026 - Purchasing an Existing Brewery: Financial Options & Challenges

The Start A Brewery Podcast

Finance is always a critical component of business discussions, and this is no exception. We talked about the numbers in episodes 19, 20 & 23, and we do so again here with Purchasing an Existing Brewery. Our guests address determining the value of an existing brewery, what kind of financial due diligence they would recommend, how an existing business can shift the focus of the SBA and lending institutions, and more. Coming from three different spaces in the craft beer industry, Derek Wasak of Plato Brewing & Consulting, Kary Shumway of Beer Business Finance, and Scott Birkner of Dogwood State Bank share their thoughts and experience around navigating the financial aspects of purchasing an existing brewery in today’s market.

Derek Wasak, Founder & Managing Director, Plato Brewing & Consulting

With over 15 years of brewing industry experience, Derek Wasak can help you start up, expand and succeed. He has worked at and with breweries, brewpubs, and start ups of all sixes from 3 – 120bbl brew houses and cellars from 2-100+ Fermenters.

With a specialization in start ups, equipment selection, facility design, and advising breweries of 5000 barrels or less, Derek has the knowledge, skills, and experience to help your brewery in planning.

Derek has spent the last 11 years as head brewer and director of operations at smaller breweries where he has designed and built out entire brewing facilities, beer portfolios, managed operations, and distribution on a day to day basis. In 2020, he made the decision to step away from brewery operations to start Plato Brewing, utilize that experience to pursue consulting full time, and help breweries plan their businesses. Derek is passionate about what he does and enjoys helping others realize their dream of opening a brewery.

Kary Shumway, Founder, Craft Brewery Financial Training & Beer Business Finance

Kary is a CPA, former CFO for a beer distributor, and current CFO for Wormtown Brewery in Worcester, MA. He has worked in the beer industry for more than 20 years as a certified public accountant, and extends his experience to help others through his small businesses.

Scott Birkner, Vice President & Business Lending Specialist, Dogwood State Bank

Scott began his finance career immediately following college, where he worked for Unity Bank and held several progressive positions, from a loan underwriter to a Regional Sales Manager, and then commercial lender. Following this, he became a SBA Business Development Officer, where his portfolio projects ranged from $500,000 - $15,000,000. Scott comes to Dogwood State Bank with over 20 years of SBA Lending, having served as a Senior Business Development Officer for HVC Bank, United Western Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of North Carolina (now Pinnacle), Yadkin Bank (now First National Bank), and United Community Bank. Scott specializes in financing business acquisitions, start-ups, expansions, refinances, partner buyouts and commercial real estate on a nationwide platform. He is passionate about forming relationships with his clients and anticipating their needs throughout the duration of the loan process. Scott is a member of the CVBBA (Carolinas Virginia Business Brokers Association) Brewers Association, America Craft Distillers Association, American Distilling Institute and many State Guilds. He is a frequent speaker, panelist and moderator at business broker events, commercial real estate events, lending conferences, seminars and SBA industry training.

About StartABrewery

StartABrewery is a collaboration amongst a fun group of craft beer industry veterans who are often invited to speak at beer business / brewing education programs. Each has offered to share their knowledge and experience to support the craft beer community as a whole by helping fledgling breweries in planning. Conceived and coordinated by Candace L. Moon, The Craft Beer Attorney, and Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs, StartABrewery is provided as an educational resource for those dreaming of opening a brewery, those who are taking steps to make their dream a reality, and those who are opening their brewery doors and living it.

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license