EP-200 Andy Parker + Colin Quinn of Avery Brewing Co.

Today’s episode is one of those where just a couple weeks difference in
when we actually sat down with each other would have dramatically
transformed the focus of the conversation.

For anyone who’s been paying attention to Avery, you certainly know it’s
been a couple years of transformation for the brewery, as they took on a
minority investment of Mahou San Miguel, completely reconfigured their
portfolio to better align with market trends, and launched a visual
re-brand. Of course, all these changes involved some personel movement, as
their COO left in May and a half dozen folks were laid off. Before that,
the prior COO had left to join Ska brewing. So it’s safe to say that since
the Mahou San Miguel deal, there’s been a lot going on at Avery.

And my guests today, Andy Parker, their CHIEF BARREL HERDER, and Colin
Quinn, their special projects brewers are in a unique position to talk
about how that effected the most important part of Avery’s operation - the
brewing.

Which beers should Avery be making, for which markets? in what formats? how
simple can a portfolio in 2018 be? how critical is newness? and what are
they gonna do with all that capacity after a major expansion?

Well, what we didn’t know at the time of this interview was that Founders
Brewing based in Grand Rapids Michigan, would need some help brewing All
Day IPA, a brand that continues to set the pace for growth in craft. Like
Avery, Founders is partially owned by Mahou San Miguel, so what could have
been a major albatross for Avery, all that extra capacity, debt, and a slow
transformation back to growth became a chance to support the larger system
of brands under the family banner, and both benefit from the opportunity.
It’s bizarre for Avery fans to consider, but Mahou San Miguel and brewing
All Day IPA might just be the difference between having or not having an
Avery Brewing Company at all.

So what will they do with that bonus time afforded by those relationships?
Time will tell. But in this interview, you’ll hear about the shift in the
brewing side, how the team is regrouping and what they’re excited about in
Avery’s brewing future.