Robey Street Blog

Hello and good day. It’s been so long since I’ve updated this blog that I actually forgot the login for the account. Awesome.

I’ve got three major things to discuss so I suppose I will divide them into three separate posts:

1) Business

2) European vacation

3) Recent brews

So, let’s talk Business.

Money Making Money

So, the last time I updated, I was working a short-term consulting contract (not beer-related) so I could pay the bills. Well, the contract ended in April and I haven’t been working since. Needless to say, things are beginning to get tight around here. I am not destitute and I do have enough to live on for another 6 months at least, but then I’ll have no savings. So, there’s that. I’m working on lining up some contracts to pay the bills, but hopefully some industry-related work will come along.

My consulting job pays well, but when I’m on corporate contracts that have nothing to do with beer or the industry, I feel as though I’m wasting precious time that could be spent further learning about things that will help the journey of my beer business. Plus, the last few contracts I’ve had have been mind-numbingly boring. :)

So, pecuniary issues aside, I’ve been working on determining next steps. The path I take depends on one major factor: whether or not I have a business partner.

Business Partner Update: The Search Continues

As of yet, I have not found a business partner, and it’s become a bit discouraging. I’ve received a few emails from people who are also looking for partners, but they have either been in other states (and not looking to relocate) or looking to open a brew pub, which is not what I am currently looking for.

I don’t know when and if I will ever find a business partner. It’s one of those things that I can’t determine, so what I’m doing now is trying to do what I can by myself. Which leads me to…

Plan B Becomes Plan A

In previous entries, I explained that my goal is to open a package brewery. Ideally, I’d like to establish the company, raise the money, and build (or rehab a building) the brewery and get going.

I know that’s a huge undertaking, but that’s the goal.

However, in the back of my mind, I did have a backup plan. Plan B involves initially contracting out the brewing to a reputable contract brewer for a year or two. This will give me time to establish the brand throughout the city, raise money, and hopefully make some money, too. At that point, I can work on building the brewery and doing the brewing in-house.

The only caveat I really have about this is that I (or someone representing Robey Street) be on site to oversee all brewing. I’ve done some research on contract breweries and they can vary from really awesome and reliable to kind of sketchy and unapproachable. I do know a few contract breweries that come well-recommended.

I originally balked at this idea, because I won’t be the one brewing MY BEER, but that’s the trade-off. It’ll be more financially realistic and probably a safer route for me to take. Plus a lot of major brewers have had success with contracting their brewing out (whether it be as an initial step or permanently).

So, I’m currently writing my business plan with contract brewing in mind.

Not much else to talk about on the business planning side of things. I admit that I’ve been pretty lazy over the past few months. To be fair, I have been doing a lot of serious thinking, but I don’t have a lot to show for it. :)