Planning on going Pro!

[lucasszy]

So its been amost three years since I started brewing and the bug has bitten me. I've talked it over with family, friends, and others, and Im really thinking of going pro.

Nothing specific yet, but I've started negotiating for a 10HL brewhouse. I've talked to local bars in the San Francisco and San Jose area, as well as a few Places in Napa that will happily carry my beer.

I've read all the threads and posts, and know (somewhat) how hard it will be. I've got a good enough amount of money readily available to be able to operate at a loss for a bit over a year, all the while keeping my day job, and having a sales person, and a part time brewer on staff.

I've got recipes that everyones loves, and done a bit of local market research into what sells in this area, and what people are looking for.

its the perfect time, I posit, since industrial real estate prices are so low that they're giving space away.

So in a nut shell, here is what I am shooting at for the start.

1. kegs only of courese, sold directly to bars (lined up already), hotels (lined up already), and a few clubs (lined up already).
2. Industrial space in the 2500 sFt region.
3. A 10HL brew system with lagering capabilities
4. Started the process of all the necessary paperwork.

Check out the link to the very basic Facebook page. Nothing specific there, but the conversation is started.

Brewery will be called Shizmo Brewering Company.

Cheers

Lucas

 

[wyzazz]

Good luck!

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Good luck!

 

[coy]

Good luck..
Looks like you have done your hard work.. Now all you need is a LOGO and start branding yourself

 

[carnevoodoo]

Good luck with your endeavor. I have to say though, that loss for only a year might be unrealistic. Brewing is not a windfall of money, and it takes a while to get to profitability. If your beer is good enough, though, I say go for it and do the best you can. The more beer the merrier!

 

[Daparish]

Jealous. I want to do the same thing out in TN eventually. I wish you all the luck in the world. If you don't mind me asking:

1. How old are you?

2. How did you garner your start up capital?

3. When woiuld you like to start producing bottled beer? I'm under the assumption that this is the best way to get your brewery's name out there.

 

[springer]

isn't CA a three tier distribution state?

sold directly to bars (lined up already), hotels (lined up already), and a few clubs (lined up already).

Is it legal for the brewery to sell beer directly to the establishments ?

 

[Clayton]

isn't CA a three tier distribution state?



Is it legal for the brewery to sell beer directly to the establishments ?

bingo thats what i was think too

 

[lucasszy]

isn't CA a three tier distribution state?



Is it legal for the brewery to sell beer directly to the establishments ?

Yes it is!

 

[BogusOwnz]

I'm sure what he means is this places will request beer from the distributer.

 

[lucasszy]

California

License to self-distribute: Yes

Business & Professions Code, Div.9

A holder of a beer manufacturers license can sell to a licensed retailer. No restrictions on production size or on-premise (brewpubs). Holders of a Type 75 Brewpub license with liquor may only distribute through a licensed wholesaler.

 

[BogusOwnz]

Very handy.

 

[springer]

California

License to self-distribute: Yes

Business & Professions Code, Div.9

A holder of a beer manufacturers license can sell to a licensed retailer. No restrictions on production size or on-premise (brewpubs). Holders of a Type 75 Brewpub license with liquor may only distribute through a licensed wholesaler.

cool

 

[lucasszy]

Good luck..
Looks like you have done your hard work.. Now all you need is a LOGO and start branding yourself

Logo is almost complete, had a ton of ideas, and took a few weeks to iron it out, but we're almost there!

 

[lucasszy]

Jealous. I want to do the same thing out in TN eventually. I wish you all the luck in the world. If you don't mind me asking:

1. How old are you?

2. How did you garner your start up capital?

3. When woiuld you like to start producing bottled beer? I'm under the assumption that this is the best way to get your brewery's name out there.

1. Im 35.

2. Startup capital is a mix of my own money, loans, and investments.

3. Bottled beer introduces the need to have labels and a somewhat expensive bottling line setup. Initially I only want to get it out to a bars in kegs, then after a while I'd like to start bottle distribution. Comes down to money money money!

 

[wonderbread23]

Brewery will be called Shizmo Brewering Company.

What is Brewering? A typo I hope...

 

[Josh]

3. Bottled beer introduces the need to have labels and a somewhat expensive bottling line setup. Initially I only want to get it out to a bars in kegs, then after a while I'd like to start bottle distribution. Comes down to money money money!

a half dozen labeled, empty bottles sitting on a table is, in my opinion, great brand-building for the consumer. Kegged beer puts a lot of trust in bar staff to promote your beer over the established, better sellers. And - if it does sell (and I hope it does!) - will people remember the BRAND...or just what was on promotion tasted great?

just something to think about

 

[lucasszy]

What is Brewering? A typo I hope...

FFAATT FFIINNGGEERR

yes a typo

Shizmo Brewing Co.

 

[chibrewer]

Best of luck to you! As someone who sits in a cubicle all day dreaming of doing exactly what you're doing, it's nice to see someone actually make the leap.

Also, I think you should stick with "brewering" company, it's unique.

 

[lucasszy]

Best of luck to you! As someone who sits in a cubicle all day dreaming of doing exactly what you're doing, it's nice to see someone actually make the leap.

i sit in a cubicle all day as well. I just dont think I want to do that for too long. I'd rather sit in a dingy brewery all day AND ALL NIGHT, but know its mine. Same headaches, except you own them all! Is that really that much better.

 

[samc]

Best of luck.

BTW - what is a Shizmo?

 

[wonderbread23]

FFAATT FFIINNGGEERR

yes a typo

Shizmo Brewing Co.

That's what I figured. Anyways, best of luck. You'd be hard to find too many homebrewers who haven't had the same dream. Hopefully it pans out for you.

 

[Palefire]

Great luck! Keep us Yay Area peoples posted, so we can start drinking the Shizmo when it hits!

 

[lucasszy]

Great luck! Keep us Yay Area peoples posted, so we can start drinking the Shizmo when it hits!

Already got a comedy club up in SF willing to give us a tap handle.

 

[lucasszy]

As to Shizmo - Its a take on my last name, since most people cant pronounce it on its own.

 

[RegionalChaos]

Good luck! Sounds like you are doing the right things. And I have to give a prost to a fellow cuber that is going pro. Don't for get the going pro group here, are you posting there?

 

[carnevoodoo]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shizmo

 

[kabrew]

Sounds like you have done your homework and I wish you well! That would be pretty much my dream job....

FYI...I have a friend that has a brewpub and he only does ales due to the time it takes to produce a lager. He has very limited space so he is turning his inventory very quickly. He also only kegs and sells to hotels, local ballbpark, etc. He's done very well.

Best of Luck!

 

[Pierce]

Congrats and Good Luck.



But does this mean I should grab up your recipes before you copyright them?

 

[Clonefarmer]

Get the largest system you can. It's roughly the same amount of work to brew a 10 bbl as it is a 40 bbl. You need to sell a lot of beer to cover overhead.

Plan for the time in between getting the Brewery set up and waiting for the licensing. This can take quite awhile. One of the big issues that hurts Breweries is they get set up and fall short on capital.

Talk to some local Breweries. The craft brewing community is real supportive.

I wish you luck and hope this works out.

Edit: Here's a link to ProBrewer if you haven't found it already.