New craft beer representative job.. Input?

Discussion in 'New England' started by krdesimone, May 17, 2012.

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  1. krdesimone

    krdesimone Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2011 New Hampshire

    Hi everyone, I have been working for a distributor in NH for 4 years driving trucks, and then selling beer. I have always loved craft beer and I have been awarded a position in my company to represent craft beer in southern NH. I will be dealing with all of our high end beers, trying to spread education on beer, doing tastings, and other obligations yet to be written up by management (I have not started the job yet because it was just created for me). I am looking for any advice, readings, videos, and suggestions from fellow craft beer lovers on what I should bring to this position. I have a good base of knowledge (more than your average beer drinker) but I have a lot to learn. I want to be able to portray my passion to everybody I deal with every day at work and help get your average joe in my area more education and appreciation for the art of creating and drinking a good beer... Any input from this community on what I should be bringing to the table here?
    -Thanks!!
     
    #1 krdesimone, May 17, 2012
  2. CellarGimp

    CellarGimp Initiate (0) Sep 14, 2011 Missouri

    Get Certified Cicerone certification. It will take considerable studying and tasting but if you can do it its a significant accomplishment. In the meantime you will become extremely knowledgeable. Spend lots of time on BA and lots of time drinking beer, talking about beer, reading about beer, possibly brewing beer, etc.
    www.cicerone.org
     
    #2 CellarGimp, May 17, 2012
  3. CapeCodBeer

    CapeCodBeer Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2004 Massachusetts

    Watch Greg Kochs videos on sellingcraftbeer.com
     
    #3 CapeCodBeer, May 17, 2012
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  4. TWStandley

    TWStandley Pooh-Bah (2,166) Jan 15, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Read "Tasting Beer" by Randy Mosher.

    Print out a hop profile sheet, such as this: http://www.homebrewstuff.com/hop-profiles.

    Also do some reading on different types of yeast, and what flavors they bring.

    Be honest about the beers you are serving. I can't stand when I go into a tasting and the person running it happens to "love" all of the beers he/she is pouring.
     
    #4 TWStandley, May 17, 2012
  5. scubahood

    scubahood Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2004 Massachusetts

    This is key. As much as you are a salesperson I believe you will have more success guiding people to beers they like based on asking what they already drink. If you can get them to buy something that you distribute that is great but it is better to get more people into craft beer in general and it will help everyone in the industry.

    I can't tell you the numbers of times I talk to a rep and they haven't tried most of the competitors. Either they are lying because they don't want admit something else is good or they are really making themselves seem inexperienced in the beer world.
     
    #5 scubahood, May 17, 2012
  6. nawset

    nawset Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2011 New Hampshire

    You wroking for Clarke Dist?
     
    #6 nawset, May 17, 2012
  7. corey0212

    corey0212 Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2007 Connecticut

    Learn as much about making beer as you can. Go volunteer at a brewery for a week and see the hard work that goes into making craft beer. And when people ask you questions you don't have answers to, don't make things up. "I'm not sure" is perfectly acceptable.
     
    #7 corey0212, May 18, 2012
  8. Alexmc2

    Alexmc2 Pundit (808) Jul 29, 2006 New Hampshire

    What everyone said. I sold craft beer for a few years, honesty is key, if you let people know what is only OK, then they're much more likely to believe you when you say: "Hey, this stuff is really good." I know many guys who go into accounts every week and just push hard whatever their bosses have told them to sell. Some can get away with that, most can't and they wash out. Know your product inside and out, know history of the breweries you're pushing, where the beers are made (sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised) etc. Best of luck!
     
    #8 Alexmc2, May 18, 2012
  9. krdesimone

    krdesimone Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2011 New Hampshire

    Thanks so far for all of the responses! In response to nawset, I am working for Bellavance. I plan on taking the beer servers cicerone exam soon (going to try and get the entire sales team certified in this once I start in the new position), then moving into the next level after some time. I have also been to Redhook and Goose Island breweries for specialized craft beer training (GooseU, I highly recommend it to anyone who has an opportunity to go).
    I always try to be honest, I think it is one of my better qualities, and one that will certainly help me succeed, I always try to remember that it's beer that I love; knowledge of the competition is very important. I also have a couple connections at Millys brewpub in Manchester where I'd love to try some assistant brewing occasionally to learn how the systems work at that level. Resources like these forums are new to me but I gotta say, in a matter of days I've picked up a great deal of knowledge!
    Again, thanks so far.
     
    #9 krdesimone, May 18, 2012
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