Investment op....

[Nate]

That is extremely unfortunate. I work over there a few times a week now and they are good people.

They hit a marketing gold mine with the recent "Dragon Packs" a sampler of all thier fine regular brews plus one seasonal. The current seasonal is Spring Lager, which I helped bottle this week and put into Dragon Packs today.
Give 'em another try!!!!

I probably will with a little time... chalk it up to a misunderstanding or something. If their beer sucked it would be a different story.

 

[Trubbub]

I was just there in their tasting room last Friday, and I left with a case of the new Spring Lager.

The guys are really good...... If they have time, they will sit and chat with you and answers all your questions and talk about the beer.......

 

[Dude]

I was just there in their tasting room last Friday, and I left with a case of the new Spring Lager.

The guys are really good...... If they have time, they will sit and chat with you and answers all your questions and talk about the beer.......

Were they bottling at the time? I was there Friday.....

 

[Beermaker]

I am always open to new opportunities for investing. Maybe I might be able to horn in on some of the action. I have a little cash sitting around......It takes money to make money. I aint getting no younger, so volatility is really not a problem yet.

 

[SwAMi75]

I am always open to new opportunities for investing. Maybe I might be able to horn in on some of the action. I have a little cash sitting around......It takes money to make money. I aint getting no younger, so volatility is really not a problem yet.

Go for it! Check out the brewery's link that was posted. I'm sure there's some contact info listed on there.

 

[sudsmonkey]

I don't know specific details about this yet....but it has been raised recently that the owner of my LHBS is going to be head brewer at a brand new microbrewery in Williamsburg, VA. Supposedly they are opening up for investors as well. I'm extremely interested in this, but I'm just not sure--for a couple of reasons. I won't get into that now...but what do you guys think? Would you go for it?

Dude - I only tell you this because I care. Don't put your money into the LHBS guy just because he's going to be brewing somewhere. I don't expect that the guy who sells me tires is a racedriver just because he sells me a set of Dunlops. I have a much better idea. Take the money you were going to invest and send it to me at PO box 133, Stonewall, NC 28583.
You can rest assured that your money will be spent on beer and gas for the tractor. This way, you can get a return on your money. Drive down here, and we'll have beer and I'll let you drive the tractor ( after all, it's your money, right ?). You get the warm feeling of knowing that the money will be spent the way you would've spent it if you lived this deep in the woods.

Just a suggestion... :cross:

 

[SwAMi75]

Dude - I only tell you this because I care. Don't put your money into the LHBS guy just because he's going to be brewing somewhere. I don't expect that the guy who sells me tires is a racedriver just because he sells me a set of Dunlops. I have a much better idea. Take the money you were going to invest and send it to me at PO box 133, Stonewall, NC 28583.
You can rest assured that your money will be spent on beer and gas for the tractor. This way, you can get a return on your money. Drive down here, and we'll have beer and I'll let you drive the tractor ( after all, it's your money, right ?). You get the warm feeling of knowing that the money will be spent the way you would've spent it if you lived this deep in the woods.

Just a suggestion... :cross:

Mike (the new brewmaster) has a reputation as being a damn good homebrewer. I'm waiting to see if his skills translate to commercial scale brewing. I'm rooting for them!

 

[Trubbub]

Were they bottling at the time? I was there Friday.....

Dude, I came in with 2 other guys sometime around 1:30 or 2:00.
I think they were done bottling as all the pallets were sitting in the high bay. Andy served us up some samples and I left with a case of Spring Lager...

 

[Ivan Lendl]

...ive seen this happen at my original hbs in s.f. this guy was like 25 and he started a micro brewery in a saturated market (san francisco) that was like 5 years ago and thier still going strong (speakeasy ales and lagers) i remember him telling me right after they opened, "professional brewing is totally different than homebrewing" and he said it like it was a bad thing...

mikes a cool guy, i almost feel bad i never used one of his recipes...i hope he does well. (but please dont close the hbs!)

 

[Trubbub]

I called his store today and asked them about the plans for the current or future HBS. They are keeping the one in Norfolk open.... No plans yet for one in Williamsburg. I hope they do since its closer to me than Norfolk...

 

[todd_k]

You can buy 1 or 2 types of St. George in Kroger. They really have a decent selection of VA/regional beers. I forget which types of St George they have, I haven't gotten around to sampling that brand yet.

