Brewing

Dgs,

Thanks for the advice. I am aware that opening any buisness involves a number of details i.e. finance, supplyers, employees, location, equipment etc. The reason for my post is to learn more about beer and the buisness of brewing and selling. Yes, I do not want to go into this venture blind. It seemed that most of the posts in this forum are from beer loving individuals that I thought might have an interest and knowledge of it. So hence my discussing of a current brew and some remote plans for a possible buisness should fit in well.

John Nervo

I recently been doing some home-brewing and am interested in opening a brewpub in Roanoke Virginia; I could use any knowledge and advice that you might have. >>

____Reply Separator_____ Go buy an old church. That's how the Church Brew started

Church Restored To Former Glory

As much painstaking effort was taken in the original construction of the building, the same care was used when the renovation of the church and the rectory was undertaken. Attention to detail and the reuse of existing fixtures all help to create a spectacular atmosphere. Original pews were hand cut from

24' length and hand finished to the present 54" lengths. These "mini pews" were intentionally designed to be longer than the tables to facilitate ease of entry. The bar has been built from the oak planks salvaged from the shortening of the pews. Check out some photographs.

The reddish orange hue of the flooring comes from the original Douglas Fir floors. These floors were uncovered and meticulously restored after lying dormant under plywood for 50 years. The original eight lanterns in the center bay were removed, repainted gold and reinstalled after complete refurbishment. The lanterns now illuminate the detailing of the ceiling.

The former confessional in the dining room was removed to provide a necessary link to the kitchen. The bricks salvaged from the removal of the confessional have been reused for the pillars on the outdoor sign, the facade on the outdoor ramp and the facade of the new kitchen link. The other confessional remains intact behind the bar and houses "The Church Brew Works" merchandise. Painstaking attention to detail and the integrative reuse of existing fixtures all help to create a spectacular atmosphere to enhance your brewpub experience.

By far, the most breathtaking element is the position of the brew house on the altar. Because the altar was built as a centerpiece of the church, the steel and copper tanks gleaming in the celestial blue backdrop is nothing less than captivating. This extraordinary view is only paralleled by the quality and taste of our beer.

Head Brewer Bryan Pearson uses his extensive knowledge of brewing to bring you four of the finest beers you will ever drink. Our North German Style Pilsner, Bavarian Dunkel, British Special Bitter and American Brown Ale are all hand crafted. These "brews" are sure to please your palate as much as our unique cuisine. The food selections draw on the culinary styles discovered throughout the country by Chef Jason Marrone. He has created a menu as diverse as Pittsburgh itself. And just like the city, there is something for everyone - so come and explore!

DGS,

I have been looking back in the archives and notices that as far as I can tell you have NEVER started your own topic. Do you acctually have an interest in creating useful and interesting conversations or are you just here to bitch?? Tell us about your personal and extentive beer knowledge and experiance.

John Nervo

Looks awsome I'll try it out if I ever make it up to Lawrencevill, PA. Thanks for the info.

John Nervo

I don't start many topics myself, John, but I post a lot...usually in response to topics that start out with requests for help, like YOURS. I'd suggest you spend your Google time searching for business plan advice instead of looking for ways to tickle Don's ass.

Starting a brewpub in Roanoke is going to take some serious education: that is one of the most beer-dead towns I've seen in the past five years. Might want to consider trying it in Blacksburg instead, or maybe try a beer bar in Roanoke. Just a thought. Feel free to check the archives for what other thoughts I've had.

I started brewing about two years ago. I mainly concitrated on wine and mead I gess b/c I enjoy drinking wine and I don't like most commercial brews that I have tried(I am always open to trying new brews). I recently(Sept 04) worked a wedding reception that served only home-brew. The beer was great and inspired me to try a beer brew. I started with an "old brew" dark and rich (Brewmasters Bible-brew named Happy Jerry's Strong Ale). I really enjoyed that brew and ended up Kegging most of it to bring with me to "turkey day". It was a hit. Then I brewed a Tarwiben( from kit) and an IPA also from the Bible. Now that I have a feel for brewing I am trying to develop my own formulas.

John Nervo Age 24

Bryson,

You are right Roanoke is a beer dead town but currently they dont have much choice. Mostly just small bars and reasurants that serve the same old stuff. Which is whu I think that a New brewpub with a veriety of quality brews would go over well. it is a city of about 90,000 people with Hollins College and Roanoke College near by. Also Blacksburg already has the "Balcksburg Brewing Company which is currently trying to re-create its self as a brewpub. Please understand that I am researching the topic and it is not that blacksburg isnt an option but I think that if I do it properly and create good beer the peoplr from blacksburg will drive the 30 minits it takes to get from Backsburg to Roanoke.

Thank You for the response

John Nervo

And this is relevant why, exactly? Also, I've posted under other than just this handle in the past. Archive results are only so useful.

That, and I have a life, and don't spend a lot of it on Usenet. Some, yes, but not so much.

I'm here to tell you to f*ck off and concentrate on the topics covered in this newsgroup. So, f*ck off, and concentrate on the topics covered in this newsgroup. You got a problem with that?

See, you come here and start asking about stuff, and people answer. This is bacause Usenet is an open forum. Don't need to sign up or anything. You just post. If you don't like what is posted, you pretty much have one option: don't read it. If you don't like that nature of Usenet, you have a similar option: don't use it. You can hang out on the web forums if you think that will help you any more than here.

