National Homebrew Club Ireland

I think a lot of people on here aspire to go pro one day, including myself, and I'd like to own a brew pub. Not too arsed about producing beer for consumption beyond my own pub(s) though.

I couldn't be a landlord at all, but I quite fancy producing some booze for a pub alright.

Ideal world, work IN a brewpub.

I struggle with the fact that I was in that business for years, minus the brewpub part, with young kids now, I'd like some time for them. Hospitality doesn't really mix well with my situation. I am slowly coming around to the idea however.

Sent using a complex system of semaphore and ninjas.

Nope. Why ruin what is for me a really fantastic hobby? It's my form of escape and I couldn't bear the idea of adulterating brewing with such monotonous activities as deliveries, invoices, irate customers, chasing payment from customers, dealing with revenue, dealing with environmental health, fixing broken equipment, worrying about paying the taxes and the mortgage.

I suspect being a professional brewer is about 10% actual brewing and the rest is the boring day-to-day stuff.

On the brew pub aspect, I too worked in pubs for a few years and I swore I'd never do it again. It's all great when you have nice customers, but dealing with boozed-up aggravation and cleaning up vomit are part of it too unfortunately.

Also, I've been working 9-5 nearly all my working life now and the thoughts of giving up my evenings and nights feels completely alien to me. I'd rather be sitting down at night with a nice glass of homebrew than working. :)

Quote from: Bubbles on October 02, 2013, 05:11:25 PM
Nope. Why ruin what is for me a really fantastic hobby? It's my form of escape and I couldn't bear the idea of adulterating brewing with such monotonous activities as deliveries, invoices, irate customers, chasing payment from customers, dealing with revenue, dealing with environmental health, fixing broken equipment, worrying about paying the taxes and the mortgage.

I suspect being a professional brewer is about 10% actual brewing and the rest is the boring day-to-day stuff.

On the brew pub aspect, I too worked in pubs for a few years and I swore I'd never do it again. It's all great when you have nice customers, but dealing with boozed-up aggravation and cleaning up vomit are part of it too unfortunately.

Also, I've been working 9-5 nearly all my working life now and the thoughts of giving up my evenings and nights feels completely alien to me. I'd rather be sitting down at night with a nice glass of homebrew than working. :)

aah how did one so young get so wise :)
Now I have posted recently some of the boring costly facts about running any business and wise is the smartest but I'm not that wise so while I could say know I will rather say "never say never" ;). But Bubbles is right about one thing here. this is your escape from the normal day to day so when it becomes your day to day you will have to find something else as a hobby.
If you did move up what would be a suitable replacement hobby :-\

World of Warcraft

Brewpub would be the dream as well. Top quality beer accompanied by hearty local seasonal food. Gastro brew pub.

The brew pub really is the way to go. Self funding once you get it right. No transportation fees, quick turnaround where needed and the ability to basically try anything you would like to brew out.
Tube if you get up and running count me in.

Quote from: LordEoin on October 02, 2013, 05:50:15 PM
World of Warcraft

Good one what about WW2 model aircraft.

Quote from: Il Tubo on October 02, 2013, 06:53:54 PM

Quote from: DEMPSEY on October 02, 2013, 06:52:03 PM

Quote from: LordEoin on October 02, 2013, 05:50:15 PM
World of Warcraft

Good one what about WW2 model aircraft.

Been there done that. Great hobby but they don't make them like they used to.

i went into smyth's toys the other day looking for an airfix model and they're pretty much obsolete, tiny tiny selection now :(

Quote from: Bubbles on October 02, 2013, 05:11:25 PM
Nope. Why ruin what is for me a really fantastic hobby? It's my form of escape and I couldn't bear the idea of adulterating brewing with such monotonous activities as deliveries, invoices, irate customers, chasing payment from customers, dealing with revenue, dealing with environmental health, fixing broken equipment, worrying about paying the taxes and the mortgage.

I suspect being a professional brewer is about 10% actual brewing and the rest is the boring day-to-day stuff.

On the brew pub aspect, I too worked in pubs for a few years and I swore I'd never do it again. It's all great when you have nice customers, but dealing with boozed-up aggravation and cleaning up vomit are part of it too unfortunately.

Also, I've been working 9-5 nearly all my working life now and the thoughts of giving up my evenings and nights feels completely alien to me. I'd rather be sitting down at night with a nice glass of homebrew than working. :)

You just listed the annoying things that go with being self employed. There are a lot of good aspects to being your own boss too.

On the homebrew as a hobby thing - thats what a small pilot brewery is for within your larger brew house. Small limited experimental batches. Try new stuff & have some fun.

http://thatbrewerygame.com/

Quote from: LordEoin on October 02, 2013, 06:56:15 PM

Quote from: Il Tubo on October 02, 2013, 06:53:54 PM

Quote from: DEMPSEY on October 02, 2013, 06:52:03 PM

Quote from: LordEoin on October 02, 2013, 05:50:15 PM
World of Warcraft

Good one what about WW2 model aircraft.

