Go Ahead....make fun of my dream!

[PavlovsCat]

My dream is a slightly more simple one - to just be able to live off the grid: power, water, food, transportation, BEER. Right now the BEER is the easiest one. But someday...........

 

[oldwarrior86]

So....as I stated, it is simply a dream. I love the fact people get pissed off that others have dreams and feel compelled to destroy them. People start and fail at all types of businesses....the beer business is no different. The dream of the entrepreneur is one of pain and sacrifice, but the end goal is always attainable. It is a matter of how far are you willing to push the envelope. Right now, I'm not ready....but.....I still have a dream of doing it again one day. (This will be my third company) Maybe it is beer, or maybe it is something else.....but damn....making beer is really fun.

I have had many people provide me with the pragmatic reasons why things won't work or why I shouldn't do things. Most of the times they were right, but often they were very wrong. It seems that individuals personal fears of 'risk taking' results in telling others that 'it can't be done'.

If you have a dream.....live it. Just make sure you have a back up dream/plan to survive should things go sideways.

 

[farmbrewernw]

I've been thinking about mixing a bakery with a brewery lately, could be fun and an interesting combination. By the way I'm down with the living off the grid gig, I would love to do that in Alaska.

 

[PavlovsCat]

So....as I stated, it is simply a dream. I love the fact people get pissed off that others have dreams and feel compelled to destroy them. People start and fail at all types of businesses....the beer business is no different. The dream of the entrepreneur is one of pain and sacrifice, but the end goal is always attainable. It is a matter of how far are you willing to push the envelope. Right now, I'm not ready....but.....I still have a dream of doing it again one day. (This will be my third company) Maybe it is beer, or maybe it is something else.....but damn....making beer is really fun.

I have had many people provide me with the pragmatic reasons why things won't work or why I shouldn't do things. Most of the times they were right, but often they were very wrong. It seems that individuals personal fears of 'risk taking' results in telling others that 'it can't be done'.

If you have a dream.....live it. Just make sure you have a back up dream/plan to survive should things go sideways.

Go for it. If every inventor or entrepeneur listened to the nay sayers, we'd still be trying to invent the wheel. And didn't someone famous once say that it's the journey, not the destination that counts?

 

[farmbrewernw]

You know the funny thing is yesterday I was reading some self help blog about figuring out what you really want to do as a career (I hate my job and my career) and the guy talked about how a person and the people around them will talk them out of pursuing their dream job. Why? Because we all think it's too hard and we don't sit down and think about how we could make it work. There are some nano-breweries up here such as Heater Allen that are doing well, are they getting rich doing it, no, but if that's your goal your in the wrong buissiness. A lot of us have already fell into that "I have to make as much money as I can" trap and we want to get out. I say if you have some capital, a willingness to work hard, and a dream you should be able to do it, don't have the delusion that you'll get rich but know that if you work hard you can enjoy your life.

 

[MaynardX]

Being a chef, I've been wanting to open my own restaurant for awhile. Recently, I've been thinking (aka "dreaming") about opening a small place serving my 2 favorite foods....BBQ and Pizza!!!! To go along with this, I was thinking about putting 3-4 homebrews on tap. I wouldn't exactly call it a brewery, but I think it would help attract that "brewery" crowd. Definitly won't happen anytime soon, so I guess I'll have to keep dreaming....

 

[Beau815]

hahaha "the cock block of brewing" im dyin over here

 

[user 30639]

I'd rather cock-block a daydreamer than see him file some chapter of bankruptcy because no one did cock-block him.

This business is tough enough for established breweries. It's almost suicide to start up, unless you're an exponentially better business-person than a brewer. Brewers are almost invariably lousy business-people. Do the math.

Sorry. It is what it is.

Bob

I have no experience in being a brewer, I'd have to figure you probably end up spending more time being a business owner and less time as a brewer.

 

[z987k]

I have no experience in being a brewer, I'd have to figure you probably end up spending more time being a business owner and less time as a brewer.

