BeerBorg

There is an establishment in town where 15 to 20 of the guys I worked with, including a couple of retirees, meet for beers every Friday after work.
A couple of weeks ago it was unseasonably nice outside and I elected to stay home and have a couple beers on the patio. It seems that particular Friday the owner of the establishment felt like chatting with the large group of customers who have been coming there week after week for years. He told them he was wanting to get into serving house brewed beers. Word I got was 8 or 10 of these guys started piping up about how good they think my beer is, I am retired so I have time, yadda yadda. So I was sitting there yesterday when the owner approached me and asked me questions about how long I have been brewing, what styles I know how to brew etc. He gave me his card and wants me to contact him.

I JUST retired so I really don't want to go back to work again. However I would be a fool not to at least give an opportunity like this some thought. Sometimes I think it would be great to brew on such a large scale and get paid for it. After all, I will be brewing regularly anyway. Other times I think it is still a commitment and would eventually become a job. However, it would be a job I would not need, therefore no stress. I really don't know what to think about this one.

Grab some others who brew or want to and teach them what they need so that it's not a full time job for you. It will be a learning experience for all.
Sounds like fun but I hear you about being retired and still working. At least you're doing what you love and if it becomes tedious, just let those you taught continue.
I hope things work out well for you.

If you enjoy it, it might not be work. Talk to him and see what his visions and goals are, see if it's something you'd enjoy doing. Also, see what the law allows. Don't know what's involved where you live, but Georgia is still in the stone age.

If I had the opportunity to brew for an establishment, without having to commit to the financials of making it happen, and happened to be retired so I had the time - all things that would amount to making the experience *fun* instead of stressful... then I'd be very tempted.

you would have all the control over the beer you brew. and how much beer are we talking here?I couldn't pass it up

Yeah, if you were going to do it, make sure you understand the law. If you're an employee of is, and he has a license to brew, then you're fine. If you're an independent contractor, you'd want to ensure you're fine.

Yeah, if you were going to do it, make sure you understand the law. If you're an employee of his, and he has a license to brew, then you're fine. If you're an independent contractor, you'd want to ensure you're fine.

Also, if you do it, you are forbidden to come on the forum and say things like "my fermenter is bigger than yours" and you cannot participate in the thread "How Much Have You Brewed in 2016"?

Yeah that would be a tough one, brewing at home for yourself will not be like having to brew for someone else. Def hard to turn down though, I would probably try to see how much they are looking to produce, probably make the decision easier

I'd look into it. See what's involved. If it looked good I'd do it and be upfront about what I was willing to commit to.

Don't overthink this. Do it. If you don't like it you have no stress/need to keep doing it and can gracefully bow out later.

And congrats! It sounds like your buddies talked you up quite well and like your beer.

Either way, enjoy your decision.

I forgot to add....this is frickin' hilarious.

RickBeer wrote: Also, if you do it, you are forbidden to come on the forum and say things like "my fermenter is bigger than yours" and you cannot participate in the thread "How Much Have You Brewed in 2016"?

Kealia wrote:I forgot to add....this is frickin' hilarious.

RickBeer wrote: Also, if you do it, you are forbidden to come on the forum and say things like "my fermenter is bigger than yours" and you cannot participate in the thread "How Much Have You Brewed in 2016"?

We'll just handicap him on the "How Much Have You Brewed" thread.

If given the opportunity...this is exactly how I would want to do it. Just think, you do not have the hassles of the buisness all you gotta do is brew and be the brewer. Im sure he has some expectations but if you went into it together with understanding and a common ground it could be a great thing. Let him know your half of the deal up front. Start out slow, is he trying to become a brewpub or get his brew on premisis permit? But I agree, I wouldnt want it to be a full time stressfull thing. You would need help on some level. 2-3 guys altogether maybe. The beauty in it is like you said...its not something you have to do. But being able to brew enough to have 2-3 house brews on tap would be cool. Two regulars and a seasonal would be a great start. It would be a big learning curve for both you and the onwner and he would have to realize this is something new for you. For me it would really depend on what type of guy the owner was and if he was pationate about the wholenthing as a whole.

It's quite a dilemma, Roger. A pleasant dilemma, but a dilemma nonetheless.

I don't want to sound patronizing, and I offer this advice seriously. I recommend you do the same thing a young person just out of school would do; get a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle of it, on the left write down the pros, on the right write down the cons.

Get another sheet of paper and write down the questions you need answered before you can make this decision. On the back of that piece of paper, write down what you would want out of the next five years.

You're facing the same thing an 18 or 25-year old person faces. One advantage you have is that you don't need to take this on if the negatives outweigh the positives. You also have more life experience, so you can approach your decision in a more mature and clear-headed way.

The one piece of advice I'd give if you do decide to hop onboard would be to start training a younger person (or a couple of younger people) immediately. Make them your apprentices, so that they can take the helm in time. As much of a dream position as this seems, you have to ask yourself how much of a commitment you want to make in terms of years.

Good luck.

Pretty sure Jamil has a podcast on that topic somewhere over at The Brewing Network that definitely be worth a listen.

My first thought is you'd be brewing for profit. No matter how honestly it starts between you and this guy, at some point your brewing will be tied to production costs. That could get frustrating.