#71: Against the Grain: Building a Brewery

Path to Progress with Paul Heintzman and John Ackerman

Adam Watson, co-founder of Against the Grain Brewery, tells us how Against the Grain has built a global brand based in Louisville, KY.

Some questions answered in this episode:

• Why is your beer put into a four pack with tall cans?
• How did Against the Grain get started?
• What lead you to becoming a brewer?
• What was the process of opening your own brewery?
• What was the climate of the beer industry when you started?
• Why is the beer industry more communal than others?
• Why did you choose not only to be a brewery, but a restaurant as well?
• How do you use your background in law to not only improve your brewery but to help other breweries in the community?
• What are some big issues with Kentucky and National beer laws?
• What are the benefits of being a microbrewery?
• How has Bo & Luke helped you grow as a company?
• What can the public expect from Against the Grain the the next year or two?
• Have there been any big turning points in the company?
• What would you say to a young person who wants to start a brewery?
• How do you develop a new beer?
• Where do you get ideas for new beers?
• How do you judge a beer when you drink it?
• What is the future of beer?
• What is your next goal?
• What was your goal when you started in 2011?

Last call:

• What advice would your 60-year-old self give you today?
  • Take a vacation
• What advice would you give to somebody who wants to be an entrepreneur?
  • Give all the fucks, care about everything
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • On the Upside with Adam Watson
  • Making sense with Sam Harris
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • Tool tickets
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Lagavulin Scotch

Enjoyed this episode? Check out our episode with Ken Grossman, Founder & CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [e-mail]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.