Ever think about going commercial?

If I ever win the lottery, I'd open a nano-brewery. If you didn't like my beers or hours, who cares? Really just an extension of the hobby. Other than that, I've thought of it, but why ruin a perfectly fine hobby with the need for profit?

 

Nope. (10 characters).

 

Shit, if the pieces fall in place, why not? You'll always think of a million reason NOT to do it. As long as failure is something you can manage emotionally and financially, I say go for it. Fortune favors the bold!

 

The entire winning millions in the lottery thing is exactly my thoughts. I couldn't drop my present career and become self employed, let alone in a market that looks like its getting saturated.

I love the concept of opening my own place, just don't like the financial perils and risks. i.e. I'll keep my day job.

 

I think about it, but not seriously. I have a job, probably the best paying job I'll ever have. I was led to this job through 30 years of training and research experience. No job is perfect. I daydream all the time about changing course, the grass is always greener, etc., but I don't seriously think that my homebrew experience would necessarily translate well to the pro brewing environment, and I am not an experienced entrepreneur. I am not prepared to turn off the path that led me to my current role.

 

How are the beers that you and your friend are making? For example, are they winning competitions regularly? Does each batch of the same recipe taste just like the one before (consistency)? Do people who are not your friends love your beer?

I'm not saying that I think you and your beers are not ready. Just suggesting that you should honestly assess that question before making a big investment.

 

If I said I never thought about it, I would be lying. Having done some commercial batches, I know it is hard work, day in and day out. One needs to know that there is so much more to it than making beer. Have you talked to pros in your area? What are the utility costs in the space with low rent? Do you have an idea on what start up Brewers make? Does your spouse have a good job with health care? Those type of questions go on and on. Get a solid business plan together, see if the financing will cover it, see if you can get 2x what your estimate is.

Thinking it through, I decided it is not for me. I like my little obsession as it is now.

 

That was the old model for going pro.

At my local I was talking to some friends last night. They had meet someone who had made one batch and is going to open a brewery. That is the new model.

 

When you transition from your normal job you will have to endure several years of cutting your pay in half, working twice as many hours, losing your benefits, etc. And that's if you're successful.

If I was 25 or 30 and single I might go for it but this old man won't be doing it.

 

One guy said he didn't take any pay from his brewery for 3 years. Put money into the brewery was more important. Hiring and paying employes when he could do that was more important. His wife had a good job with benefits.

 

I have thought about it and decided that at my age I don't want to work that hard and be committed to running a new business. If your willing to sacrifice and work real hard go for it. Good luck!

 

While I don't own my own place, I took the leap of faith and left my dead end corporate desk job to become a commercial brewer about a year ago. I did a 9 month apprenticeship (unpaid) while completing my professional brewing certification program (paid for out of my own pocket) and started a position as a paid full time commercial brewer at a great NJ brewery about 5 months ago. As hinted in some previous posts, my income has been cut in half, my weekly hours worked increased significantly, and I've shifted from an emotionally draining desk job to a physically challenging one. On the plus side, I work with some great people (co-workers and customers), am part of a company I'm proud of, have lost 75 pounds in the past 14 months, and am happy with my decision thus far. Owning a brewery is a completely different animal in many important ways. You will need to be able to afford to not earn any money for several years and embrace the fact that you will spend most of your time doing tasks other than actually producing beer. Owning a brewpub adds the complexity of running a restaurant into the mix.

 

Have you ever worked in a restaurant? That is a hard business and a brewpub would be even more complicated.

 

I honestly don't think it's worth the stress. For me, I'd be a nervous wreck. I already overthink things on my 5-gal batches... couldn't imagine what would happen if hundreds of gallons had to be dumped. I enjoy it as a side hobby, for my wife and I to enjoy.

But hey, if you ever need a label designer, hit me up! Seriously. I'm a brand designer/illustrator for a marketing firm at my day job, and have always wanted to do beer labels. Logos as well.

 

Sure, have thought about it for over 25 years. Jumped into it at one point, but never quit my day job, and jumped back out. The question that has always kept me out if it is this.. Can I make a better living (money, time, quality of living etc) owning a brewery/brewpub than what I do now? And every time I run the numbers the answer comes ups no. But that answer is different for different people.
One other thing I've always planned on. If I were to open a brewery/brewpub, the first thing I would do is hire a professional brewer. I think that would be your biggest risk reducer. There are plenty of investors out there and plenty of people willing to help on the business side of things, but unless you have a skilled professional brewer you have nothing. I would love to be the brewer in my own brewery, but then who would run the business? There isn't enough time to do both.
Run the numbers, but don't fool yourself with them, be honest.
My 2cents.

 

YES! I just sent in my check and paperwork yesterday to purchase the name and register the LLC. Done all the logo work and branding stuff, website is ready to launch once I know I own the name. Banging out the test batches and have gotten really great feedback so far (took them to a bottle share at a new beer bar in Portland last weekend and was given the owner's business card and a spot in rotation when I launch). I am evaluating best location at the moment as well. Next I need to get my Business Plan finished and start gaining investors. As others have stated brewing and running a business are two very different things, which is why I am on the look out for a business partner who can run the business side and allow me to focus on brewing and branding. I am not in the same boat as everyone else with the drastic pay cut... I would make more as a brewer than I do in my current job. I spend 9 hours a day here and I really can't stand it. My heart is built for creativity and artistic expression, not sitting behind a desk pushing buttons and answering phones, so my job is super draining. Brewing and running a brewery is going to be hard work, long hours, and painful at times, but at the end of the day it is all mine, for good or bad.

 

"Ain't no point getting out of bed, if you ain't livin' the dream" -Sturgill Simpson

 

Me too Have a partner locked locked in and getting going on the paper work and branding, plus working on one or two extra potential core beers (We've worked out about 10-12 potential core beers to start, but the consumer will drive what ends up in the core lineup). Also writing up business plan and getting ready to pitch to angel investors in a couple months. To date, I've had two unsolicited investors totaling about $200k, so only have to raise about another 750k to a million.

I'm on the other side of the boat, in that I love what I do (Ph.D. Biochemistry), but I can't get a job anywhere near where I live and have had no luck asking contacts for help. My choice is either start up a brewery or biotech (I have IP, but don't think its worth the trouble) where I live or uproot my family and move up to the Bay to take $200k/year job offer in a massive pharma company and be a cog in the wheel. I'll take option A.