You do, and that is another reason a nano brewery can't make it. If you even spend 50% of your time brewing I don't think you're not going to make it.

 

[Bob]

Hey Bob, is brewery consulting your primary occupation? Or is it something you do on the side because you have the knowledge/expertise? How often do brewers come to you for help attaining the dream?

I imagine starting up a brewery is an interesting career decision, but consulting folks who want to start a brewery? Could be just as interesting...

It's my secondary occupation, but it runs a close second. I'm quite busy, currently. In terms of frequency, it runs hot and cold. Right now I've a half-dozen things at different levels of movement.

Consulting gives one the thrill of startup over and over again. It's really quite exciting! You get to be involved in a project from (often) concept to opening the taps, and not only do you not have to pay anything, people pay you. What really is fun is when I get called in to examine process and quality; it's not often one gets to tell another professional UR DOIN IT RONG.

Bob

 

[JuanKenobi]

You know the funny thing is yesterday I was reading some self help blog about figuring out what you really want to do as a career (I hate my job and my career) and the guy talked about how a person and the people around them will talk them out of pursuing their dream job. Why? Because we all think it's too hard and we don't sit down and think about how we could make it work. There are some nano-breweries up here such as Heater Allen that are doing well, are they getting rich doing it, no, but if that's your goal your in the wrong buissiness. A lot of us have already fell into that "I have to make as much money as I can" trap and we want to get out. I say if you have some capital, a willingness to work hard, and a dream you should be able to do it, don't have the delusion that you'll get rich but know that if you work hard you can enjoy your life.

This is exactly right. Obviously you need to have a good product before starting into any business. I am sure after reading the forums here for a while now that there are at least a few people here with the know-how/experience to produce great/consistent beers. Good business practices, hard work, a great product and a realistic goal are paramount. Hey, if you get rich, great, but that can't be the absolute goal. A great product that can support the business and it's employees comfortably comes first.

Of course, if there's no market for your business you're screwed. I live on Martha's Vineyard and there is only 1 brewpub and no breweries on the Island (in fact 4 of the 6 towns are dry). The brewpub has great brews and food, and they bottle and sell their beer retail. So, good luck trying to compete. But I lived on Cape Cod most of my life and there was only 1 brewpub there as well. It did end up going under, but it did well for 10 years or so and the food was so-so and ALL the beers were horrible. I mean my very first batch was a hundred times better than the best thing they ever offered. Although they did have the beautiful copper set-up behind glass in the window.

 

[SamuraiSquirrel]

................... the brewery dream. I have had this dream since the day I started home brewing. I sit at work all day researching, engineering new brews, and dreaming about my brewery.......

Some day ............ lol

 

[FireNightFly]

I couldn't laugh at this, I've not even tasted my first brew and this thought has already crossed my mind.

I think about it, too! Only one brew on my belt, but it seems so easy, with exception to the cash. Maybe if I get people to buy shares this might work out. Its a BIG dream to have, especially when you havnt the background or experience... hopefully I have enough life in me & patience, would be a nice career or even retirement. I have alot to learn yet ... like the detailed science of brewing.

 

[dantodd]

What really is fun is ... it's not often one gets to tell another professional UR DOIN IT RONG.

How sad it is to get joy out of that.

 

[Fracturedman]

This has been a dream of mine since I was 16. I always wanted to own my own business(resturaunt) and when I turned 19 I discovered craft beer. Then when I hit 21 I discovered home brewing, but it took me til now to actually start doing that.

I have thought of this scenario alot. The best thing you can do is know your target market, and when I say know them...I mean it. You want to know every aspect of their lives. This will not only allow you to serve them better but you will know what they want and be able to give it to them. By doing this you can also get them to try things they never would have before.

If your serious about opening a brewpub, do your homework. Go to your local SBA and talk to a score counselor, go to a few breweries and ask them how they got started. Run the idea by everyone you know, family, friends, even enemies. get every perspective possible, you never know what might spark from it. Go out and ask your target market what they like, and what they are missing.

