015 - Contract Brewing and Alternating Proprietorship II

07/18/23 • 60 min

While podcast episode 014 focuses primarily on Contract Brewing, 015 takes us down the path of Alternating Proprietorships. Jamil Zainasheff shares his experience brewing his recipes for Heretic in an Alternating Proprietorship arrangement before he had his own location, and Candace offers a wider lens with regard to contracts and the legalities of different Contract/Alt Prop combinations of services, licenses, and facility usage. Chock full of tips, tricks, and best practices, this episode is an extremely practical and useful way to expand your perception of what it takes to open a brewery.

Guests

Jamil Zainacheff, award-winning homebrewer, author, beer judge, and host of “The Jamil Show” and “Brew Strong” shows on The Brewing Network, and Founder of Heretic Brewing Co.

Candace L. Moon, Co-Founder of Start A Brewery and Founder/Attorney at The Craft Beer Attorney

Candace L. Moon is a San Diego-based attorney who handles many different legal areas including alcoholic beverage law, contract review and trademark law. (also Co-Host of the podcast)

About StartABrewery

StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning.

Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Guests

Jamil Zainacheff, award-winning homebrewer, author, beer judge, and host of “The Jamil Show” and “Brew Strong” shows on The Brewing Network, and Founder of Heretic Brewing Co.

Candace L. Moon, Co-Founder of Start A Brewery and Founder/Attorney at The Craft Beer Attorney

Candace L. Moon is a San Diego-based attorney who handles many different legal areas including alcoholic beverage law, contract review and trademark law. (also Co-Host of the podcast)

About StartABrewery

Previous Episode

014 - Contract Brewing and Alternating Proprietorship

Episode 014 explores the business approach to opening a brewery based on contract brewing and alternating proprietorships. Alisa Bowens-Mercado of Rhythm Brewing tells her story of the search for contract brewing, while Phil Markowski of Two Roads and Matthew Osterman of Sleeping Giant share the backstory and intent behind their purpose built contract brewing facilities. Relationships are key, as we learn, and all three guests share tips, tricks, and best practices throughout this episode.

Phil Markowski, Master Brewer/Co-Founder, Two Roads Brewing Co.

Master Brewer Phil Markowski comes from an engineering background. After dabbling in home brewing and winning a few competitions back in the 1980s Phil made the bright decision to go into the craft beer world as a career.

A long career at various breweries has led to dozens of medals from the GABF and WBC, along with many other medals at regional and international competitions. Phil also wrote the book on Farmhouse Ales, literally, and is thrilled to be in his dream job: working with friends to create a brewery from scratch with state-of-the-art equipment.

Alisa Bowens-Mercado, Owner/Brewmaster, Rhythm Brewing Co.

Rhythm Brewing Co. is a New Haven, CT based brewery, founded by Alisa Bowens-Mercado. Realizing the lack of craft lagers on the market, Alisa decided to create her own. Her flagship beer, Rhythm, is a modern American-style lager with an ABV of 5.5%. Brewed with South African hops, Rhythm is unfiltered, flavorful, and has a slight bite that leaves you wanting more.

Music, Dance, and Beer have played a significant role in Alisa’s life. Both of Alisa’s Grandmothers’ were beer drinkers, and on special occasions, they would sip, dance and converse about “Finding your Rhythm in Life”.

Matthew Osterman, President & Founder, Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.

Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. is the result of President & Founder, Matthew Osterman creating the type of contract brewing facility that he and his business partner were looking for when they needed one. Listen for the colorful story of his homebrewing journey in his college dorm through the advent of Sleeping Giant and its current role in the Denver and regional area.

About StartABrewery

Next Episode

016 - Operational Strategy I: Systems

Beginning a two part conversation about the necessary - nay essential - systems for your brewing business, our guests dig into their areas of specialty to talk through both the philosophy and mechanics interwoven behind the scenes. Mary Brettmann offers insight around the critical financial/Accounting hub of information gathering for effective decision making, Ethan Tsai speaks to the production side of brewing with the realities of the 5S approach to success, and Nancy Trigg talks through the tap room, staff and customer service systems that are so important. While brewery owners of all levels will find good information in this episode, start up, young, and expanding breweries may expand their vision and practical understanding of solid brewing business best practices.

Guests

Mary Brettmann, President, Beverage Business Builders. Mary has 25+ years of experience in the corporate world. In prior lives, she has been a state auditor, a sales controller, an international treasury professional, a business owner and - finally - a craft brewing CFO for a fast growing regional craft brewery. She calls both California and Minnesota home, plus has clients all throughout the country. She enjoys digging in and creating change with every client.
Ethan Tsai, PhD, is a Brewing Operations Consultant, formerly GM of brewing operations for Cigar City Brewing and Tivoli Brewing Company in addition to teaching/assisting in the creation of the Brewing & Fermentation Science Program at Metro State University in Denver.
Nancy Trigg, Owner, Trigg Performance Collective. With 20 years as a high-performing operational leader (7 in the brewing industry), and equal experience coaching and mentoring from within organizations, Nancy blends coaching and business advising to be a great partner to leaders of all levels, helping to optimize both business and individual performance.

About StartABrewery