Some examples of the stickers, labels, and beer labels my wife and I have come up with for our brewery over the last couple years. For context, we are in a small logging town in the Idaho Panhandle and the local culture revolves around the many lakes and rivers, fishing, hunting, and the logging industry. The fishing related ones have been the most popular. Show us some of your creative marketing material or Tell us what are some of your ideas!

Some of my best friends I still have in my life as a (almost) 40 year old man were made with the help of alcohol. As as young student at University of Idaho, I was a small, meek, stoic introvert trying to find my path through the beginnings of adulthood. The party culture was still very much alive in 2004-2009 when I was there. Huge house parties happened every weekend whether it was with my fellow fish and wildlife classmates, snowboard club peeps, or random people I met freshman year in the dorms. There wasn't drugs, marijuana was usually relegated to a small group that smoked up a room or outside with eachother, and making friends was easy. It never felt unsafe or repetitive. It was fun, and it was how we bonded together. When people assume i must LOVE beer, and that's why i started my own brewery, they're wrong. I enjoy beer, I do love the taste and how it makes me feel, but the thing that I actually LOVE is the atmosphere and social bonding it creates. Try drinking a beer you love in a basement alone vs drinking a beer on a sunny day sitting riverside with a few good friends and you'll see what I mean. Recently the FDA changed their recommendations regarding alcohol for adults. They now recognize that social health is a thing that shouldnt be ignored. I also saw this clip from Scott Galloway on Mahers podcast that I found really interesting. Thoughts? https://youtu.be/BeTLZasgWS4?si=mE2hc0gIkE3UX-fB

Be Honest, how many of you would start your own brewery if given the option? Not be in charge of some else’s brewery, but real ownership?

It's hard to find good help! Today Im posting on the brewery's socials looking for someone to hire. Ive been stuck in the trap of thinking that by me working at the taphouse more we've been better off financially during this slower season. However, it's reminded us again that I as the owner and brewer need to be workoing ON the business and not IN it. I can't sustainably be managing the taphouse, playing bartender, AND brew all the beer (brewing is one day, then you have cleaning, packaging, delivery etc.). I don't have enough time in the week for everything. I havnt fallen behind YET in beer production because I havent NEEDED to brew anymore than a couple times since December, but winter will end eventually... So today we're starting to look for another server so I can get at least one more work day of mine back. Wish me luck. In a town of 2600 , the pool of applicants can be shallow.

it’s been one hell of a December for us at my brewery. 🍼My wife is expecting our third boy in April, this creates a feeling in the back of our mind that amplifies every set back, every slow day of business, everybody unexpected cost. 🚐We had to trade in her paid off vehicle for something with third row. 💨The first week we were hit with a snowstorm and she drove into the ditch. 💸We were hoping to be able to wait to buy studded snow tires, but after that we had to, $1500 on a credit card 💸💸💸The next week my trucks transmission went out, several weeks of one vehicle and $7600 on a credit card. A huge windstorm took out our sons trampoline, blew away our dog kennel and fence, bbq grill, and knocked out our power for 4 days Couldn’t get any kegging or canning done due to no power ⚖️We got a notice that since hiring our first employee in June we forgot to get workers comp insurance and may be fined up to 4000 dollars. My wife feels terrible about this one because she was going through it at one point and we decided we didn’t need that first employee in early summer and then forgot to do it for the later ones. The state decided to raise all alcohol related fees and licenses by 60 percent.!! That special time of year where my wife has to do quarterly taxes, reporting, and end of year reports all at the same time Meanwhile we’re trying to give my sons a good Christmas 🤮And now our whole house is sick with a cold from hell… But I never lost sight of how lucky I am that I took that leap and started this brewery. In my previous life I would be working for a wage stuck in a hotel away from home, or delivering Amazon packages 12 hours a day 6 days a week until Christmas Eve. Making my wife deal with all the unexpected problems of life at home, and no matter what you’re doing they will come. The freedom, and flexibility affords me to be there To tackle the problems as they arise To pick my son up from school so my wife can continue working on her reports To hug my wife when she gets a bad news email, or an unexpected bill drains the account