Show of hands: Who doesn't want to go into commercial brewing?

[jfr1111]

i know the money is good once you get est. but til then u work your ass off to gain trust of people, im a union electrician in the washington dc area making 6 figures. but id still take a paycut to do something i love

I was only reflecting on the fact that a lot of students around me are bragging about the bottles they'll be buying in 4 years while we are in the worse market for law professionnals in the past 80 years. Most certainly like practicing or studying law, but the main motivation isn't always "doing what they love" as much as "being a lawyer is my only shot at a middle class income after getting my worthless BA in History".

 

[Bobby_M]

You know when that 5 gallon batch doesn't quite come out like you expected and you don't serve it to your friends out of embarrassment? Do that with 7BBLs and have to dupe your customers into paying for it anyway. Probably feels like kicking a dog.

 

[samc]

I'd be into it with OPM (other peoples money). I've done the retail end with food and it was frustrating dealing with customers who did not appreciate quality over price. I've had success in other businesses but retail food/bev is very difficult. Properly capitalized and staffed it's not grueling back breaking work, otherwise it probably is a low paying slave job.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

Aside from the not wanting to turn a perfectly good hobby into work, brewing professionally would also require me to hire employees. I'm already sick of supervising people in my current job. I damn sure don't want to be having to deal with the BS that would come from dealing with my own employees.

 

[count_dookie]

well I had an interest up until I had a new venture creation class last semester where we had to put together a business plan for a new business, of course I chose a brewery. After several sleepless nights crunching numbers there is really no money in it, like at all. At the end of the third year selling over 2000 bbls a year we could only manage to pay the 5 employees a total of 100k in salaries a year without having serious cashflow problems, and without significant growth of the business which would be very costly I could not see it getting much better in the following years. Not to mention the number of legal hoops you have to jump through to even sell beer. And if I'm going to start a business and risk everything and invest all my time into something it better pay off eventually.

But it was a great project, loads of free beer from local breweries.

 

[rico567]

"Don't?" OK, I don't.

No interest in turning a pastime I enjoy into work.

 

[wild]

Less than zero interest here.

Less than that here.

 

[j1laskey]

When would I have time to ski?

 

[PanzerBanana]

I didn't want to. but considering my desire to get by on things I create. a brewery is looking to have better odds and easier than getting my own independent cartoon studio off the ground. And price is really a toss up. Between permits, equipment and ingredients, etc, and assorted programs, licensing fees for programs and music, web design that I can't do, eventual dvd production equipment, printing. Brewing is probably cheaper in the long run.

 

[waldoar15]

I'm sure it sounds great (at first). I retired in my mid 50's and I took up brewing as one of my hobbies. There's way too much that I love about not working to let those thoughts get much traction in my mind.

 

[Homercidal]

Totally agree. Although I sometimes dream of a LHBS where you also serve samples of homebrew. A place where someone can come in and say "What good recipes/kits do you have?" or "Does homebrew actually taste good?" and you could say, "Just walk over to the bar here and let me give you some tastes."

In the end though, I just enjoy expanding my hobby and creating my basement brewery.

One of the LHBS places I go to often has brew on tap that you can sample. I've pondered the legality of that, but it's brewed on premises (although not a house or home) and the samples are free, so technically they are gifted.

I think it gives people a chance to see what they could be making.

It doesn't hurt that the owner is also the mayor...

 

[EinGutesBiersSWMBO]

One of the LHBS places I go to often has brew on tap that you can sample. I've pondered the legality of that, but it's brewed on premises (although not a house or home) and the samples are free, so technically they are gifted.

I think it gives people a chance to see what they could be making.

It doesn't hurt that the owner is also the mayor...

Our LHBS owner rents our homebrew club a room in back of the store. It's connected through the store but it also has an outside entrance and its own bathroom. The club keeps brews on tap there, so its a great way for us to build membership if a interested homebrewer walks into the store. Plus its a great for the LHBS owner to show off what his wares can become.

As long as it's not being sold, it's not a problem.

 

[Ace_Club]

One of the LHBS places I go to often has brew on tap that you can sample. I've pondered the legality of that, but it's brewed on premises (although not a house or home) and the samples are free, so technically they are gifted.

I think it gives people a chance to see what they could be making.

It doesn't hurt that the owner is also the mayor...

So your saying I need to run for Mayor. Interesting, maybe I can give Rahm a run for his money.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I was only reflecting on the fact that a lot of students around me are bragging about the bottles they'll be buying in 4 years while we are in the worse market for law professionnals in the past 80 years. Most certainly like practicing or studying law, but the main motivation isn't always "doing what they love" as much as "being a lawyer is my only shot at a middle class income after getting my worthless BA in History".

