TOPIC:

It's possible to buy a keg or two, for a party or such like, direct.

Messers offers this service, unless that has changed recently.

I'd imagine that it'd be rare enough for a punter in off the street to buy 40+ bottles of craft beer at a pop so I can't imagine that it'd be a service that would be worthwhile going to the time and trouble of offering.

Anyway, how many brewers do we have without their own retail outlets?

"Poc":3vcag0u0 wrote: It's possible to buy a keg or two, for a party or such like, direct.

Messers offers this service[/quote:3vcag0u0]Only because they have a full pub licence, though. With one of those you can sell booze from your premises pretty much any way you like.

&amp;quot;Poc&amp;quot;:3vcag0u0 wrote: Anyway, how many brewers do we have without their own retail outlets?[/quote:3vcag0u0]On ICB? About fifty or so, I'd say <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Interesting idea - Im sure that there are lots of people on this list who have thought more seriously about the whole idea of selling what we brew at home, seeing as most of the people on the list take their brewing far more seriously than me <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

Here are just a couple of suggestions off the top of my head
1) Parties; 18/21/stag/hen, but you could also do speciality XMas / BBQ beers
2) Corporate Events; parties/event launches/'keep the client happy' junkets etc
3) Weddings, Christenings / other 'formal' events

My view of world domination would be to split the market down the personal/corporate divide, and offer both a range of services including (but not limited to)

a) Beer to Order
b) Your name / label on a bottle
c) Assistance / ideas of labels for your personalised beer
d) Beer expert to inform on what the guests are drinking

I'd initially suggest just bottles. I'd ask MM very nicely what they could do for me on small batches on an ad-hoc basis. I'd grow the personal business organically (by word of mouth) and use this as a testing ground to see which brews are the most popular among the attendees, taking the age profile into account and, if the personal business was going well, I'd branch into corporate. Only in corporate will you make this a career

Id see the following as the key sellling points
1) Its unusual
2) its not much dearer than off-license
3) its greener (lower transport CO2, reusing bottles etc)
4) it allows you to get exactly the beers you want
5) Momentos; You can keep a commerative bottle from your 21st/stag hen

Im sure if anyones really interested in this and buys me a pint I could come up with lots more ideas <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

I wonder if you could sell an expensive 'apple', and give a gift of free homebrew?! Of course it would need to be a bloody nice apple.


Other than a Brewers License what other approvals would be needed? Would the Council be a little upset if you were brewing commercially on anything but Light Industrial zoned land?

&amp;quot;Scoby&amp;quot;:9z5d6ou6 wrote: I wonder if you could sell an expensive 'apple', and give a gift of free homebrew?![/quote:9z5d6ou6]I'm fairly sure you can, as long as you've done all the necessary paperwork that goes with selling apples. David Llewellyn offers free whiskey with his warm apple juice in Temple Bar market.

&amp;quot;Scoby&amp;quot;:9z5d6ou6 wrote: Would the Council be a little upset if you were brewing commercially on anything but Light Industrial zoned land?[/quote:9z5d6ou6]Yes, you'd need to make sure your premises has the relevant planning permissions for brewing.

&amp;quot;Scoby&amp;quot;:q8bgr708 wrote: I wonder if you could sell an expensive 'apple', and give a gift of free homebrew?! [/quote:q8bgr708]

I would imagine you would at least have to have your brewer's licence etc. and pay the excise on the beer.