Brew Your Business

Karen McGrath (a.k.a. Smith) has been researching, writing, and teaching for over 30 years, and has co-authored a book with Regina Luttrell entitled The Millennial Mindset: Unraveling Fact from Fiction (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016). Karen was introduced to home brewing through her partner, Sean. She has also developed an interest in the culture and history of craft beer as she continues to hone her palette through visits and tastings at local and regional craft breweries in the Albany, NY area, including western Massachusetts and northern Vermont. Her first one-gallon brew was a German Blonde Ale (a Witte in taste and appearance). Regina Luttrell spent the first half of her career managing high-level public relations and marketing activities for Fortune 500 companies, governmental entities, as well as non-profit organizations. Upon leaving corporate America she earned her Ph.D. and now teaches public relations and social media at Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School. She is the (co)author the following books: Social Media: How to Engage, Share, and Connect, The Millennial Mindset: Unraveling Fact from Fiction, Public Relations Campaigns: An Integrated Approach, The Agency Handbook, and A Practical Guide to Ethics in Public Relations. To this project, she brings not only her extensive background in strategic development and implementation of corporate and internal communication and marketing programs, but a proven track record of success in researching, writing, and publishing, as well as a passion for enjoying a good craft brew.Todd Luttrell, craft beer enthusiast, is an accomplished scientist and business professional with nearly 20 years of discovery and leadership experience. His 15 years as an Organic Chemist promotes a philosophy of experimentation, which has led to many popular home brews as shared within the community. He leverages a fundamental understanding of the science behind brewing to help unlock many of the hidden elements within the brewing process. Additionally, his many years of management, marketing, and business development experience also lend themselves in the execution of fundamental business strategies and successful business launches. He holds multiple patents and has also written various peer-reviewed articles.Sean McGrath is a committed homebrewer with over 20 years of experience and many more years of enthusiasm regarding craft brews. He actively attends beer festivals and conferences in the New England region to further his knowledge of current craft brewing techniques and flavors. He currently serves as an assistant brewer on many occasions with Mike Wenzel and Michael T. Young at the Helderberg Mountain Brewing Company. Sean also has an interest in the detailed business and production sides of brewing, has developed a nuanced understanding of the industry, and is deeply committed to furthering and sharing his knowledge with others. Sean also dutifully served his country in the Navy and has been a Service Technician-Senior for two global corporations for the past 24 years. He looks forward to continued brewing experimentation.

So many thriving microbreweries dot the contemporary American landscape that it’s no wonder home brewers with entrepreneurial spirits think seriously about turning their avocations into profit-making businesses. Such dreamers can reify their aspirations with the advice available from these experts. Starting with instructions on beer brewing in general, the authors detail the steps involved in brewing, with particular emphasis on the importance of adequate equipment and the essential techniques of sterilization to ensure the brewer achieves the twin goals of a pure and safe product. Many state and federal laws address beer manufacturing and sales, and the successful craft brewer has to have accurate knowledge of these regulations. Managing employees, raising capital, and every other facet of business administration play a role in poising a brewery for success, even in a small market. An extensive bibliography guides serious readers to even deeper knowledge of this ancient craft.