Warrior Craft Brewery - business stuff

[Andra]

Hi all, 

I Googled business leadership a little while ago and this popped up. I really like it! It touches on and articulates many ideas and feelings I deal with every day. So, I figured I should start a thread for myself to get some advice and possible support for starting a craft brewery . I love the idea of a Warrior Themed one and this seems like an awesome place to start connecting with the right people. It won't be a family business - I know shocking, lol! I just don't have the family members to put that together, so I am definitely looking for traditional networking, investors, partners, etc. But most of all, I'd love to run it in a responsible, productive way - building a good team, and having fun getting a cool project off the ground. 

Cheers! 

[cmaher]

Best of luck to you!

[mynewunit]

Here is a great place to start. Copy someone else.

Veterans United Brewery

And find some others

List of other Veteran Breweries

Then find some people who will tell you about your challenges. Generally, your community doesn't prioritize drinking. They don't favor fancy or expensive beer. Catering to Crossfit, GoRuck, Jocko, Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, etc aren't typically the people looking up specific gravity of their favorite beer.

Also, Craft breweries tend to be geologically specific due to high shipping costs, ATF and local regulation/laws.  Learn from someone near by. Often alcoholic beverage startups go years before employing anyone. If you want to have a great corporate culture think service industry. They are employee heavy and benefit from inclusive culture. 

Not here to crush dream, just to wake up those having them. Do your homework. Once you are willing to do it for free, you are almost ready to start. Then start before you are ready.  Said by a no cost message board moderator.

Brian  

[Andra]

Cool, thanks for the link. I listened to a few podcasts and some talked about how military guys and gals like to socialize over a few beers so that why I figured I'd say hi. I'm thinking of starting a GoFundMe page, would it be ok to share on here when I do?

I am not looking for brewing support, I can do that myself. I heard a recent brewery started in Canada that's military themed but it's more for show, lol, no actual veterans involved, this seemed more direct and a better idea.  ironically its American military themed apparently, loool. Anyway, I figured why not. Don't worry I can Google and research and network and all that. But it pays to think outside the box when working with limited resources. So yeah. You may not know brewing but you do understand the importance of organization and working together as a team. Something most guys who spend a lot of time staring at wort don't (Personal experience). I technically started in the field a little while ago, I am figuring it out.  

[Andra]

Hehehe, crush dreams? Lol. Dream crushing is walking into a military themed brewery to find out no one can get their shit together enough to find a cloth to wipe tables with. When the day starts at 4-5 pm! That was sad. Lol! We have different definitions of dream crushing. And it's not a dream, it's definitely in the strategy phase. I need a few things: finances, location, FOH and BOH. Trick is to figure out where to go to get these things. You know, breaking down the bigger picture into smaller more manageable pieces, and then pursuing those pieces . But I do see where you're coming from, a lot of people in this field are fairly dream oriented.

[mynewunit]

You are good to go. You can drop a link to a Go fund me page on the boards. We are here to help people and as long as you are being honest, we are cool sharing our audience.
You understand the difference between the organization and the Brand Ambassador. I am not a figure head, and neither are you.
Let me know when I can buy a six pack, or if it is a GoFundMe perk/reward.
Maybe team up with Bottle Breacher.

[Andra]

Cool, thanks! Oh I am definitely just a humble fairly broke person trying to see if I can make something happen. Though if you guys need brand ambassadors I would definitely be in! Separately from the fundraising thing though bc that's a whole other thing. I really loved the TED talk Jocko gave. You could tell he is the real deal. If I could come up with the best version of a military guy, that would be it. I just didn't know they actually existed before. Lol! Anyway, I like what you guys do and I think it's important for me to try to develop positive collaborations and relationships and see if I too can manifest the "best version" in my field. I'll work on it and get back to you. Thank you! Cheers

[Andra]

And I am definitely not joking about the brand ambassadors thing. Im hoping it comes with free tea! There's a lot of negativity in the world right now and it's nice to see and hear people who were able to face negative situations and come out the other side still knowing right from wrong. Instead of BSing about everything, lol. I am hoping to have some art work and poetry\quotes which are warrior inspired. I'm working on that as well . And yes it will 100% be gender neutral bc I've been dieing to make my own sword since I was 6 and first saw Xena, lol. Warrior spirit knows no limits!

[Andra]

I looked into Bottle breacher, it looks like quality stuff but I'd like to avoid promoting guns. Bc I fully trust professionals to know how to use them, but I fully do NOT trust most of the dumbasses in this field at this time to not get dumb ideas. It's based on experience. Some professionals are legitimately dumb and let's just say I wouldnt trust them not to start showing up with actual guns as a "joke" and shoot each other in the foot. Best to keep the kids away from the big people tools. Other than that tho it would be awesome if I can get custom made beer openers. Hehehe, too many ideas for designs!

[Andra]

I would however love to collect stories and art work related to battles, war, why you need to fight, freedom, and basically anything to do with the theme. This is an excerpt from something of mine and kinda gives you a feel for what I'm going for:

"Pride is a choice, a right, a will
And I am proud to have walked this ground,
I willed far more than others might
Truth is jagged, costs too much,
But I am proud of these here scars.
And I stand tall still, by force of will
Fuck it all, I smile still.

So if you're standing, then stand tall
And if you kneel, you kneel with pride,
Here I am, I smile still
I earned this rest, these scars this grin.
I walked with Giants, I remember them all.
Hell still freezes at our names,
And the monsters there, I forget their names now,
Like smell of shit, cleared by the winds.
I am at peace, I breathe free.

If you want to rage at life and war,
If you feel like screaming at this here world
Then cry and scream, rage and grieve,
You are free to fight and free to dream,
But don't forget those who gave all,
And if you're standing then stand fucking tall.
These scars here look fucking great in a certain light,
And these battles are as old as time.

This world is ours, yours and mine,
And I stand tall and kneel with pride.
I am free to love and fight and sing,
I earned my scars, my will, my pride.
Each time I die, I am reborn,
And I remember being whole.

Truth is jagged, life costs too much,
But f I live a thousand lives,
And if I die a thousand times,
I'll still say: Fuck it all, I smile still."

A little rough around the edges, yes, on purpose, but with a feeling of this is me, this is life, I lived fully and saw a lot and this is what I have to say. It can be in any format. And it would be cool to capture real people's voices and put a focus on their experiences. Anyway, that's my concept at the moment and it can evolve of course. If anyone has feedback or wants to add stuff go for it. Thanks!

[lucifer656]

You know, breaking down the bigger picture into smaller more manageable pieces, and then pursuing those pieces . But I do see where you're coming from, a lot of people in this field are fairly dream oriented