
Moderator: Matt Albrecht (Founder/Owner, River Drive Cooperage), Panelists: Brian Perkey (Senior Key Account Manager, Lallemand), Doug Kolker (CPA, Wipfli), Ross Hunsinger (Director of Food and Beverage Innovation, Abstrax Tech), Ryan Bandy (Director of Experiences, Indeed Brewing), Sam Green (Head Brewer, Untitled Art)
Audience and attention – how will you keep it? Whether you’re looking to build a more diverse and engaged audience in your taproom, or looking to expand your offerings on retail shelves, this session will offer insight into expanding your beverage offerings. Beginning with a discussion on ingredients and processes, our panelists will begin with the initial test batch, discuss go to market strategies, and how to evaluate success of new products. They will cover criteria on how to determine which beverages may fit in best with your business model, the financial implications, and how to successfully build awareness. Our panelists will share strategies for success, examples of failure, and provide you with a primer on what to consider as you continue to innovate.
Learning Objectives:
- Attendees will gain an understanding of which alternative beverages are currently seeing success and the production methods needed.
- Attendees will understand the investment and support needed on the business side of the brewery to expand offerings.
- Attendees will be ready to conduct a SWOT analysis to determine which new beverages they should consider adding to their portfolio.
Matt Albrecht grew up in a family of woodworkers and craftsmen. Starting River Drive in 2008, he quickly focussed their woodworking skills towards wooden barrels; Seeking to improve and revitalize the nearly lost art of coopering. Since, Matt and his team have outgrown the 2 car garage they started in, and now run River Drive Cooperage and Millwork on an old 40 acre farm in scenic New England.
Brian Perkey was born in the Willamette Valley (OR) and raised in central British Columbia, Canada. He still resides in the Pacific Northwest in the small community of Parkdale, OR on the northern slopes of Mt Hood.
He joined Lallemand Brewing in May 2017 after entering the brewing industry back in 1992. He spent 19 years on deck in several brew-houses and cideries(Bridgeport, Full Sail, Gordon-Biersch, Thunder Island, Crispin, Hood Valley), with the rest of his time with an English malt company(Muntons) and a local liquid yeast manufacturer(Wyeast). After 4.5 years as Regional Sales Manager-N. America where he was responsible for the US, Mexican and Canadian Commercial Brewing and Home-Brew/Wine markets, he now holds the position of Senior Key Account Manager where he looks after some of our most important customers here at Lallemand.
He is a single dad with 2 kids (17 & 21 y/o son & daughter). He is an avid fisherman and snowboarder, and also an amateur sailor with a 26’ sailboat on the Columbia River.
Doug Kolker focuses on research and experimentation (R&E) tax projects, allowing him to use his experience to help clients maximize the R&E tax credit. He assists manufacturing, technology and software companies nationwide to successfully reduce their tax liabilities by uncovering research and development (R&D) credits. Doug is also responsible for the overall planning, organization, supervision and completion of client engagements. He has a broad background in tax planning, working with closely held businesses, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.
Doug began his career as an auditor for private and public companies. With his passion and desire to run his own business, he became president of a chain of retail stores in the St. Louis area, where he oversaw the doubling of the company’s size.
Ross Hunsinger is the Director of Food and Beverage Innovation at Abstrax Tech. A Siebel Institute alum,
former owner of Atlas Sodaworks, and terpene beverage specialist for the last 6 years. Ross has
overseen the development, implementation, and scaling of Abstrax’s growth in the brewing industry backed by world-beating technology and good vibes.
Ryan Bandy’s unconventional path to Director of Experience at Indeed Brewing began on the packaging line, snapping 6-pack holders for short fills and a foot in the door. From back of the house to front, then out the front door, Ryan tended bar and managed Indeed’s Minneapolis taproom before joining the sales team. He was Sales Director for four years until Spring 2022, when he launched into a brand new role overseeing all Sales, Marketing and Hospitality for Indeed Minneapolis and Milwaukee. Ryan is a jack-of-all-trades who brings a holistic view of the brewery in its entirety, and its place in the current industry landscape.
Sam Green started homebrewing at the age of 18, then got a job (voluntary) at a brewery at the ripe age of 19. He moved to Colorado and worked for Boulder Beer for 7 years before moving to Madison to brew for Octopi/Untitled Art. He has also backpacked every national park in America.