We Are Beer’s Post

Brewing competitions have proliferated at the same time that many breweries' budgets have tightened. For the Brewing Industry Guide, I report on how breweries evaluate which ones to enter and where they find value. Relevancy isn’t always geographic or correlated to the prestige of the competition. It’s about fitting a brewery’s goals. Breweries should ask themselves what they hope to gain—feedback? medals? peer respect?—and choose competitions that best align with those priorities. I like this perspective, from Teo Hunter: "We’re sure that there are purists out in the world that only respect certain competitions for the beer industry. We completely understand that perspective, as many breweries and brewers have been a part of building these reputable competitions for decades. But our advice would be, if you’re new to the brewing industry, don’t be afraid of dipping your toe in the water with newer competitions, especially competitions created by respected platforms. … Entering beer in competitions isn’t free, but you have to start somewhere." https://lnkd.in/gbZq5-uW

Recently Max Coleman participated in the Craft Beer Industry panel at the 2024 Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Conference in Bend, Oregon. Additional panelists included Tyler Brown of Barley Brown's Beer, Ben Edmunds from Breakside Brewing and Tonya Cornett of 10 Barrel Brewing. TAKEAWAYS: Brewers expressed these feelings regarding the current craft brewing market... While there are challenges (generational shifts, changing style preferences, and post-Covid behaviors) it is not the end of craft beer. By innovating in taste, educating new consumers, and dialing in business practices and beer quality, breweries can evolve with the challenges, rather than being overcome by them. Areas of interest included embracing traditional beer styles, community building around the brewery and beer drinking experience, as well as how diversity within the industry attracts new consumers while developing new flavors. Specific challenges facing breweries:  * Large numbers of players in the market, leading to need for specialization and true understanding of consumers and core competencies, both in beer and business.  * The threat of regulatory burdens in the form of increased excise taxes at the state level.  * Three-tier distribution and the lack of control for breweries, whether that is direct-to-consumer shipping or contractual obligations around distribution partners, which continue to impact choices and flexibility by brewers. Which issue do you believe impacts you the most?

Michael Roper, owner of one of the US's best beer bars, described Maine Beer Company thusly: "You could almost say that they are diabolically brilliant in their counterintuitive marketing strategy." If a brewery sticks to its guns long enough, and its beers are great enough, maybe those unorthodox choices become a point of distinction rather than a liability. That's what's happened for Maine, and it's set the brewery up for growth at a time when most other regional breweries are treading water. I dive into the brewery's decision-making, trade-offs, pricing, and more for this Brewing Industry Guide case study: https://lnkd.in/gSb-akKE

Wallenpaupack Brewing Co. was awarded five medals—four golds and a silver— in the 2024 World Beer Championships. The World Beer Championships was founded by the Beverage Testing Institute in 1994 as the first international beer competition in the United States. The World Beer Championships uses BTI's methodology and points-to-medals system. An expert industry panel evaluates beers via blind tastings in 125 different categories and awards rankings on a 100-point rating scale as well as Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to top-three finishers. Of the five medal placements, all three of Wallenpaupack Brewing Company’s year-round flagships took part in the fun with the other two brands being their current Winter seasonal releases. Flagships Largemouth Hazy IPA and Hawley Hefeweizen took Gold for New England Style IPA and Hefeweizen; respectively, with Paupack Cream Ale snagging Silver in the Cream Ale category. Current seasonals Black Diamond Lager and Inside Edge IPA both took Gold for American Style IPA and Dark Lager; respectively. “The brewery is always so energized when we get word of these awards, but for all three of our flagship brands to take home medals this year definitely adds to the excitement, for sure,” said Brad Beneski, Director of Business Development at Wallenpaupack Brewing Company. “It tells our customers that whether it’s an ultra-exclusive, limited release or a core brand beer that we brew all year long, we take the same pride in its quality and consistency—never ceasing continued improvement opportunities via recipe enhancements or technique tweaks on brands that we’ve been brewing since our first year in business.” Heading into their seventh year of business in the Lake Region of the Pocono Mountains, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company has established themselves as a force in the Pennsylvania brewing community with popular events, an impressive collection of esteemed awards, and a meteoric growth pattern in the craft beer market. Their products can currently be found in a 12-county footprint in the Northeastern corner of the Commonwealth with plans to expand distribution in the near future. #PoconoMtns #PoconoMountains #PoconoProud #PoconoBeverageTrail

