There is no such thing as “just one beer!”

May 26, 1969, on that day I sold my first case of beer (Coors) in Dallas at Willowbrook Distributing as a summer college job.  Now, 43 years later, selling beer I decided to blog on today’s beer industry.  So just who am I and why am I now starting this beer blog?

Today there exists a number of fine publications within our industry such as Beer Marketeer’s Insights and Beer Business Daily.  I have read these for years while admiring their articles and information, however our industry today is in what is best described as an evolution  (some may describe it as a revolution).  I feel it’s time to really talk about the underlying issues that we are facing today.  These issues have defined our industry for decades yet many continue to fester from both the inside and outside.  I intend to bring these topics out in the open, “unplugged,” where there can be honest discussion and opinions without serving any “special industry interests.”  It is not my intent to make anyone angry or upset, although I assume this will happen, it is, however, my intent to “call it like it is” and give you something to really to think about.

You may be thinking just what qualifies someone like me to write this and future editorials.  Of my years in the beer business I have held almost every possible position and done almost every job  in the industry.  Let’s take a walk. I started as a route helper, then salesman, to route supervisor, sales manager, VP Sales, Ex. VP and General Manager and finally owner and President.  That was in the first 20 years, and all with wholesalers, except for a short time with Lone Star Brewing Co. as a district manager.  Since then I worked as an industry consultant, VP of a contract brewery, in sales and wholesaler management with the Gambrinus company, Corporate Director of Malt beverages with a large Wine and Spirits Co. and finally President of Warsteiner  importers agency.  During this time I also worked at Coors in Distributor Development and just finished establishing Krombacher in the US.

So what have I seen and done?  I was a test market for the first Coors Light, I lived through and lost my Schlitz distributorship as the brewery was sold and then died, I helped build and operate the 5th largest Coors distributorship the US, I saw a brown bottle Corona explode due to a simple package change, I was on the ground floor of the Oregon craft revolution, I was part of some of the key lawsuits of the 90’s, I won almost every major supplier award as a wholesaler, I introduced and rolled out many products, some nationally, and I was on many state industry associations and boards.  Obviously I can’t document everything I’ve been involved with in this column however I will be discussing many of these in future editorials.

The content of the future editorials will be based on fact, what I’ve actually seen and lived through and experienced.  I bring a perceptive that very few can bring.  In fact, my friends at New Belgium brewery have encourged me to write a book and I may do so someday, but for now I’ll write the book on these pages.  I also intend to write about the people I have met and worked with over the years.  People you probably haven’t heard about, but were key contributors to the industry who were never in the spot light.  I think you may find that interesting.

I hope these editorials are thought provoking and provide you with another view.  I’d like to hear from you on each column and future topics.  Finally remember “There is no such thing as just one beer!”