Grinder12000

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Community background.

Small farm town that is slowly getting trendier . . or at least trying. We had a major motion picture filmed here (+$200 million) and are getting more and more tourists . . .but that will endin 2 or 3 years (movie comes out Jult 1st).

ANYWAY - BEER - there is not ONE place that sells decent beer besides the bowling alley which has a few but . . . . has a bowling alley atmosphere.

So, I have this opportunity to manage a bar. Right now the place is a Miller Bud smoke drunk fest dive but the place could be pretty nice once you clean it up and paint and remodel. 100 year old building kept in great shape. The owner of the building would do all the remodeling - basically MY call on what needs to be done.

Being a home brewer I'm getting a lot of pressure from major town people to open a brewpub. Looks easy from THEIR side but in reality going from a 5 gallon serious hobby to a full blown 7BBL brewpub is rather daunting and frankly - not a serious idea.

So I was thinking - why not have a bar that has 10 or 12 local award winning micro brews on tap from 6 or 7 local places and then augment with one tap with brews that "I" make (just for ****s and giggles and yes I've look into regulations)

Sort of like a golf course with 18 greatest hole clones - this would be a craft bar with many local award winning brews. Perhaps a rotation of sorts as new brews pop up. The microbrews would get free advertising AND be able to spread their brew.

Have any of you heard of such a thing?? I have a pretty good location.

Just thinking out loud here.

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Grinders Island Brewery - Pipeline (Batch #)

Secondary Kentucky Common(83)
Primary #1 Scottish Ale 70(84)
Primary #2 The Black Pearl Porter(85)

Donasay

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What will the people of the town drink, once tourism dies down and you don't have the out of towners, it is the people of the town who will be drinking your beer. As much as we like to we can't hoist our love of good beer on them. Also what kind of price point are you talking per pint, my experience in some rural areas leads me to conclude that they love cheap beer in farm country. My uncle raises horses in deleware, and drinks at the local VFW $1 beers and super cheap shots. There is a brew pub the next town over with great beers, but with the draw of $1 budweisers, guess who isn't going.

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No matter how rich you are, you can still only drink 16 or 17 liters of beer a day.

http://www.solutionsinmetal.com/

Grinder12000

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True - I have thought of this. The thing that I keep coming up with AND that the Mayor, econ advisor and City Admin keep saying is that there is no place in town for adults to go and gave a drink. There are plenty of places with $1 pints and loud music and 15 TV's.

But no place to get good beer in a smoke free environment in a friendly non-aggressive.

It's got me thinking.

My feeling is that this area is ripe with people that like good beer. Many microbreweries that are doing well, BUT - not one within 30 miles. It's an odd town. 4000 people and 36 holes of golf courses, I'm 1 block from a Amtrak Station, basically on two highways and right in the middle of the hot area or town that is getting a major face lift

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Grinders Island Brewery - Pipeline (Batch #)

Secondary Kentucky Common(83)
Primary #1 Scottish Ale 70(84)
Primary #2 The Black Pearl Porter(85)

fat x nub

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Its a good idea. I would go and have a beer there but i would not want to own it. I want to own a brewpub so bad i would run naked through the streets of atlanta after a cold shower.

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Primary 1-This Bud's for you
Primary 2- Cream Ale
Secondary 1- Strong Scotch Ale
Secondary 2- empty
Bottled/Kegged- Centinneal Blonde, Apfelwein
Up Next- MyCastle (N.English Brown Ale), Hooch Pale Ale
Thinking About: Tripple Bock, Chocolate Stout, open to suggestions

"Every beer is a good beer if I can taste the brewer's intent"
-Jim Koch

Is this guy serious??:

Chriso

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Whatever ya do, as a Wisconsinite, I'll have to kick ya in the jewels if there's not at least one tap pouring New Glarus.

I think that, in any other state, that could be a difficult sell or it could be a gem in the rough, it just depends on exactly what the future holds for your small town. In WI specifically... I've noticed a lot of more open-minded folks than many other midwest states. Wisconsinites are an interesting folk - there's the "big city folk" from Milwaukee and Green Bay, then there's the hippy college crowd from Madison... then there's the touristers and the locals in the Delton area.... it's a funky state, and the overall attitude seems to be receptive.

That said, I've not ventured to Columbus yet. If it's anything like *our* Columbus ... um ... run in fear?

Either way, this could be quite the fun opportunity. I, personally, have always wanted to quit my job and run a bar instead. As long as it's not your cash on the bottom line, I would be likely to say "go for it".

Is there a SWMBO, and if so, what is her opinion on the matter? I think that in an issue like this, that may well be the most important factor!

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Grinder12000

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Chriso +1 on Wisconsinites!! The BAD thing is that NOBODY knows about Columbus, it really is a gem in the rough. It's why Universal filmed Public Enemies here. Just off a major highway at the crossroads of two minor highways.

Many here feel it's just a matter of time. Sun Prairie the "hot" trendy town of the 90's and low 2000's is getting filled up and crowded. 15 miles north is Columbus.

Of course I want to make my own beer but . . .small steps!!

SWMBO is for it.

I'm at a stage where I can retire early and do this. ALTHOUGH - I've never done anything like this before.

fat x nub - thanks for the vision :-)

BTW - I sounds like I've made up my mind but I have not - just looking into if this concept is doable.

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Grinders Island Brewery - Pipeline (Batch #)

Secondary Kentucky Common(83)
Primary #1 Scottish Ale 70(84)
Primary #2 The Black Pearl Porter(85)

Hagen

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It looks like the stars just might be lined up for you! If it's not your capital on the line, go for it. shoot for a mix that will ensure repeat business. BMC for the swillers, and micros for the enlightened. Feel the waters after you've done that and see if brewing commercially seems feasible.

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Too much too fast to keep track of...

thataintchicken

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<Devil's advocate>

from a restaurant manager's viewpoint....


how much will it cost to run this place?
Can you keep your best beers on tap?
how will you calculate the tax on each pint sold?

Can you be consistent?
Will each pour from your taps taste like the last?
Will you skimp on labor costs to keep your bottom line in check, or will you pay for that extra 12-20 hours in OT to keep your staff working to keep your guests happy?
Have you ever had your ice machine take a sh*t on you on a Saturday afternoon? Do you have a backup plan?

Ideas are great.
managers that can make the ideas into profit are few.
managers that can keep you in business are even fewer.

</Devil's advocate>

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You bastard. I can't turn in after that assault on the language. -shecky

Grinder12000

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thataintchicken - thanks - I need a Devil's advocate

Not a clue

Why not!

Well . . . it's being down now so how would it be different??

It's not my beer - it's other peoples already consistent beer

ummmm - It would be nice to have guests!

I think that is why the guy in charge wants me in the first place - I have this knack.

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Grinders Island Brewery - Pipeline (Batch #)

Secondary Kentucky Common(83)
Primary #1 Scottish Ale 70(84)
Primary #2 The Black Pearl Porter(85)

buckeye

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You know what? You only live once and you need to enjoy it!

Go for it! It sounds like you have a level head on your shoulders and have put some thought into this.
It is better to try and fail than to say "What if"
Brew on!