Also, know your competition...this means direct and indirect and even potential future comp.

And Of course...KNOW YOUR BEER and FOOD. If you know about beer but know jack about food...take some classes at your local community college. If you own a brewpub you will be required to know every aspect of your business. You cant ask someone to do something you cant do.

INCORPORATE...the best would prob be an LLC. This would allow you to have some bargaining room when dealing with investors. You can sell them shares into you company. I know people that have sold shares for their restaurant for $10,000 $15,000 each. Sell 20 to 50 shares and your set. You can sell them to anyone and make it so they cant cash out until a certain time.

This is what I have thought up over the years...If your passionate about it, If you love it, if you live it...do it.

Sometimes we have to make the things we want most happen on our own. Waiting to win the lottery or for your big break is dumb. Sometimes you have to risk it all or sit forever with your dreams.

So either keep dreaming or get on it. No one says you have to do it over night, take your time. Its not like we will ever have another prohibition.

 

[Shoemaker]

Yeah everyone dreams this to some extent.

After going to Munich a few months ago, my dream is to start a beer hall, based on the Augustiner Brau (not the fancy restaurant, the beer hall in Munich for those of you who have been there). Augustiner Helles is the most amazing beer!!

Everyone sits at picnic tables next to each other, drinking mugs of beer and eating fantastic German food. Everything is old looking and wood, not like the cheap, TGIF-looking brew pubs here in America.

The beer is brought up by a pulley from the cellar in barrels, the top popped with a hammer, and a bell rung.

Waiters dress in vests, shirt & ties, waitresses in dirndl dresses.

Amazing.....

 

[Bob]

How sad it is to get joy out of that.

If process and quality are off, it is incumbent upon the consultant to say - in no uncertain terms - that a problem exists. If the contract calls for it, it may also be incumbent on the consultant to provide solutions.

That means, de facto, that someone in the process is DOIN IT RONG. It also means that the consultant gets to point out that fact to the client.

I don't know about you, but I get satisfaction - yea, and even joy - from identifying and correcting problems. Not from rubbing people's faces in an error, which you erroneously and insultingly imply in your misquote of my words and your commentary, but from solving problems.

I shall await your apology.

Bob

 

[dantodd]

I shall await your apology.

It will be an extremely long wait.

 

[Bob]

Then kindly explain how we could misunderstand one another.

Bob

 

[McKBrew]

Then kindly explain how we could misunderstand one another.

Bob

Because of this smiley

 

[SFBEER]

I have almost reached my goal. I call it Wild Willie's Pub. It serves only the best food and my favourite home brew's. My cousin who happens to be a master cabinet maker from Munich helped build the bar and back bar. It only needs a new dart cabinet and it'll be ready. The only problem with it is the lack of parking (only 1 spot unless I'm home then there isn't one) and it only seats 4 at the bar. But being in my basement I can be very picky on who I let in.

 

[Synovia]

That would be my thought. Some simple math (which I'm too lazy to do) would probably demonstrate that it'd be darn near impossible to brew and sell beer on such a small scale and generate the sort of profit required to make a decent living and put kids through college. I mean, unless you're charging $10 a bottle. That better be some tasty brew.

WHich is why the Brew Pubs work much better. You're almost expected to charge $6-10 per bottle.

 

[springer]

A friend owns this place in New Paltz NY Otter he started as a homebrewer . Its been open 10 years or so now . He quite his former job running restaurants and started his own Brew Pub . It can be done.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I am very much interested in opening a brewery in the future. I am a realist and I understand the money involved in such a project, and I will not be walking into it blind. I have some amazing people that I can draw on for the information I need, and I am in full understanding of what a brewery needs to survive. I am working on good recipes that will fit into the market, and I'll make sure that I have the funding in place to run for a few years before maintaining profitability.

