment ranging from 3BBL to 90BBL, and offer custom-designed equipment up to 900BBL. Contact one of their brewery consultants today at sales@abs-commercial.com to discuss your brewery project. ABS-Commercial.com
BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s new Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual print magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s new Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual print magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.
BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 33
Host: John Holl
Guests: Michael Brewer, John Carpenter, Matthew McLaughlin
Contact: nano@byo.com
Music: Scott McCampbell
Music: Scott McCampbell
Creators & Guests
What is BYO Nano Brew Podcast?
The Nano segment of craft brewing is growing fast with the majority of new breweries opening up falling into this small-scale, hyper-local segment working on brewing systems five barrels or under. Each month on this podcast learn the business, marketing, and brewing strategies targeted for this smaller-scale sized brewery needs. From strategies to maximizing taproom sales to forecasting brewery budgets to brewing great beer in small spaces, you'll learn from craft beer experts and fellow Nano brewers the tips and strategies for success to improve - or launch - your small brewery. The BYO Nano Brew Podcast is brought to you by Brew Your Own, the leading homebrew magazine as well as organizers of the annual NanoCon event for this small-scale craft beer niche and the monthly BYO Nano Newsletter available by email.