OSU-Cascades hosts second PACE craft brewery startup workshop
Oregon State University's Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) is offering a second Craft Brewery Startup Workshop beginning September 2014 at OSU-Cascades in Bend. Participants will learn how to start and run a successful brewery from industry professionals. Instructors includes professionals from Ninkasi Brewing Company of Eugene, Karnopp Peterson LLP of Bend, Portland Kettle Works and Briess Malt & Ingredients of Chilton, Wis.
“I think [the workshop] will be a good holistic look at what it really takes to be a part of this growing and dynamic industry,” Ninkasi co-founder and CEO Nikos Ridge said.
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to two brewhouses, a 55-barrel and a 90-barrel brewhouse, located in Eugene, Ore. Ninkasi’s Flagship beers—Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Believer Double Red, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout—are sold throughout Oregon; Alaska; California; Idaho; Montana; Washington; Nevada; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The brewery remains privately-owned.
In the upcoming workshop, Ridge and Floyd will lead a day of lessons and host the final discussion panel where Ninkasi professionals will share their experiences and answer questions about the brewery business, processes and culture.
Participants will have the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs, beer enthusiasts and professional beer brewers while learning to create a sustainable business plan. The workshop will cover best practices for growing and marketing a brewery, capital and infrastructure, and current industry trends.
The inaugural workshop in 2013 attracted more than 40 students who traveled from as far away as Taiwan to take part in the five-day, immersion workshop at OSU-Cascades. Many of the participants went on to open successful brewery startups and distribution businesses.
Participant Kevin Cuffe of Fort Point Beer Company in San Francisco wrote in a recent email, “In short, we are pleased with our progress and consider that the Craft Brewery Startup Workshop was an enormously useful step in our concept, planning and execution processes.”
For more information, or to register for the Craft Brewery Startup Workshop, go to pace.oregonstate.edu/brewerystartup, email learn@oregonstate.edu or call PACE at 541-737-4197.
