Brewer’s Blog

Calculating Overtime for Brewery Employees

April 3rd, 2019 • by Erin M. Callahan

Crafting Your Business: Post 3 of 4 in the Series from the NYS Craft Beverages Handbook On March 28, 2019, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced it was proposing to change the definition of an employee’s “regular rate” of pay. If adopted, it could impact how employers calculate an employee’s overtime rate and […]

On-Premises Licensing…Brewery Location is Key

March 27th, 2019 • by Genevieve Trigg

Crafting Your Business: Post 2 of 4 in the Series from the NYS Craft Beverages Handbook Every smart business owner knows a key element to a successful business is a prime location. But when it comes to serving alcohol on-premises at your establishment, it’s more than just the neighborhood you have to consider. There are two rules that the State Liquor Authority […]

Locating your Brewery – The Site Selection Process

March 20th, 2019 • by Randall Beach

Crafting Your Business: Post 1 of 4 in the Series from the NYS Craft Beverages Handbook One of the first things a proposed brewery owner needs to determine is where the brewery will be located.  “Location, Location,  Location” is what the realtors say – and they’re right!  Locating your brewery in the right spot will help drive traffic to your tap […]

“Craft” refers to more than your beer

March 7th, 2019 • by Allen Rossignol

The craft beverage industry across the country has been booming over the past 10 years, with New York State being a front-runner in all sectors including hard cider, craft distillers, breweries, and wineries. There are now over 1,000 craft alcoholic beverage makers in NYS and that number is expected to climb in the upcoming years […]

Positive Energy on Tap for NY Breweries

March 5th, 2019 • by David Bennis

U.S Breweries Spend Over $200 Million Annually On Energy That number is staggering. More to the point, energy consumption can run up to 8% of the total production cost of beer, which makes efficiency a critical factor, especially in times of high energy price volatility. At Marathon Energy, we pride ourselves on working to minimize […]

Navigating Local Government Regulation for Brewing Success

March 1st, 2019 • by Matt Horn

New York’s communities are rolling out the red carpet to brewers.  Just like developing the perfect recipe of brew ingredients, finding the best spot for your operation should be an exercise in developing the right mix of community, location, and building to leverage your investment into something special for you and your customers.  A core […]

Four Tips for Growing Your Craft Beer Business

February 20th, 2019 • by Michael Ishak

Starting your own craft beer business is exciting. Establishing flavours, designing product lines, and curating brand identity add up to unique and fun experiences that are all a part of the business of beer. But after all that work, it can be difficult and overwhelming to think about expansion. It may take a bit of […]

Implications of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act

February 14th, 2019 • by David Oksenhorn

The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) of 2017 gave the craft brewing industry a lift by temporarily lowering the federal excise tax for breweries, wineries, and distilled spirit producers.  The act took effect on January 1, 2018, and is currently set to expire on December 31, 2019. But on February 6, U.S. […]

Is your Brewery Website ADA Compliant?

January 28th, 2019 • by Chip Grieco

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in any place of “public accommodation,” such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks and, yes, breweries that operate taprooms, conduct tastings, sell at retail or are otherwise open to the public (which includes most […]

Maintaining Brand Identity When Diversifying Brews

January 8th, 2019 • by Andrew Witkin

Creating a solid, great-tasting beer is at the core of any craft brewery. But no successful brewer is content with making just one. When planning how to market and present your growing craft brew offerings, it’s imperative to keep a strong brand identity top of mind. Below are some simple tips to keep your brand […]