TOPIC:

again i don't think it's doom and gloom.it's just the market conditions are quite predjudicial against "micro-breweries" (have a look at the amount that have come and gone in the last 10-15years) and the i think the people here just want to make sure you are aware of that so it doesn't turn into an expensive gamble.

I'm sure everyone here wishes you the best of luck and hope to enjoy the (amarillo hopped <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> ) beer in the future.

As for joining forces as tempting as it is i'm not sure my bank balance would get us very far!

&amp;quot;Bog_Myrtle&amp;quot;:1pp49x8g wrote: There isn't much choice in ales and stouts in this country either btw.[/quote:1pp49x8g]

True enough unfortunately.

I would suggest trying to align yourselves with a pub or two at the start. you will need to shift that beer quickly. Having your own pub would be perfect but a huge added expense. Maybe try having a chat with the guys from the porter house or carlow. The later seem to be exporting all over the place in cask and keg and managing bottle sales too.

what size brewery are you looking at?

We really would love to see you succeed but we have seen too many fall by the side of the road in the last few years...dublin brewing Co, kinsale brewing co, Biddy Early's....it's a tough busines.

thanks for all the comments - the book from your man in Delaware sounds like a must read.

I agree with all the comments in general - we started the planning a while ago and numbers do matter!

As this would be a commercial venture for profit not a crusade and if the numbers dont stack up we wont be able to go through with it. we have approx. 40 local pubs interested so far - and their main concern has been price saying that their customers are more and more buying sinply the cheapest they can get - The Harbour Bar in Bray now stocks cans of Dutch Gold for example.

Is anyone able top give an idea on cost of regularly producing kegs fit for pubs?

our idea was to start serving a few local pubs at first using rudimentary brewing kit (ie minimum expense) and then build from there on the growth. So far the publicans we have spoken with are open if the price is right - we figured we would make a loss on a lot of the kegs at the beginning just to get the publicans serving it out and to allow them to make larger then normal profits (if i remember correctly they are at about 55% profit per pint of draft lager) on cheaper than normal lager. This would also get the name known in the local market.

i just have a hunch that it should work and that is good enough for me to want to explore more.

Dont worry though we were not planning on spending 200k without first building up a customer base!!

From what I know pubs try to work off a 65% margin and off-licences a 30% margin. So if you were able to produce and wholesale a beer to a pub, while still maintaining an operating profit level, for 2 euro, the pub would be selling it at 5.70.

My advise would be (once you have your exceptional product) to bottle and sell to the independent off licences. This will create an awareness of your product.

Its all well and good for pubs to take on a keg, but it is the public that will make or break your business, so make sure they know it and like it first:)

Make sure you publicise well, that doesn't have to cost a bomb. Invite 30 jouralists to a pre-launch, organise minibuses and lose 6 kegs. Worth every penny.Cost less than a page in the local paper.

I'm writing for a mag with a couple of thousand readers (and growing - <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="www.nosmag.com">www.nosmag.com) - send me some brew when it's ready and I'll do you a good writeup (quality dependent, of course!).