Update from the field

First off, I've already missed my goal of posting here at least once per week. Unfortunately, there is not too much news, but here is what I know:

Black Abbey + Fat Bottom Collide

I had dinner (and beers, obviously) with Carl, Mike and John from Black Abbey, another start-up brewery here in Nashville. I was the one who showed up late – sorry guys. They are nice people and good drinking buddies and I walked away with new insight and information about the industry and brewing as a business. Thanks!

I've been trying to get in touch with the various established and proto-breweries in town, with mixed results. Everyone I've talked to is friendly and open, sometimes it's just hard to find contact information. Next up is the ladies from Jackalope, who I'm meeting next week (and excited to do so).

The Search is On

The major activity from the last few weeks has been finding space to open up in. Being in the core of the city is important to me, so I have been focused on the Germantown, East Nashville, and SoBro neighborhoods.

I've looked at a dozen locations so far, most of which are good prospects, but I haven't found "the One" yet. My goal was to have a lease signed by Labor Day, which might still happen but is a stretch at this point. Once a lease is signed though, I'll be free to order equipment and I will be shouting it from the rooftops.

And that's all I've got for now.

This isn't a zero-sum game

When you start looking, there are a lot of Nashville breweries and pubs in planning or production, to say nothing of the national craft beer scene.  Most people would throw in the towel, as it looks like there is way too much competition.

That's not the way I see it. I think that building a craft scene and appreciation of great beers will benefit all of us. Our respective sales are not a zero-sum game.  I don't think that a pint Yazoo sells is a pint that I (will) miss out on. Every sale that any of us makes is one that Budweiser & Miller/Coors lost.

Craft beer, as popular as it is, still only represents less than 5% of sales in the United States, and that is split among almost 1,800 different breweries and brewpubs. That tells me there is still tremendous opportunity to change minds and drinking habits, and an opportunity to create a sustainable business.

That is what I'm basing Fat Bottom Brewing on...the chance to convert another beer drinker to a better product.

Fat Bottom Business - This is going to happen.

For years, I have been that guy who keeps talking about this great idea: I'm gonna go make beer, everyone will love it, etc., but never did anything about it.  I've been itching to start my own company, but I couldn't take the plunge.  A few weeks ago, that changed.

I was talking with a friend, who had a friend, who had a warehouse that "some new brewery" was checking out. I came home that night, told my wife about it, and got that sick feeling in my chest when you know that you've really screwed something up. For two years I've talked about brewing as a business and I was always regretful that I hadn't done it. Hearing that somebody else was starting was the kick in the ass I needed. I don't want to be sitting at home two years from now, talking about a missed opportunity and wishing I had done something back in 2011.

The roller-coaster

I can't put it off any longer. I pulled out my business plan from two years ago and revised, refined, and updated it for 2011. I made my financial model better, I made my sales plan more realistic, and settled on a name from my list of about 150 options. I slept on it for a few weeks, got advice, and tried to figure out why I shouldn't do this.

Should I walk away from a secure job at a great company? Could I lose a lot of money? Will I be a disappointment? There are a lot of good reasons for not doing this, but I'll only be disappointed if I don't.

I made the decision, got funding together, incorporated, and turned my resignation. Today I told the 80 people I work with that, after 8 years with the same company, it was time for me to move on. I expected feelings of disappointment and betrayal and got a round of applause instead. (Thank you.)

This is a start-up in a high-risk, tough, competitive, you-probably-won't-make-it industry, but one that I want to be a part of. I'm passionate about beer (great beer!) and that's why I am doing this. I LOVE beer and I want to make somebody else love it, too. I'm not under any illusions that I will get to brew all day and make money. Like any business, this is an exercise in sales, marketing, and operations. I want to take my shot, risk failure and know that I at least tried.

Tonight I am happy. No doubt there are difficult times ahead and days where nothing goes my way. Fat Bottom Brewing may crash and burn or it may be wildly successful, but I won't be in the same place two years from now, wishing I had started when I had the opportunity.

Say hello to Fat Bottom Brewing.