One aspect of craft that has only become more vibrant as the industry expands is the sheer diversity of approaches to the business. There are at least as many ways of structuring and operating a brewery as there are styles of beer.
Each owner has his or her own vision and ambition, which slowly express themselves over time through the multitude of decisions large and small that are made daily. Sometimes the vision evolves to encompass new ideas and opportunities as they arise, and other times it remains unwavering and serves as the benchmark by which all decisions are measured.
While each business is unique, there are common junctures, stress points, and decisions that many breweries encounter during various ages and stages of the business, many of them related to growth and expansion. That’s one reason why, with this issue of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®’s Brewing Industry Guide, we’ve chosen to take a deep dive into how several exemplary craft breweries have navigated these choices in their own businesses.