Lawson E. Whiting’s Post

Traffic dips are still part of the new normal. Focusing on loyalty, experience and efficiencies are a crucial piece of weathering the storm that restaurants have been dealing with. Effective community outreach marketing and menu modification is how Main Squeeze Juice Co. plans to move the needle. How about you? Nation's Restaurant News #restaurantindustry #healthiswealth #leadership

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On behalf of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) I am pleased to announce (over three posts due to character limitations) the first two volumes of a five volume series titled The Inspiring History and Legacies of American Lager Beer are now in production for release in April and July, respectively. Authored by myself, with John Palmer as Editor and Ken Grossman and Richard L. Yuengling Jr. providing series forewords, reaching this milestone after a 16 year long journey is frankly a rather emotional moment in my life, one I never took for granted would ever become a reality – not in terms of units of years but decades. There are so, so, SO many people, who without their talents, support, encouragement and mentoring, this series would ever have seen the light of day. It is why the Acknowledgements section at the end of each volume (consciously provided the epigraph of E Pluribus Unum) is nine pages in length.  The attachment to this post depicts the front covers of these first two volumes. In terms of the proverbial icing on the cake, it is a great honor for this naturalized citizen who as a Canuck, in 1987, first stepped foot in the United States on a very hot and humid summer day in Saint Louis, Missouri to have Ken Grossman and Richard L. Yuengling both graciously pen independent, yet I find, united perspectives as first and sixth-generation American brewers, respectively. Wrote Ken Grossman, the series in his eyes is “unlike anything else ever written on our industry” that it “will stand the testament of time” and “is both a fascinating historical journey into a product that has deep roots in many of our daily lives and the foundation of our country, and the telling of an often-misunderstood story on how the world's most accepted style of beer evolved out of need and necessity". Complimenting these comments. Richard L. Yuengling Jr. wrote in his foreword  how our nation’s brewing heritage and traditions reflects “two American beer revolutions, the birth of adjunct lager brewing in the late 1800’s and the craft brewing renaissance of the 1980’s”. With statements such as these from two industry icons, it's not hard to imagine why their words and tangible support, especially at this stage of my life, touched my soul in a very joyous way. End of Part 1 of 3

Know what to add to your whisky

Continuing the discussion of brands supporting military causes, sometimes the military-centric organization is the catalyst behind the support programs. Soldiers' Angels provides aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families. Through the Soldiers’ Angels Hops for Heroes campaign, the organization rallies support of breweries and home brewers to brew a custom recipe, Homefront IPA (or other Homefront beer), and donate the net proceeds to Soldiers’ Angeles to support US service members, veterans, and their families. Breweries from across the nation sign up to brew their support. This year’s brewery participants include independent and veteran-owned businesses*: 1700 Brewing: Newport News, VA* Alamo Brewing Company: San Antonio, TX Alexandria Brewing Company, LLC: Alexandria, KY* Billsburg Brewery: Williamsburg, VA BUGNUTTY BREWING COMPANY LLC: Cocoa, FL* Center of the Universe Brewing Company: Ashland, VA Down Range Brewery: Canutillo, TX* Friendship Brewing and Distilling Company: Wentzville, MO Great Chicago Fire Brewery & Tap Room: Leesburg, FL Karbach Brewing Co.: Houston, TX West Side Brewing: Cincinnati, OH Breweries participate for a number of reasons. Veterans give back to the military community. Others may not have a military connection, other than a desire to support those who serve. Or maybe they just decided it’s the right thing to do. What drives participation may be altruistic, but there are longer tail marketing benefits, also. Knowing that a brewery supports military causes, chances are the consumer would be more likely to consider trying other offerings from the brewery. It’s a simple blueprint. A brand supports the military. The military community takes note and supports the brand. Wonder what would happen if Anheuser-Busch or MillerCoors would participate in the program. #MilitaryMarketing #Military #Marketing #MilitaryAppreciation

Brewers Choice Awards 2024 Young Brewer of the Year supported by Totally Natural Solutions Ltd There are some incredibly-talented young brewers working in the brewing industry in the UK and Ireland. Some young brewers are running their own operations, others are cutting their teeth working at established outfits. Regardless, these brewers are making their mark on the industry and are certain to have a long, successful career in the field. Young is, also, a subjective term. You are only as old as you feel, of course. But for the purpose of this category, a young brewer is anyone under the age of 33. If you’re submitting an entry on behalf of yourself, tell us about your responsibilities and successes in last 18 months. Here you can also nominate someone that has gained you respect. Maybe it’s a recipe that’s been developed, or the impact made on the company’s operations. Equally, it might involve improvements to quality and consistency thanks to the work carried out in the lab. Again, it might be all of the above! https://lnkd.in/e-G3wFVP

Interesting interview in The Lane Report on the Commonwealth's Bourbon industry with the Kentucky Distillers' Association's Eric Gregory! "It’s tremendous growth. To put it in context, 2009 was the first time the KDA retained Dr. Paul Coomes, then of UofL, to do an economic impact study on what distilling means to Kentucky. We had 19 distilling establishments owned by eight companies at the time. Those eight companies were in three to four counties within “the amber triangle”—Lexington, Louisville, Bardstown. We had a workforce of about 8,000. We were a $3 billion industry for the commonwealth and our payroll was just a couple hundred million dollars. Now there are 42 counties, our payroll has gone above $1.6 billion and 23,000 people owe their paycheck to the bourbon industry. Capital investment has gone through the roof. We didn’t even measure capital investment in the 2009 study because there wasn’t any. We are now on a $5.4 billion building spree and a lot of that is going towards tourism. Bourbon these days is not just a drink: It is jobs and investment and tax revenue and tourism."

In the dynamic landscape of the British brewing industry, a myriad of factors continually shape the fortunes of its major players. As we delve into the current state of affairs, it becomes imperative to scrutinize how the largest brewers in Britain are navigating the challenges and opportunities that define their trajectories. From adapting to changing consumer preferences and market trends to addressing sustainability concerns, these industry giants are not only striving to maintain their positions but also actively shaping the future of brewing. The Grocer takes a look at how Britain's biggest brewers are faring and their plans for the future. https://bit.ly/3U6m7Yt

Last month, our industry reached a significant milestone 🎊 . The recent law allowing direct-to-consumer delivery of spirits in New York is a major win for our industry. This victory wasn’t achieved overnight—it’s the result of years of collaboration, persistent advocacy, and strategic partnerships driven by the New York Distillers Guild and its allies. For distillers, this new opportunity means greater consumer reach and business growth. Moreover, this success highlights something bigger: THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE EFFORT. As a member of the New York Distillers Guild, you’re not just part of an organization—you’re part of a movement that amplifies our industry's voice, influences policy, and opens doors for everyone. Together, we’ve shown what’s possible, and there’s still more to achieve. Want to be a part of this progress? By joining the Guild, you’re aligning yourself with the future of New York spirits. Let’s continue to build on this momentum and shape what comes next. Join us, and let’s keep pushing forward—together.

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