• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Founders Brewing explains why it makes beer ‘Brewed for Us’

October 18, 2013Keith Gribbins

Many craft breweries struggle at first. Many never succeed at all. Founders Brewing Co. is one of those famous brands that almost never made it. Two college buddies quit their jobs, take out big loans and almost go bankrupt brewing craft beer, but they bounced back. How?

Co-founders Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers found renewal and success by actually simplifying their business plan into a few golden rules, namely, brewing the beers that they loved. Just watch the video above. We dare say it’s poignant (when Stevens gets choked up, we get choked up). It’s a great comeback story, one of those redemption tales, punctuated when Engbers says “If we’re going to go down, we’re going to go down on our own terms.” Those terms meant making the beer they they personally love drinking, which spawned the company’s tagline “Brewed for Us.” It’s a lesson to all craft brewers. After the video, read our exclusive interview with Engbers. It might bring a tear to your eye too.

20 Years Over Beers Episode 1 Hopes and Drinks Founders Brewing Co. JP
Founders Brewing goes back to college, a video about connecting
Founders Brewing
Dave Engbers, Mike Stevens reflect on Dirty Bastard and roller coaster ride that was Founders Brewing
Founders Brewing
Friend disses Founders IPA, brewery thinks up Centennial recipe
Watch: Founders Brewing shares tips for using a jockey box at beer events

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. cheap jordans says

    November 18, 2013 at 1:10 am

    Set the cost of a $60 look at about $80 and potential clients will turn absent. While you’re it genuine which the straight forward gladness of a

    Log in to Reply
  2. alcohollawyer says

    October 22, 2013 at 10:02 am

    Poignant video on beginnings of Founders Brewing. http://t.co/NGfBtqNx2C @Foundersbrewing @CraftBrewingBiz

    Log in to Reply
  3. PourMeABeer says

    October 21, 2013 at 5:23 pm

    Behind the scenes video w/ Co-Founders Mike Stevens & Dave Engbers of @foundersbrewing explaining why they make #beer http://t.co/1KBuSGpEKH

    Log in to Reply
  4. UrbanArtParty says

    October 21, 2013 at 3:41 pm

    RT @GlunzBeeroness: Founders Brewing explains why it makes beer ‘Brewed for Us’ http://t.co/ruQ3iMXEbV via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  5. GlunzBeeroness says

    October 21, 2013 at 3:41 pm

    Founders Brewing explains why it makes beer ‘Brewed for Us’ http://t.co/ruQ3iMXEbV via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  6. Jason Kneupper says

    October 18, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    Jason Kneupper liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  7. Nick Anderson says

    October 18, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    Nick Anderson liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  8. josh_allard says

    October 18, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    Is it weird to get emotional over a beer video? Great video on @foundersbrewing via @CraftBrewingBiz http://t.co/WACbhqT6du”

    Log in to Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Founders Porter – Crafts, Beer, and Craft Beer says:
    December 8, 2018 at 12:01 am

    […] of the weird ones that gets excited about things like messages in weird spots. This one says “BREWED FOR US.”, all caps, period at the end. If you don’t know the story, you should click that […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • New Yuengling limited-edition desert camo Lager cans honor vets and allow drinkers to engage with a Snapchat Yuengling eagle
  • Arryved debuts OpenTab to change the on-premise POS game
  • Inside the real-time process control of GEA’s InsightPartner software
  • Thermal Care debuts Accuchiller, the year-round outdoor chiller

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • GEA-InsightPartner-ProduktbildInside the real-time process control of GEA’s InsightPartner software
    April 14, 2021
  • roughhouse brewing cave aged beersCave-aged beer finally excavated by Roughhouse and other beers to know this week
    April 13, 2021
  • Distribution update: 21st Amendment heads to Hawaii, Upland Brewing to Chicago, Ceria Brewing to Texas/Puerto Rico and lots more news
    April 13, 2021
  • CODO Can design backgroundExploring canning trends and the can shortage with CanSource
    April 12, 2021
  • brewing lawsuitMass. Franchise Law UPDATE: Judge denies Atlantic’s injunction, Jack’s Abby heads to arbitration
    April 8, 2021
  • Check out Briess’ new website, then enjoy this Journey of Malt video series, showing how barley goes from seed to malt
    April 8, 2021

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2021 · CBB Media LLC

Continue ...

sponsored by