 

[todd_k]

Anyone have an update on Williamburg Alewerks?

 

[SwAMi75]

Anyone have an update on Williamburg Alewerks?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10351

 

[todd_k]

Their site hasn't changed since my last post on March 1.

 

[Nate]

According to their main page, the new pics are 6/6/06. I did give them a ring last week and left a voicemail (no response). Their voicemail said check back in April so it sounds like that hasn't been updated in a while.

 

[Nate]

A couple of us ran over there today during lunch. Construction is still going on (looks great) and they expect to start brewing somewhere around the middle of July.

 

[todd_k]

The site has been updated with new pics. Still no info on tours yet but they have most of their beers with descriptions and labels.

 

[Nate]

They told us that you can tour anytime... just stop by before 3 PM.

 

[beermkr]

Hello all,

Just wanted to check in and give you some scoop on Williamsburg AleWerks.

I am Mike Pensinger and BrewMaster and co-owner of HomeBrewUSA. I wanted to reply to a few of the posts contained in this thread.

We will probably start production next week (provided my Mechanical contractors come through). We have had a long run of it and things are finally coming together. The website (www.williamsburgalewerks.com ) has a number of new pictures posted as of yesterday.

We are a colonial themed brewery with contemporary equipment. We will produce a line of beers to include the following:

Chesapeake Pale Ale
Drake Tail IPA
Washingtons Porter
Tavern Ale (American Brown)
Colonial Wheat Ale

To address some of the concerns about my background. I have been brewing for 12 years and did a two year stint at Hilltop Brewing Company in Virginia Beach. We have run HomeBrewUSA for the last 3 years and have built it into a thriving business. I am not a homebrewer that suddenly decided to open a brewery. I was approached by a gentleman who wanted to restart Williamsbug Brewing Company after Andy Rathmann at St Georges recommended me to him. We spoke and decided that a fresh start was a better move and have taken that and run with it. Chuck is the only one that had any ties to Williamsburg Brewing Company and he has since removed all ties. We have our licences and are ready go!

I will not get into the reasons that Williamsburg Brewing Company shut down. I will say that it ABSOLUTELY was NOT because there is not a thriving market for the beer (if it is good). If you stop by the brewery and really want to hear my views on it ask me in person.

We are always looking for people who share our beer views and would like to be involved in the process. If you are interested in investing ($5000 - $50000+) please feel free to contact me.

Mike Pensinger
Head Brewer - Williamsburg AleWerks
brewer (at) williamsburgalewerks.com
757-839-7439

 

[todd_k]

Sweet!

I propose a group tour and beer swap for everyone in central and east VA. It's about an hour from Richmond and VA Beach so it won't be too far for anyone. Anyone interested?
I'm available any weekend except this weekend, Aug 4th weekend, and the weekend of the world brew festival in Durham, NC in Oct.

I don't know if Mike P. is going to check back for any replies but just in case, are you planning on having a table at the Shockoe Beer Festival in Richmond in Sept. or the WBF in Durham? Also, will you be distributing your beers to Richmond and if so, when?

 

[beermkr]

We intend to be at as many beer fests as possible. An yes we will be distributing all over eastern Virginia.

Mike

 

[Dude]

I'm getting a chance to go over to the brewery tonight. My homebrew club's meetings will be held there now. Can't wait!!!

 

[Dude]

Well, the Alewerks brewery is pretty nice! The kettles are beautiful, brick lined. The brewery abviously still has some work, but it looks to be coming along nicely. Mike has really done a good job there. I was really surprised at how small it was though--I believe he said 49' x 49'. I'm sure it will work until they get REALLY big. I'm excited to taste the brews--Mike said hopefully they can brew for the first time next Wednesday, I don't know which recipe they are going to go with though. Hopefully a pale ale.

Two things I found very interesting--He's using White labs yeast, and it is NOT WLP001. I won't divulge the information but he did tell us at the meeting. I was nto surprised at all--it is the yeast that I made one of my best beers with.

One other thing he threw out there--for anyone local that is interested, he is goign to brew a seasonal rye pale ale (probably for next spring?) and he said if oyu have a good recipe, to brew it and bring him some samples and he will pick the one he likes the best and will brew it. That is pretty awesome. I'm submitting Red Eye Rye. :rockin:

Anyway, can't wait to try the beers.