This is a part of a continuing series of Q&As with members of the brewing community from across the US. Brewer Magazine will share business and personal insights from Brewmasters, Head Brewers, Brewing Managers, Sales Directors, QCQA Managers and others each weekend to help you get to know each other better in the industry and learn more to better develop your own brand.
Chris Goulet , Managing Partner, Birdsong Brewing — Charlotte
BREWER: What inspired you to start your brewery, and how has your original vision evolved over time?
GOULET: I was very impressed by the Asheville beer community and their bootstrap method of starting small businesses. Charlotte didn’t really have a brewery scene at the time and it seemed like a big gap. Now I realize that developing the people in the company is even more important than the product.
BREWER: What has been your most successful strategy for navigating challenges like rising ingredient costs or economic downturns?
GOULET: We’ve always kept our pricing better than industry average and tried to focus on efficient production and highly productive sales reps. That focus works in both up markets and down markets.
BREWER: In the face of an evolving craft beer landscape, what significant changes have you noticed, and how has your brewery adapted to remain relevant?
GOULET: We stay true to our brand as much as possible. We have adapted by offering more choices in the tap room and scaling up our lower ABV offerings in the wholesale channel.
BREWER: What are you sippin’ on right now from your brewery that you really enjoy?
GOULET: Wake Up Porter, a delicious coffee, vanilla porter which plays the role of our winter seasonal.
READ MORE: Wrangling Watermelon a Key in Birdsong’s Wheat Release
BREWER: What trends in the craft beer industry do you think are worth investing in over the next few years?
GOULET: None. This business is full of the next great idea, which sometimes lasts a month, a quarter, or even a year or two. People have been drinking beer for at least 5,000 years, since the Sumerians. Execute well on that concept and you should be OK.
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