I oughta tell ya, first, that I can communicate in English, so I know how to spell "extensive" and "experience." Because I can do that, I've been writing about beer in my region for the last six and a half years, and also editing an industry newsletter for a while too. Also got a web site about beer in my region, but I don't feel the need to thump my chest and advertise it in my .sig any more ... people seem to find it with a Google search pretty easily. I've also travelled, um, extensively in the beer-friendly bits of the world, in Europe and in some bits of the USA and Canada, and am familiar with a broad range of styles. Got friends who do beer writing elsewhere too, including a particularly good one in Austria whose friendship I value immensely.

I homebrewed for a while, then moved to smaller digs and decided it wasn't worth the time, since I was drinking plenty as it was on visits and road trips to various and sundry beery destinations. I know pretty much everyone in the industry in my region, and have hung with them and discussed issues in the trade. I've even been party to the trials and tribulations some of them have gone through in opening and running their own businesses in the brewing trade - and some of them are *still* going through trials and tribulations. Some of them have also persevered and enjoyed success and the acknowledgement of their peers in the industry. In all these cases, though, I'm glad it wasn't my money and my livelihood that was involved, 'cause it's been incredibly stressful for those folks. It's great to make friends in the trade, though; it's provided lots of grist for my writing.

So, now I've given you, a total stranger, far more info about me than you actually deserve. Speaking of searching the archives, I note that an archive search reveals that you have *NO* posting history at all, save for your OP in this thread. So who the f*ck are you to demand of me what my experience is? Tell us about *your* personal and _extensive_ knowledge and _experience_, Your Petulance.

dgs

Thanks for the reply. I am not here to insult anyone. I was just looking for some advice and information. I find it disterbing that most of the responces from you are just bitter. It seems to me that my desire for information about beer is on point for the topic in this forum. I apologize my tone but do think that I was not wrong to seek knowledge from thoes who seem to contain more experiance and wisdom on the subject.

John Nervo

Yeah, but, geez, Lew... dincha know that ya gots to originate lots o' posts to get street cred now? Helps if you're 24 and are a mite thin- skinned, too.

Google for starters. Books. People in the trade. All sorts of stuff.

Ew. Now I gotta go take a shower.

And it's not like there isn't any money in that part of the country... or maybe there isn't. Seems like somebody's figured that the local trade just doesn't seem terribly likely to support a brewpub. But who knows? Maybe someone with a pile o' cash might put paid to that.

Startup costs for a good beer bar certainly would be a lot less. But the best example I can think of in southern VA is clear across the, state: the Green Leaf in Williamsburg. Good beer selection, great college tav. Might be a better one closer by.

Wow dgs you really are an ass

My point was that maby instead of picking apart other peoples ideas, experiances or whatever you could maby share your own. surly you could share your latest trip, but not in responce or rebuttal to someone elces efforts but as your own. Hell I tought you might even share tour passion for beer. thats all .

Also you have got to start some where.

"The GPP was in perfect shape, solid roasty flavor with a touch of sweet malt in the finish. The Duchesse has risen to top rank of my favorites among Belgian Oud Bruin ales, and it, too, was in far better shape than I had any right to expect, with a tasty symmetry of sour and sweet on the palate. I could inhale the aromas from that beer all night long."

That is beautiful. Those few lines make me want to try Grants Perfect Porter and Duchesse de Bourgnonne. As far as my local go check it out @

You got some. Not good enough for you? Maybe you need to get out more.

Awww. There goes my reputation for sweetness and light and shit.

You weren't wrong. However, in a forum based on the free exchange of

*OPINIONS* (I spelled that out in big letters, 'cause you don't seem to grasp it real well), you're bound to see all sorts of replies to your questions. Some of them may be what you want to hear. Some might not.

And somewhere down the road, when you hear of all the hearache and pain some other guy went through, you might even be relieved that you didn't jump into the brewpub business straight away. It isn't for everyone, not even someone who's just learned to make a few batches of beer at home and thinks it would be a really swell thing to do for a living. There are plenty of brewers out there who like what they do for a living, but for a lot of them, they'll readily acknowledge that one truth of the business is that you don't go into brewing for the money. At least one couple I know personally learned that so very much the hard way, not only closing down a brewery that turned out some excellent beers, but losing their home in the process.

But Lew pointed out an even better alternative, and one not so nearly capital-intensive as opening a brewpub: open up a bar specializing in selling a really good selection of regional beers from small breweries. You got 'em in Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania... of course, it might be a challenge to get 'em from the local distributors, but that in itself would be part of a useful education regarding the beer trade where you live. The very act of working in a bar or restaurant and gettin and idea of what the work is like, and what people expect, is also an education in itself.

Do people drive the 30 _minutes_ to Blacksburg to drink good beer there? Do you? FTM, have you considered going out to Blacksburg Brewing and asking if you could learn how to brew on a professional basis there? You might learn things that might either confirm your interest in going professional, or change your mind about the trade entirely. If you think it possible that people might drive half an hour to drink whatever you brew, turn it around: would you drive half an hour - or more - to go apprentice somewhere and learn the trade?

Have you considered going elsewhere to learn - really learn, in a classroom setting - about beer and brewing, like at the Siebel Institute in Chicago, or at UC Davis's brewing programs in California?