Today on Consuming the Craft, I sat down with Julian, the founder of Outsider Brewing Company, to discuss his unique perspective on the craft brewery business model. Julian shared his insights on the challenges and drawbacks of pursuing large-scale growth in the industry, advocating instead for smaller, more resilient business models that focus on market development and building strong customer relationships.

Co-founder of Outsider, Julian caught the brewing bug at the young age of 17, brewing batches in his basement. From there, he fell in love with beer and brewing and never looked back. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, he moved to Vancouver for his first brewing gig. In those years, he learned that brewing is more than just making good beer; it also involves sharing it with others.

He eventually moved to North Carolina and became a head brewer at the age of 23. It was during that time he first began dreaming of a way to showcase the beauty of brewing & beer to people. The first iterations of the glass system were born in 2017 and were very small; it was taken on hikes, to parks, and rock-climbing fields. He brewed small batches as hikers & climbers passed by and answered their questions about what the heck he was doing. After this proof of concept, he began working on designing a full-blown commercial glass brewing system, and Outsider Brewing was born.

"Our tap room is interactive and open to collaborations with other breweries. We have an upcoming collaboration with Noble cider to create a beer mead hybrid, which is really exciting." ~Julian

Today on Consuming the Craft:

·     Large-scale growth may not be the best aspiration for craft breweries; smaller, resilient business models are more sustainable.

·     Educating consumers about the beer-making process and the challenges faced by small-scale breweries is crucial.

·     Collaborations with other breweries, such as the upcoming beer mead hybrid with Noble cider, foster innovation and creativity.

·     Julian's journey from homebrewing to establishing Outsider Brewing Company showcases the importance of passion and perseverance in the craft.

·     The synergy between bartenders and brewers at Outsider Brewing Company creates a unique and interactive experience for customers.

·     The tap room serves as a platform to build a community around the craft and share the passion for brewing with others.

·     Transparency in the brewing process and the personal connection consumers feel with the product set Outsider Brewing Company apart.

·     Outsider Brewing Company's success, despite challenges like bad weather, demonstrates the strength of their community and the appeal of their unique approach.

Contact Julian:

Outsider Brewing Company

This episode is brought to you by…

McConnell Farms - Taste the Way You Remember. Enjoy homemade ciders and ice cream made from only the best produce on the market. Visit the McConnell Farms website to learn more about our seasonal inventory and the delicious creations you can make with our homegrown produce.

Consuming the Craft

Thanks for tuning into this week’s Consuming the Craft Podcast episode, brought to you by AB Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more craft beverage enthusiasts.

To learn more about AB Tech and the Craft Beer Institute of the Southeast, visit our website.