Andrew Katz’s Post

🚀 I am so happy to dive into week 5 with a great number of new breweries on the Brewing Trade platform ⁉️ What all this breweries have in common ? ⚡️ they value flexibility 🌱 they want to reduce waste 🤑 they are happy to save 25% on their hops costs 😎 if you are a brewer like me and you have in common the same things, join us on this amazing journey 🔗 Link in the first comment

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Join the fight for Fair & Open Access to Market and sign the petition @gacraftbrewersguild 💪 🍺 https://buff.ly/3MELDPO The craft brewing industry has seen significant growth over the past several years, thanks in part to some smart policy changes by lawmakers at the state Capitol (SB 85 in 2017). Unfortunately, Georgia still remains one of the most restrictive states to open and operate a small brewery. With the challenges of rising costs of goods, materials, and services, supply chain challenges, market shifts and other economic pressures over the past few years, small breweries lack the flexibility they need to thrive, and in some cases, survive. Fair and Open Access to Market is essential for a small brewery to meet consumer and community demand for their products. The F.O.A.M. Act (Fair and Open Access to Market) would: - Allow for limited self distribution for small brewers. - Reform beer franchise laws in Georgia. Georgia lacks fair franchise laws that govern how a small brewer enters into a relationship with a distributor. - Remove the daily to-go limit of 288 oz. per person. Urgent action is needed to keep this vital industry moving forward. These proposals will give local breweries the flexibility they need to not just survive, but thrive.

Since 2017, Bill Shufelt (CEO, Athletic Brewing Co.) went from hedge fund trader to the CEO of the leading producer of non-alcoholic craft beer. Unlike my typical tech-focused chats this one centers around a product I personally love. In the conversation, Bill tells stories of the unscalable but crucial strategies he used to build a brand, push past rejection, and redefine the non-alcoholic beer industry. → The unscalable activities that made Athletic a household name Athletic Brewing’s brand was built on unscalable activities, like handing out samples at races. Now, Bill often runs into high LTV customers at races he hasn’t attended in years when they say things like, “I met you in 2018 and my fridge has been full of your beer ever since.” While each sampling felt minor in the moment, Athletic has now activated thousands of events, and the long-term impacts accumulate. → How rejection helped Athletic build a competitive advantage Facing initial rejections from every contract brewer in the US, Bill took a bold step in building their own brewery. In hindsight, it allowed them unparalleled control over every aspect of production, from ingredient quality to rigorous testing of each batch. By handling everything in-house, Athletic also gains the flexibility to innovate and respond to market demands quickly—benefits that would have been unattainable had they relied on external partners. → Bill’s genius sales tactic Bill personally signed 300 deals with retail stores using clever tactics. Before pitching a buyer at a store, Bill would recruit a random grocery store shopper to pretend that they were super interested in the beer while Bill was pitching the deal. This approach helped break initial skepticism and build early buzz around their offerings, which helped Athletic secured shelf space and propel forward. For more stories and lessons from Bill, check out the full episode at: https://lnkd.in/gJjHJz_w

Interesting counterpoint to the usual struggle conversation for the craft brewing industry. Glenn Clark and #Craftingabrand are back with Three Things Every Thursday. If you're not getting this, you should. It's a fast read on thoughtful things happening in marketing and brewing/distilling from one of our region's experts. Ben Gibson - Engineering phase? Marketing phase? Shut up and enjoy your beer phase? #EMFL https://lnkd.in/eMPPZmcc

As an entrepreneur, you always have to be ready and willing to pivot as necessary.

We're proud to share Anthony's article in this month's issue of The Roanoker Magazine! This deeply researched article focuses on the offering of local businesses Brady's Distillery, Twisted Track Brewpub, Olde Salem Brewing Company, and Big Lick Brewing Company! 🍻 Check it Out in the link in the comments below!

Our relationship with lager began during the late 1890s, when Percy Allsopp was appointed Chairman of Samuel Allsopp & Sons, in an attempt to turn-around the fortunes of the company. During this time, Percy travelled the globe to find the best ingredients for his visionary new beer and pioneered lager brewing in the UK. 40 years later, at the 1936 consensus, the brewery was 50% of the capacity of the entire UK lager brewing sector, brewing Pilsner and Bavarian-style beers. Yet Allsopp’s lager wasn’t particularly successful at the time. We were half a century too early to the party, which wasn’t helped by the fact that Allsopp’s Pilsner was launched before refrigeration became widely available. Fast-forward to 2024 and lager is everywhere in the UK. We’ve still got unfinished business with our Allsopp’s Pilsner, but it’s now our fastest-growing beer, which is quite a turn-around! Have you tasted it yet? #Allsopps #AskForAllsopps #Beer #Lager #Pilsner #Brewing

After a 16 year long journey of entirely self-directed and self-funded research exploring the 1840s-1940s history of the American lager brewing industry, the milestone of publishing is no longer a personal dream, but a retirement reality. Per earlier posts, the remarkable, surprising and inspiring legacies of those first generations of lager brewers in the United States is brought to life in the five volume series titled The Inspiring History and Legacies of American Lager Beer. Overwhelmingly a history told in their words, not the author's, the series first two volumes, The Beer of Myths & Legacies Denied: 1941-1948 and The Beer of War and Global Famine Relief: 1941-1948, both have firm release dates of August, 2024 and January, 2025, respectively. Published by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) as 11 x 8.5 inch hardcover books ranging from 200-400 pages in length, the generous contributions of a wide array of financial sponsors - comprised exclusively of craft brewers, retiree and allied industry donors - has enabled setting a lower price point than typically associated with books of this format and size. Additionally, requesting author royalties be capped at $1/per book sold has likewise contributed in this regard (with 100% of these dollars over the years ahead being donated in support of TAPS.org). Per the attachment, pre-release copies of Volume 1 can be ordered on line for $99. As I cannot figure out how to simultaneously provide the pertinent link and attachment in the same post, specifics as to the former - as well as a chapter by chapter synopsis of Volume 1 - will follow in subsequent posts. To conclude, per the nine-page long Acknowledgements section found at the end of each volume, I hope readers will themselves come to discover how the trifecta of our 'national beverage' since the 1890s (adjunct lager beer), the world's dominant contemporary style of beer (also adjunct lager beer!) and the very existence of the series are all manifestations of our nation's motto: E Pluribus unum - "Out of many, one."

What's Brewing? Join our own Brandon Mazer and other industry experts for a dynamic panel discussion on the latest in the Craft Brewing Industry. See details and registration below!

On November 28th, the Brewers Guild of New Jersey expressed disappointment that Governor Murphy, despite advocating for the end of brewery restrictions, did not sign a unanimously passed bill aimed at removing barriers to the craft beer industry. Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed Senate Bill 3038/Assembly Bill 4360, calling for comprehensive reform of the state's outdated liquor license laws, with the goal of taking a more modern, but fair approach to better support small businesses. Gov. Murphys proposed revisions include: - reclaiming inactive liquor licenses after eight years - introducing new licenses for restaurants in large malls. - increasing the amount of plenary retail consumption license & lowering the costs for those applying The Brewer's Guild of NJ plans to continue advocating for brewery law changes. With regulations set to resume on January 1, 2024, breweries face renewed challenges. The Guild notes increasing resistance from retailers, viewing local breweries as responsible for legislative changes, resulting in potential hardships for the state's craft beer industry. #NJBrewery #CraftBeer #breweries #NJRealEstate #RetailStore #CRE #CommercialRealEstate