I go to school with a lot of people who are going to law school because their parents are lawyers and they had to go just to get into the family business. I also go to school with a lot of people who went to law school because they didn't think they could go out and get a job. Fortunately, both those crowds seem to be on the bottom half of the class ranking.

I don't really get that attitude that law school is the only opportunity for a job to anybody who didn't go business in undergrad. Only people who went business in undergrad really believe that nonsense past graduation. I have a BA in political science from a small public school and four years out of college I was in management at a brokerage firm. I'll likely start out of law school making less than I was before law school but with a cool six figure debt load.


To the topic of the thread, I can't say I haven't imagined owning a brewery or brewpub but it is more in the way of imagining creating awesome beer, giving tours, talking about beer and seeing people enjoy the beer. I don't day dream about having to fight to keep tap handles in local bars, scrubbing out fermenters, having to do all the accounting, fixing bottling lines when they break, etc. If the day ever came that we were allowed to sell an amount of beer away from our own doors I might take an interest in that but realistically that's about it.

 

[IrregularPulse]

No interest in turning a pastime I enjoy into work.

This for me as well.

 

[jgln]

After reading some more posts, I do think it is important that whatever business you decide to open you should understand it well and enjoy doing it or you probably won't succeed. Only extremely rich people can afford to hire people to run their business for them and not know anything about it and still succeed.

So, unless you worked at a job that taught you how to do something, knowledge of how to do something well will probably come from some sort or interest or hobby.

 

[Jawbox0]

The only way I'd consider going pro would be to open up a LHBS and teach classes, support other brewers, and foster a local Homebrew club. I'd never want to go into the production side of brewing, that would ruin a great hobby for me.

 

[jfr1111]

I go to school with a lot of people who are going to law school because their parents are lawyers and they had to go just to get into the family business. I also go to school with a lot of people who went to law school because they didn't think they could go out and get a job. Fortunately, both those crowds seem to be on the bottom half of the class ranking.

I don't really get that attitude that law school is the only opportunity for a job to anybody who didn't go business in undergrad. Only people who went business in undergrad really believe that nonsense past graduation. I have a BA in political science from a small public school and four years out of college I was in management at a brokerage firm. I'll likely start out of law school making less than I was before law school but with a cool six figure debt load.


To the topic of the thread, I can't say I haven't imagined owning a brewery or brewpub but it is more in the way of imagining creating awesome beer, giving tours, talking about beer and seeing people enjoy the beer. I don't day dream about having to fight to keep tap handles in local bars, scrubbing out fermenters, having to do all the accounting, fixing bottling lines when they break, etc. If the day ever came that we were allowed to sell an amount of beer away from our own doors I might take an interest in that but realistically that's about it.

Law school isn't a good decision for 90% of the people who enroll, especially in the US due to the insane debt load (I'll have 12k debt max after graduation and the interest is deductible from my taxes). Pretty much like opening up a brewery I suspect

I'd like to open up a LHBS that doubles as a brew club though, just to have other people to brew with and a wide array of ingredients. Won't happen though since my village already has a LHBS and the local crowd is more into making hooch to get wasted than having great, craft-like brew on hand.

 

[iijakii]

I have dreams of it.

I'm still in college and don't have a fantastic job, but brewing is all I think about. I've thought about looking in to the LHBS business since there's an area around me that would be great for one.

 

[jkreuze]

Professional brewer?

No, not for me.

Professional beer taster, though--that's something I'd be interested in!

 

[hotbrew]

Ya know, I like my job; it's not stressful, decent pay, good coworkers, and I sit on my ass reading HBT and other silly websites in my downtime. However it's not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. My income is about what I expect brewers to make so it's not like I'd be taking a big hit on my lifestyle if I switch careers.

I'm awful with managing a business. I can do it but I don't like it and I certainly cannot turn a small business into a large successful one. I'd rather go to brew school, and then work for a small brewpub (10bbl) and have creative control over what I make. Brew something different all the time and do what I want.

I would never want to own a brewery or anything. Too much time managing the business, not enough time brewing. And I love working with my hands so it's a win-win in my book.

 

[count_dookie]

Professional brewer?

No, not for me.

Professional beer drinker, though--that's something I'd be interested in!

corrected that for you, being a beer taster would get old fast. I feel like I would lose all the joy from drinking beer if I had to go to work everyday and sip beer and analyze it. Now if there was a pro beer drinking league I would be in.

