🎙️ How Big aLICe Brewing Scaled from Homebrewing to a Thriving Brewery Business 🍺
In this episode of The Beverage Biz Podcast, we sit down with Kyle Hurst and Connor Hurst of Big aLICe Brewing to uncover their journey from homebrewing enthusiasts to the operators of a thriving brewery in the Finger Lakes. With a laser focus on community, hyper-local sourcing, and creating memorable taproom experiences, Big aLICe Brewing offers valuable lessons for any brewery owner looking to scale their revenue and improve operations.
Discover how they turned a subscription-based beer model into a sustainable business, expanded their footprint from New York City to the Finger Lakes, and crafted a brand that resonates with their customers. Learn actionable insights on navigating expansion challenges, building customer loyalty, leveraging local ingredients, and creating a taproom experience that drives repeat business.
If you’re a brewer looking to grow your tasting room revenue or scale operations while staying true to your brand, this episode is packed with real-world advice you can’t afford to miss.
Chapters:
Introduction (00:00:00 - 00:00:36)
Podcast Introduction and Icebreaker (00:00:36 - 00:01:06)
Kick-off and discussing favorite beers.
Starting Big Alice Brewery (00:01:06 - 00:03:38)
From homebrewing in the late 90s to creating a brewery with a unique model.
Subscription Model Success (00:03:38 - 00:05:21)
Early days of selling beer subscriptions and scaling up production.
Expanding the Business (00:05:21 - 00:06:56)
Growth into larger facilities and establishing multiple locations.
Joining the Family Business (00:06:56 - 00:10:08)
Connor's journey from corporate sales to head of sales and operations at the brewery.
Challenges and Rewards of Family Dynamics (00:10:08 - 00:13:56)
Working with family members.
Refocusing on the Finger Lakes (00:13:56 - 00:17:11)
Transitioning from multiple locations to a single brewery in the Finger Lakes region.
Community and Collaboration (00:17:11 - 00:20:48)
Working with local organizations and forming partnerships with other brewers.
Insights on Taproom Experiences (00:20:48 - 00:31:40)
Crafting a unique and personal taproom environment.
Navigating Industry Trends (00:31:40 - 00:40:14)
Adjusting to shifting alcohol consumption trends and the rise of craft beverage tourism.
Advice for Brewery Owners (00:40:14 - 00:49:39)
Key elements for building a successful brewery and engaging customers.
Final Thoughts and Where to Find Us (00:49:39 - 00:50:21)
Wrapping up and sharing details on how to connect with Big Alice Brewery.
Check out Big aLICe: www.bigalicebrewing.com/
Follow Big aLICe: bigalicebrewing
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