Been there done that. Great hobby but they don't make them like they used to.

i went into smyth's toys the other day looking for an airfix model and they're pretty much obsolete, tiny tiny selection now :(

theres some nerd shop on Hawkin Street that sells all that kind of stuff


also, maybe some of ye could try this game? (I did..its crap though)

(http://i.imgur.com/33Czryv.jpg)

Regards paperwork, a lot of home brewers keep very derailed records on all brews and records every small detail. This I think would give a good head start and understanding to the mountain of paperwork required.
Reading all metalmans tweets it is a major part of the day but like every job there are bits nobody like to do that have to be done.

Get the bad bits done and get back to brewing :)

I'm not short of hobbies, and building model things wasn't paying any bills, and saxophonism isn't doing much better. Gardening seems to be costing me money (because I keep buying hops)...

Brewing beer might work...  :-\

We've actually just taken the jump from homebrewing to commercial brewing. Just got our licence granted in court this morning with our first beer due to launch in November

Brewing and being your own boss, sounds like bliss to me  :) :) :) :)

Oooohh, my first chance for self promotion  :)

The brewery is called Stone Barrel Brewing and the beer is called "Boom!", A session american style IPA. 500 ml bottles and limited kegs available from mid November .... fingers crossed :)

We're just waiting to sign off on our branding so should have the site up and running later this week.

We're based in Ballymount in Dublin

Haha. Nice  :)

Right, time to stop hijacking this thread! We'll update you guys with the launch date when we get it,

Make sure to sell your beers locally (ie clondalkin)

Actually Shearys in Crumlin would be the closest good beer pub to you... Maybe give them a shout?

Best of luck Kaymak. Can you give us the size pf your brewery :).

QuoteBest of luck Kaymak. Can you give us the size pf your brewery :).

Well its about 30l at the minute  :D We're contract brewing for the start while we are charming our bank manager into emptying his pockets.  We're eventually going to be looking at a 12  bbl (2000l) brewery

Best of luck Kaymack!

Quote from: DEMPSEY on October 02, 2013, 05:35:53 PMaah how did one so young get so wise :)

I'm neither young nor wise, I'm afraid...  :-\ ;)

Quote from: Hop Bomb on October 02, 2013, 07:04:59 PM

Quote from: Bubbles on October 02, 2013, 05:11:25 PM
Nope. Why ruin what is for me a really fantastic hobby? It's my form of escape and I couldn't bear the idea of adulterating brewing with such monotonous activities as deliveries, invoices, irate customers, chasing payment from customers, dealing with revenue, dealing with environmental health, fixing broken equipment, worrying about paying the taxes and the mortgage.

You just listed the annoying things that go with being self employed. There are a lot of good aspects to being your own boss too.

Well, depends what kind of "self-employed" you are. I'm self-employed myself but I don't have to worry about most of the items I listed. But my point was more about the business of brewing encroaching on what is my favourite pastime. It just wouldn't be for me.

I'm torn between the 1st 2

I'm also going for it. Juggling quite a few things to get ready for delivery of the equipment at the end of the month!

Where will you base yourself :)

We'll be trading as Independent Brewing, based in Carraroe, Co. Galway

Good luck Kev! Great to hear that plans are going well!

Best of luck Kev!!!! I hope the head aches aren't too bad!!   :) :) Dealing with the various government agencies can be very tiresom!

All that being said, its worth it to have your own beer!

What type of beer are you planning?

Thanks lads! We're planning to launch with a blonde and a pale ale, there is a red ale recipe that I'm sure will pop up as well, looking forward to actually getting to start!

I wish the best of good trading to you all,am just wondering if ye all have ID'd your route to market and all that as there appears to be a fair amount of launches coming soon. :)

True Dempsey, a lot of breweries are coming on stream. Its not going to be easy but for our side we're confident that we can break into the market.

Il Tubo ran a thread a while back about setting up a co op. Has anyone setting up commercially looked at the nuts and bolts of this. Clear advantage would be shared capital costs and shared personnel support. :)

I think the high frequency of Iaunchs will support each other, the collective momenutum and PR / advertising prolongs the message of Quality Irish Craft.

There is only one market share that will be reduced..... That of bland and bad beer.

Cheers to ye ! Kev and Kaymak . Let us know of yer launches. The NHC tomtoms can help spread the word.

Quote from: DEMPSEY on October 09, 2013, 07:37:43 PM
Il Tubo ran a thread a while back about setting up a co op. Has anyone setting up commercially looked at the nuts and bolts of this. Clear advantage would be shared capital costs and shared personnel support. :)

do you mean as a cooperative?

we are opening a cooperative brewery in belfast. I think it's a great way to do it

Any more info on that Matthew?

sure- we are trying to be as transparent as possible with the starttup phase

what you wanna know?

Quote from: matthewdick23 on October 10, 2013, 08:47:37 AM
sure- we are trying to be as transparent as possible with the starttup phase

what you wanna know?

how many are setting up the co-op and are you going to produce the one range of beers between you or are you all going to book time as such for making your own beer each. :)

yeah we get that questions a good bit actually.


We aren't a co-working brewery, as you are describing. We are a cooperative brewery which means we are like any other brewery making one brand of beers.

there are 8 atm on the board of directors. we will be a multistakeholder cooperative which will allow for any joe blogs to become a member