CORVALLIS, Ore.–What’s the best way to start a brewery? By crafting a business plan, knowing your costs up-front and spending time with a successful brewing operation… but how do you get that?
Oregon State University’s newest course for brewery entrepreneurs, the Craft Brewery Startup Workshop II, launches April 21st will give students the chance to explore these important startup aspects. Ninkasi Brewing Company will host student(s) with the best business plan for the opportunity of a lifetime–the chance to visit their facility in Eugene, Ore. and explore a growing operation that started as a small brewery in 2006.
Ninkasi founders, Nikos Ridge and Jamie Floyd, offered last year’s participants in the Craft Brewery Startup Workshop the same opportunity and hosted Jerry and Susan Larson of Boise, Idaho at the Ninkasi headquarters in February 2014.
“Since Jerry and I are both engineers with no sales experience, we both wanted to learn more about sales,” said Susan. “We spent a day riding around with one of the Ninkasi salespeople in Portland. That was fun and enlightening—kind of an “ah ha! moment” for both of us.”
The workshop also draws on the expertise of Dick Cantwell of Elysian Brewing Company, Aaron Brodniak of Sirius Brewing and other industry experts in the Pacific Northwest to provide guidance and networking opportunities to future brewery entrepreneurs.
“Unfortunately we don’t just get to make beer,” said Cantwell. “Having the opportunity to see an active brewery operation will help entrepreneurs see the many aspects of day-to-day operations.”
Offered partially online and then onsite, students will receive feedback on business plans and discuss decisions related to raising capital, equipment planning, ingredient sourcing and more. After two weeks of online instruction, the group will travel to Portland, Ore., dubbed the nation’s top-ranked craft microbrewery city in the nation by Travel and Leisure, for four days of instruction, networking, and panel discussions designed to refine business plans.
Once the course concludes, Cantwell and Brodniak will review the business plans completed by the students and determine who has the best plan to open a successful craft beer operation. If you would like to bring your beer to the market or open a brewery and have behind-the-scenes access to Ninkasi Brewing Company, visit pace.oregonstate.edu/beer to learn more or register for the course.
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About Professional and Continuing Education OSU Professional and Continuing Education (pace.oregonstate.edu) provides education and training for businesses, organizations, associations and professionals anywhere throughout the state and beyond. The majority of professional and noncredit students are focused on continuing education: licensure recertification, professional development and personal enrichment. Professional and Noncredit Education is part of the Division of University Outreach and Engagement.
About Ninkasi Brewing Company Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to a 50-barrel brewing system located in Eugene, Ore. Ninkasi’s Flagship beers include Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Believer Double Red, and Oatis Oatmeal Stout and are sold throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, California, and British Columbia. Committed to community support and giving, Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers in-kind donations and support for organizations throughout its footprint. For more information, call 541.344.2739 or visit www.NinkasiBrewing.com.
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