NBDL (National Beer Drinkers League) anyone? with all the crap thats on tv now I'm sure it would go over in a big way

 

[android]

it's tough because people are always telling you (i assume), "hey, your beer is awesome, why don't you open a brewery?" which is legit in my case because our local brewery is not good. i spent the better part of last summer trying to get my ducks in a row and seeing how plausible the whole concept was. i/SWMBO finally decided it was too much work and too much of a lifetime commitment. i've worked too hard at my career to drop it all and wager the future of my family on opening a brewery/restaurant (which our town SORELY needs more of). the visions in your head are always grandeur, but the reality of it is much different. the amount of **** that can go wrong with a brew system and owning your own business in general would be extremely stressful and knowing my personality, i would just drink more to cope with it... that wouldn't be a good recipe for a lengthy life like i hope to live.

i have no doubts that I could do it and run a successful business, but you're there 24/7. no family time, no free time, no hobbies to satiate your jones. even if you got it up and running smoothly, making money, etc. after 5 years, you're still a slave to the business and always will be. there's no kicking back with your feet on the desk playing around with different recipe ideas all day when you own a business. of course you can say you will hire people to take care of that stuff for you, but in the early years, you do EVERYTHING. distribute, brew, market, manage, inventory/stocking, everything.

i also think it's something that most new homebrewers get in their heads right off the bat. after brewing for a few years, i think the thought fades. so, no, i don't wish to go pro.

 

[ongreystreet]

Any small business is difficult and usually relies heavily on people wanting to spend more money for a similar product just because it's more craft/homemade.

 

[Seabee John]

it's tough because people are always telling you (i assume), "hey, your beer is awesome, why don't you open a brewery?"...

i also think it's something that most new homebrewers get in their heads right off the bat. after brewing for a few years, i think the thought fades. so, no, i don't wish to go pro.

I've had family and friends give me the same encouragement time and time again... Even had one friend offer to help set me up financially.

I know what it is to run a business - even one where each day is more like "play time" than anything else.

But, when it comes down to it, I think most of us chiming in here have stated that it's the business side that gets you. Many people I've met here are more than capable brewers, sure they can make great beer, but how many people in brewing are great business people?

I'll opt for no - no desire at all. I'll make my beer and accept praise from family and friends - who btw are obligated to give praise in exchange for free beer - it's a social contract!

 

[Rockchalk]

I'm a business owner... never brewed a drop of beer in my life. If I could make a better living brewing beer then what I do now I'd do it in a heart beat. Just a different widget.

 

[BrewFrisco]

I don't know what it is but it seems as if nearly everyone that take homebrewing on as a hobby thinks or considers the professional aspect at some point. Just take a spreadsheet and go through all of the various expenses and sheer qty of beer that you would need to sell to break even and then make money - most of us will stop right there.

One Idea I have (kind of out there) is to have a small craft brewery that only released seasonal qty's in bomber bottles. Essentially a brewery that does not have a signature beer but more of a brewery that would brew something different EVERY time. I am not talking dogfish stuff either - but maybe one season it is Pale, the next Stout etc... maybe run into or have a signature yeast but that is about it.

Possibly reach a point in your business where you were some sort of collaborative brewer - bouncing from brewery to brewery (renting or sharing profit) on some random collaborative beer that is only available once. ??? so many possibilities.

And the reality of it is you have two choices - 1. a brew pub (better have something else like food / entertainment) and 2. Brewing w/ wholesale distribution (better have distributors lined up ready to deliver) - It would almost be an accident if either ever worked out!

But yeah - the dream would be a small personal brew-pub simply for recreation and possible very small local sales (TABC in TX would never let that happen!)

 

[android]

One Idea I have (kind of out there) is to have a small craft brewery that only released seasonal qty's in bomber bottles. Essentially a brewery that does not have a signature beer but more of a brewery that would brew something different EVERY time. I am not talking dogfish stuff either - but maybe one season it is Pale, the next Stout etc... maybe run into or have a signature yeast but that is about it.

i think that's a great idea, but i do remember hearing about a small brewpub in portland (or somewhere NW) that does exactly that. there is a female brewmaster there and i think they won small brewpub of the year at NHC either in 2009 or 2010. sounds like it would be a cool place to work as a brewer.

 

[Stuntman]

You can sell apple pies on the street, but you can't mess with alcohol laws.

I would like to sell just to friends and coworkers. Everyone likes my beer, they want to buy it. I don't even know if it is legal for them to buy all the ingredients and bring it over for me to brew (no money changing hands).

Since I have a good job/benefits I would not take out a loan to gamble on everything from the economy, to a vendor that sent me the wrong bottles.

 

[waldoar15]

You can sell apple pies on the street, but you can't mess with alcohol laws.

I would like to sell just to friends and coworkers. Everyone likes my beer, they want to buy it. I don't even know if it is legal for them to buy all the ingredients and bring it over for me to brew (no money changing hands).

Don't quote me, but you could probably brew it and send them home with a bucket of wort and a packet of yeast.