Wow! People don't like craft beer anymore? A sad day for us beer drinkers. "'An end of an era' with Singapore's Archipelago Brewery set to close The brewery will close at the end of June due to "declining craft beer market realities and high operational costs", Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore told CNA." Singapore Blonde and Belgian Witt were two of my favourite beers from Archipelago so this is a shock. I think that in recent years their distribution and marketing has not been up to scratch as I struggled to find these beers in Sentosa for example but the beers themselves are fantastic. It's a sad state of affairs if people prefer the overly chemically enhanced Tiger to Singapore Blonde. I think APB blaming people's tastes is wrong if you look at data from the largest craft beer market, the US: "In the US, retail dollar sales of craft increased 3%, to $28.9 billion, and now account for 24.7% of the $117 billion U.S. beer market (previously $115 billion). The primary reasons for the larger dollar sales increase were price increases and slightly stronger onsite sales growth versus distribution." APB couldn't do the same thing here What do you think? If you’re an entrepreneur and would like help finding new clients our Ultimate LinkedIn marketing and personal branding services can do this for you, details here : https://lnkd.in/dqWRi6EZ https://lnkd.in/gpw5PB9y

In the latest edition of “Talking Trade,” Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company co-founder and CEO Rob LoBreglio discusses his experience establishing a craft beer operation in Japan. “We ended up transplanting the name here, even though it’s in English and we’re in Japan,” LoBreglio tells trade expert Ken Wasylik in an on-site interview at the Madison company’s brewery in Sendai within the country’s Miyagi Prefecture. “And you know, now I am happy. I was not sure about that decision, but now it seems like people are reacting well to it. It’s becoming somewhat iconic.” LoBreglio says fundraising for the brewery’s foray into Japan was a challenge in getting the business off the ground, along with the language barrier and regulatory differences. He also discusses the rise of craft brewing in Japan in recent years. “About seven or eight years ago, craft beer in Japan was about 1.5% of the market,” he said, noting that now “it’s increased to somewhere between 3% and 4% … No one thinks it’s going to grow to be 15% of the market like in America, but most people believe that it’s going to at least double up to about 7% or 8% of the market.” Great Dane produces 16 different beers in Sendai, and LoBreglio says the business needs to “make what’s popular” despite his own background as a traditional lager brewer. “So we’re kind of trying to fill that void between the light lagers and the IPAs, we’re trying to infill a little bit,” he said. The discussion also explores the Japanese beer market more broadly, as well as some recent high-profile acquisitions and trends LoBreglio is observing. Talking Trade is hosted by E.M Wasylik Associates Managing Director Ken Wasylik and M.E. Dey & Co. President and Managing Director Sandi Siegel. And it’s supported by Michael Best Strategies and MMAC! WATCH: https://lnkd.in/gC98hpWP

One of the things I am proud of at Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. is that we have a different approach to craft beer compared to most others. When people think of craft beer, they immediately think of ales - more specifically India Pale Ales. But at the Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. we focus on lagers. We are a lager house. Lagers are harder to make, they are more expensive and show faults more easily. These challenges have led to many breweries focusing more upon ales instead - but this does not deter us. We love lagers for their crisp, smooth, and refreshing taste. Considering that lagers make up 80% of the beer market, we know that consumers feel the same. But for those who love the hoppy character of an IPA, you can still satisfy your craving with a new offering our team at Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. has made. We are proud to introduce a completely different take a on the classic IPA - our India Pale Lager. Now available at the LCBO. It has the great hoppiness you expect from a traditional IPA, but also has the smooth refreshing character of a great lager. Smooth like an ale, and crisp like a lager - it is the best of both brews.

Connecting you to craft beer based on location and taste. At DraughtPick , our goal is to connect craft beer lovers to great beers. Utilizing our algorithm based on a beer lovers likes and location, our app will suggest beers and breweries we think they will love. Beer suggestions are based on the individuals' own likes, not by a popular rating system. DraughtPick is free for users, with the option to sign up for our Premium Subscription for $3.99/month for additional benefits. Our Premium Subscription, which is an optional upgrade to the app provides even more features. For $3.99/month, users who subscribe earn a token each month within the app, which can be used for a FREE pint, flight or appetizer (brewery dependent) at any of our partner breweries. Some of the partner breweries are: - Liquid Therapy (Nashua, NH) - Able Ebenezer (Merrimack, NH) - Frogg Brewing (Swanzey, NH) - Sawbelly Brewing (Exeter, NH) - To Share Brewing (Manchester, NH) - Definitive Brewing (Portland/Kittery/Sunday River, ME) We also added a feature for subscribers that allows you to view brewery and beer results based on a location you enter (rather than your current location). It’s perfect for vacation planning, you’re able to view beers and breweries based on where you will be. For additional information about subscribing, take a look at the page here: https://lnkd.in/e-nDkCcN https://lnkd.in/eftDhtry

The Renaissance of Craft Beer – A Cultural Exploration: Craft beer culture has experienced a renaissance in recent years, captivating beer enthusiasts worldwide. This flourishing movement represents more than just a beverage – it’s a way of life, steeped in artistry, community, and innovation. From small-scale breweries to collaborative beer festivals, the craft beer renaissance has sparked a newfound appreciation for the world of …

🍺 The craft beer scene in the Twin Cities is at a crossroads. Market saturation, evolving consumer tastes towards lighter beverages, and economic hurdles are reshaping a once-booming industry. The resilience of breweries like Fair State Brewing Cooperative is a testament to the industry's tenacity!