‘How to Start a Craft Brewery’ workshop happening this August

Brewing beer and the business of beer are not the same. This workshop may have the answers you’re looking for.

With the recent changes in state and federal liquor laws, the craft brewing and distilling market continues to grow rapidly. The United States has more than 1.2 million homebrewers, and as annual double-digit craft brewery volume increases, craft brewing is a growing market. Now, interested craft alcohol entrepreneurs have an opportunity to learn how to craft a business plan for their vision, guided by experts in business planning, brewing and distilling.

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Echo Chamber Consulting will be holding a “How to Start a Craft Brewery or Distillery” workshop August 24-26 in Minneapolis, St. Paul in cooperation with Bent Brewstillery, the only working brewery and distillery in the Twin Cities. The two-and-a-half day course will cover strategy, market analysis, financial projections and all the components of an effective business plan. Come out early and immerse yourself in the Twin Cities breweries and distilleries, then learn how to create your own business plan for your craft brewery venture.

“We help students figure out what they don’t know, they don’t know. We see strategies completely change as the students start to see the reality of their market,” said Leo Sharkey, principal with Echo Chamber Consulting.

The workshop will focus on the business of craft alcohol, not the mechanics of brewing and distilling. This highly interactive course will take you through the planning and strategy that will best fit your market and goals. Participants will receive paper and electronic copies of business plan components, including a financial projections model to modify for their plan.

“We see lots of people with a passion for craft beer and alcohol, but that does not readily translate into a viable business plan.” said Roger Woods, a principal with Echo Chamber Consulting.

The workshop will start on Monday morning, allowing participants the weekend to explore the Twin Cities craft alcohol culture. Tuesday night there will be a dinner, tasting and tour at Bent Brewstillery, and the class wraps up mid-day on Wednesday.

For more information and to register, visit www.echochamberconsulting.com.