Nano to 7 Barrel to 15 Barrel to closed

[madscientist451]

I've never heard of The Commons brewery, but they are closing and I came across an interesting article that explores why a previously successful brewery has to close, from many viewpoints.
One of the best quotes:
"Classic overreach, driven by ego and a poor business plan," they said. "Their success in the little space on Stephens lulled them into thinking they needed more space and production capacity. It was a mirage."
Here's the full article:
http://www.wweek.com/bars/beer/2017...-commons-announced-its-closing-what-happened/

 

[JohnSand]

I've seen it happen with restaurants.

 

[iijakii]

Im not anywhere near involved in the beer business, but Ive long thought how just ballsy you must feel to take on a multi regional bottle-sales business plan as a brewery. Shelf space is such a premium. Even powerhouse brands like Stone have felt it in the past couple years. Im in industrial sales and see the effects of pavement pounding all the time. Would go for brewpub and regional keg sales for sure.

 

[Sailingeric]

I live in the Portland area, drink a lot of local beers, never heard of them. You go too big to fast, it will bite you.

 

[user 246304]

Sucks, been there. I wish them well, sound like talented brewers (but business acumen is a whole other sharkfest, obviously).

 

[Weezy]

Some day, when i retire comfortably, I'm going to open a nano with a small kitchen with small plate food. Drink at my own bar with whoever comes in. I might even charge them for beer sometimes.

Getting into the production and distribution game is a really big difference from serving pints to the locals.

 

[madscientist451]

Some day, when i retire comfortably, I'm going to open a nano with a small kitchen with small plate food. Drink at my own bar with whoever comes in. I might even charge them for beer sometimes.

Getting into the production and distribution game is a really big difference from serving pints to the locals.

Let me know when you want to get started, I'll go in on it with you.
Maybe call it: "Spending the kids inheritance/Liquid Art Project"

 

[user 246304]

Let me know when you want to get started, I'll go in on it with you.
Maybe call it: "Spending the kids inheritance/Liquid Art Project"

You're going to kill, guys. Best way I know to make a million bucks.

Provided you start with two million.

 

[Weezy]

Let me know when you want to get started, I'll go in on it with you.
Maybe call it: "Spending the kids inheritance/Liquid Art Project"

Liquid Art Project? Pretty good.

 

[bob1852]

Im not anywhere near involved in the beer business, but Ive long thought how just ballsy you must feel to take on a multi regional bottle-sales business plan as a brewery.

Especially for Farmhouse styles that are a very niche market.

 

[iijakii]

Funny thing is with that business plan they'd wind up unexpected millionaires. Beer nerds would wait in a 5hr line to get a hit of the rare hypebeers.

 

[bob1852]

Funny thing is with that business plan they'd wind up unexpected millionaires. Beer nerds would wait in a 5hr line to get a hit of the rare hypebeers.

I guess their marketing just wasn't very good.

Having Cascade Barrel House just up the street didn't help any, either. Sours > farmhouse (at least right now)

He's a smart enough business man to have realized that he'll make more money renting out the space to another brewery than running his brewery there.

I'll bet $1 that Commons pops up again soon in a smaller place.

 

[Weezy]

You're going to kill, guys. Best way I know to make a million bucks.

Provided you start with two million.

If you're trying to get rich, this isn't the industry to start in.

 

[user 246304]

If you're trying to get rich, this isn't the industry to start in.

Nope. Neither is the restaurant business. Neither is a lot of food business. I actually stole that line from cheesemaking - a literary agent, who produced a cheesemaker's story in a book, that's her line. So I can't claim it - but it's true.