Starting a brewery has to be one of the biggest challenges you can take on. There are many different beers to choose from. You could come up with the best product, but your customers may not view it in the same light as you do. So what do you do to ensure that you run a successful brewery? We sat down with James Watt, CEO of BrewDog, to find out. BrewDog is one of the most successful breweries in the world, with over a hundred bars and venues across the globe. The company has enjoyed great success in the 60 countries they export, so James Watt knows a thing or two about running a successful brewery.
Love What You Make
According to James Watt, you must love beer to survive in the environment. A brewery revolves around beer; without it, your business is as good as dead. You need to be familiar and comfortable with the smell and taste of beer. You should even be comfortable wearing it!
Hygiene is Pivotal
Humans consume beer, and you do not want to put human health or life at risk with poor hygiene. Considering what goes on in a brewery, it is easy to contaminate the products, so you should be very careful about hygiene. James Watt indicates that the chemicals used in cleaning play a significant role, so you want to make sure that you have the right products.
Since it is a daily process, you need to have a schedule and checklist for cleaning the floors, kettles, and machines. Doing even one small thing wrong will affect the fermentation process. Running a brewery is a sanitary venture that leaves no room for mistakes. If you have no obsession with cleanliness, you are better off trying something else.
It is a 24/7 Task
Fermentation is the most prevalent activity in a brewery. It is through fermentation that beer both gets its carbonation and alcohol content. The fermentation process starts with cooling the wort and transferring it into a fermentation vessel that contains yeast. He adds that fermentation produces a lot of heat, so you need to cool the temperatures from time to time to sustain the ideal temperatures.
When running a brewery, you will need to work around the clock. You will need to handle both the labor side of it and complete the paperwork. However, this should not discourage you. It is also a gratifying business if you can do everything right.
Have Some Handy Skills
Breweries need a lot of machinery to work effectively. Most of the machines are set up in harsh surroundings with extreme temperatures and high levels of humidity and wetness. Sometimes, the machines will break down when you least expect them, and waiting for a repairman to fix them will affect the speed to market. Of course, BrewDog has enjoyed great success and now employs qualified mechanics to handle the repairs and maintenance, but you may not have this luxury when starting.
Focus on Quality
One thing about making is that you either get it right or go home. There is no in-between. Talking to James Watt, it is clear that the quality of their products is the only reason they have been able to push the big names in the business and carve out a name for themselves. You need the best raw material to make your beer because this is the only way to get a good product.
Tasting the beer is also pivotal, so you need to love beer. You need to notice the fine margins in the quality, so you only dispatch a tried and tested product for your customers.
Have Beer Always
One of the biggest mistakes many people make when starting a brewery is assuming that there is already enough beer. Even BrewDog has over a hundred bars and venues worldwide, which is a massive success for a business that started fifteen years ago. People will always be thirsty for more beer.
Make sure you have enough stock in your brewery and find ways to get your product into the market. Invest to meet the demands and find suitable storage for your products.
Branding Could Make or Break Your Venture
You already guessed it. There are thousands of different beers in the market, and you need to beat the competition to carve out a place for yourself. According to James Watt, you should brand your beer so that people will notice and remember, if you want to attract customers and sell.
The design is one place you cannot afford to go cheap. Mr. Watt advises that you find an expert who can create a great logo. The packaging should also entice the customer into making a purchase. You should have a good eye for detail and know what a potential customer will look for. Remember, branding is nothing without quality, so make sure the branding matches the quality of the product.
James Watt is the CEO of BrewDog, one of the most successful breweries with over 2,200 employees and 100 bars. By following his tips, you can start and successfully operate a brewery to reach the levels BrewDog has reached.
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