Love Beer? Why Not Brew it Yourself!

I Want to Open a Brewery

Well, maybe. I've definitely considered it - be your own boss, hire a few good friends, drink lots of tasty, carefully crafted brews...But I digress, there are several perks to starting your own business, but what is necessary to start your very own microbrewery? 

More Breweries; More Craft Beer

Loudoun County has become known for it's brewery start-ups, and craft breweries have greatly increased within the last 10 years.

It is a highly competitive field, and there are several things you must consider prior making the career leap. 

Advice

So while there is varied advice scattered throughout the internet, here are a few tips that have recurred across several websites and blogs:

1. Plan for lots of delays. Michael Kan, of Kane Brewery Company in NJ, claims "Everything is three times as expensive and takes twice as long as you would think" (Money.cnn.com. 2015). It's a long term investment, and you have to have patience.
2. Have a financial safety net. You will need capital beyond your start up money. There will be unprofitable times, and it can take longer than expected to acquire the expensive brewery equipment. 
3. Be prepared to continually invest. Extra money needs to be incorporated back into the business. Fermenting equipment is expensive. You will need to pay several employees. 
4. Make good beer. Quality counts. You can't be stingy with expenses and you have to be passionate about producing great beers people will enjoy. 

 Here is a detailed  video from Daniel Kahn on how beer is made and on the brewing process.

If you want to open a brewery, have some money saved, be patient, and be passionate. It also helps to understand the distribution process, and understand your local market. It could be a lot of work, but it could also be highly rewarding.