Of course you had an opinion about it. Bavaria being awarded the honour of best beer in the Netherlands this year: the pilsner from the family brewery in Lieshout, which recently took home the Mitra Award. A beer for life's good moments, one that people happily share and keep coming back to. Be honest: isn't that exactly what you dream of as a brewer? Whether you're envious or you look at the news differently - what can you do with this as a brewer, what can you learn from it?
You're one of many: you and 925 others. Entrepreneurs in flavour, but above all in experience. Because the beer you brew is so much more than a carbonated, alcoholic drink in a glass. You probably brew in your own kettles and have your views on all those 'brewers' who have their beer made elsewhere. Maybe you're hands-on at the mash tun yourself, with a solid house recipe. Or - heaven forbid - you started with nothing but a 'wild' idea and a quirky label, with zero financial risk. Warm brewers and gypsy brewers: the total currently stands at 926 breweries in the Netherlands.
How do you stand out as a brewer in 2024?
Your priority is of course to brew beers that your fans love to drink. And to convert consumers in your local area into beer enthusiasts - people who hold your brand close to their hearts, because you involve them in your brewery. You run, or are thinking about, your own brewpub. Or you're finding routes to sell through local hospitality venues, off-licences, or supermarkets. You do all of this through hard work and dedication, in a cost-efficient way.
And as if that weren't already complicated enough, there are also plenty of external challenges you have to deal with. How is the repayment of COVID support going? Have you found your way through all the fuss around deposit schemes, excise duties, and the other regulatory pressure you feel from the government? Running a brewery is no walk in the park - you really have to want it. Now more than ever.
Entrepreneurship and craft
Navigating all these hazards requires skilful seamanship: entrepreneurship. And it assumes that you have mastered your craft as a brewer to a high level - so that the quality of your product is beyond any doubt: beer that people love to drink. With pleasure and without worry. Beer that pubs, off-licences, and supermarkets can actually sell, because consumers want to come back for more.
To stand out as a brewery you need far more than just an award. It starts with beer that meets high quality standards in every possible way. But that should really be a no-brainer for all 926 breweries in the Netherlands, don't you think?
You won't stand out if you don't have the basics in order: all the processes and factors that ultimately determine whether enthusiasts and trade customers get genuine pleasure from your beer. (In a positive sense, at least.) Quality management is the foundation for differentiation for every brewery. Ideally not as extra work, but embedded in the day-to-day running of your brewery - as natural as brushing your teeth.
Quality without worry
Are you looking for a practical, cost-efficient way to take quality seriously in your brewery? Follow this blog. We'll take you through smarter ways to get your core business under control: brewing beers to the highest technical and qualitative level. But in a way that doesn't turn the work into more work. Because every craft brewer's drive is to make their beer just a little bit better each time. Ideas for a sustainable solution that maximises the quality of how you work and the beer you brew - with minimal headaches and at a fair price.