That said, there's room for it. People are still buying craft beer, and not everyone who wants to open a brewery is going the route of that "Don't Try This at Home" thread, which I am glad exists, but I get annoyed with how it is treated as gospel. That was one guy with a lack of a real plan and funding. That's not how it should be done, and that would never be the way I would go into it.

I want to work at a brewery for a couple of years first. I really want to be able to get it right. It isn't something to rush into, but if I never try, I'll be disappointed in myself. If you have the drive, you have a chance. Even if it is a small chance, I say it is worth it.

 

[Matrix4b]

Here's an Idea, Brewclubs. You start your brewpub and set it up so that you can rent out the equipment to brew clubs, they work the equipment and provide supplies for themselves and keep most of the produce. You only ask them to give you a small amount to feature in your pub, if people like it then they can make more and you can rent them the equipment and by their brew for the pub. I have noticed that the equipment isn't running all the time in most brewpubs. But for most of us, it is the equipment is the thing. Also it is a thrill to possibly have your brew sold comercially and not have to put up with all the paperwork needed. The equipment would be professional and the variety of the pub would be assured. As I said, you rent out the equipment for a nominal fee and stock for the pub. They get a big batch and to test their skills on the big boy equipment and possibly get the going professional out of their system or even have the wherewithall to get the stuff themselves. You could even do a teaching class on going pro and a short disscussion on the equipment needed. I don't brew beer but even I would be interested in going to said class. I brew mead myself. Often wondered what I could do on a big rig and wanted to know the diffrences needed. Sort of a getting my feet wet type of thing before coming up with a professional situation is what I would like. I know the folks over at Gotmead.com have some people that went pro on it.

I think that this idea has merit though.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Here's an Idea, Brewclubs. You start your brewpub and set it up so that you can rent out the equipment to brew clubs, they work the equipment and provide supplies for themselves and keep most of the produce. You only ask them to give you a small amount to feature in your pub, if people like it then they can make more and you can rent them the equipment and by their brew for the pub. I have noticed that the equipment isn't running all the time in most brewpubs. But for most of us, it is the equipment is the thing. Also it is a thrill to possibly have your brew sold comercially and not have to put up with all the paperwork needed. The equipment would be professional and the variety of the pub would be assured. As I said, you rent out the equipment for a nominal fee and stock for the pub. They get a big batch and to test their skills on the big boy equipment and possibly get the going professional out of their system or even have the wherewithall to get the stuff themselves. You could even do a teaching class on going pro and a short disscussion on the equipment needed. I don't brew beer but even I would be interested in going to said class. I brew mead myself. Often wondered what I could do on a big rig and wanted to know the diffrences needed. Sort of a getting my feet wet type of thing before coming up with a professional situation is what I would like. I know the folks over at Gotmead.com have some people that went pro on it.

I think that this idea has merit though.

You'd need a full-time supervisor, you'd need one hell of an insurance policy, and I would think that clean up of someone not invested in the operations would not work out. I would think the staff would end up doing more work than if they were brewing themselves, especially trying to reign in people. Plus, on any system big enough to brew for a business, how often would your clubs really want to brew? You wouldn't have a very solid, consistent turnover there.

 

[HoppyDaze]

If you have the capital and right assets (staff) you can definitely make a profit with this kind of business....You guys make it sound like it's impossible. Very much not the case...

 

[z987k]

hell if you have the capital you can make damn near anything happen.

 

[HoppyDaze]

hell if you have the capital you can make damn near anything happen.

and if you don't have enough capital to succeed you will fail every time....you say tomato I say tomale! yee haw

 

[mandoman]

we just started a nanobrewery. 1 bbl system, not a pub but a package (keg and growler) brewery. We haven't made our first sale yet but that is just a matter of weeks, certainly by the end of september. I don't mind telling you we've spend just under 25k and that is mostly equipment, kegs, and licenses. That includes enough ingredients for the first 3 months of brewing. Go for it.