Nano/Brew Pub Literature

[FensterBos]

Can you guys recommend good literature for starting a nano-brewery and/or a Brew Pub? I've seen some options online such as 21 Questions About Opening a Brewery in the United States and The Brewers Association's Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery, but I didn't know if those come recommended by the pros.

I am looking for a book that I can use to create a business plan for opening up a business. Everything from equipment to legal issues.

Thanks!

[kyle.carbaugh]

Read anything and everything you can get your hands on - from business books to technical brewing. Here are some good ones:

- The Big Book of Small Business
- Brewing up a Business
- Brewer's Association Guide to Starting a Brewery (or anything posted in the BA's bookstore for that matter)
- The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships
- How to Build a Small Brewery

[FensterBos]

I've read Brewing Up a Business, even met the author, Sam C.

I think my next read will be BA's Guide to Starting A Brewery. Are there any other books that people can recommend or is that the next best step?

[Pompeiisneaks]

I've read the Sam Calgione book, and am currently reading beer school about the Brooklyn brewery. Both have been good reads with great insight into starting any business, but especially a brewery.

[callmetim]

IMHO there is no book written that will give you all the information you need. The reason we went nano was so that we could learn the business with minimal risk - we kept our fulltime jobs - and carry no debt. We don't rely on the brewery for income so the pressure to produce isn't there. There are plenty of other pressures and stresses but those will vary by individual, location and market.

I didn't believe that the "work in another brewery and learn the ropes" was a good route - I sure don't want someone hanging around and getting in my way when I am brewing but would be happy to have someones else do the shit jobs - but I am kind of a prick. The advice that you can only make it if you get a 30bbl brewhouse and a bottling line that does 10 cases an hour wasn't an option either, and I can't imagine doing brewpub.

At some point one has to shit or get off the pot. If you want to work hard and make no money while you learn the business why not go nano instead of being someone's brewery bitch? You'll learn everything about the brewery that way.

Good beer sells and everybody wants to at least try a local product. Getting someone to try your beer isn't that hard. Keeping the business is another story.

Good luck and feel free to contact me if you want.
Tim

[Upstate Brewing]

Amen brother! Couldn't agree more. We're doing this exact same thing. It's a challenge, no doubt about it. It will be a rocky road, but with no debt and nowhere to go but up - it sure as hell beats sitting at home wishing we had the several batches of 6 figures $$$ everyone else seems to say you need! There's no way we could go to a brewery and work an entry level position and still keep our current lifestyles/obligations. Maybe if we were 21 again that'd be the way to go, but we aren't... So we roll up our sleeves, count on our other business skills we've learned in our career to help carry us, and get dirty!

-Ken
ken@upstatebrewing.com
www.upstatebrewing.com

[CaptainEBC]

If you want good materials, read blogs from other small breweries and ask a lot of questions. The toughest part is getting through the web of laws and regs.

Check out www.hessbrewing.com. They posted all of the fun steps it takes and it really helped us out in the begining phases of starting our brewery.

Also check our blog out at www.enegrenbrewing.com. We followed a similar "document as you go" style.

[WitsEndBrewing]

Can you guys recommend good literature for starting a nano-brewery and/or a Brew Pub? I've seen some options online such as 21 Questions About Opening a Brewery in the United States and The Brewers Association's Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery, but I didn't know if those come recommended by the pros.

I am looking for a book that I can use to create a business plan for opening up a business. Everything from equipment to legal issues.

Thanks!

Just to add a book I did not see mentioned, "Redhook: A Microbrew Success Story" is a good read...best of luck to you and your plans!

[stbenjamin]

I found both the DFH and Brooklyn books very insightful, the later more so since it was more detailed. Also, try to work out a business or at least a financial plan. Honestly "Business Plans for Dummies" was a huge help here. There is also a national organization called SCORE where you can get free business planning advice, see if there is a chapter near you. Because they aren't looking at your business as a brewer but as a business owner they will show you things you have missed. Otherwise, try to befriend any brewers or bar owners in your area. If you get any press about your brewery, I have found that will really open doors for people to talk to you, you are then legit in their eyes. Best of luck, I hope to have my own 3bbl nano open by the end of the year.

[brewdogales]

Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago actually offers a course on Starting Your Own brewery. http://www.siebelinstitute.com/course_desc/

[woodske1]

I agree, no book will have everything you want. I actually wrote a book myself about opening a Nanobrewery. I get 8-10 emails a week asking me what I did to open and how I do it currently. Instead of using 2 hours a week answering these, I just wrote it down.

I cover the licensing, space you'll need, how to sell the beer, how to market it, etc. I don't offer any brewing techniques or how to brew beer.

If you want to check it out it is on amazon.com...just type in "Nanobrewery" and it will pop up first.