WV Craft Brewers Guild views move to greater activity
July 29, 2016
Praise for the past leadership and big plans for the future were the topics of conversation at this week’s planning meeting of the West Virginia Craft Brewers Guild. The guild’s mood was very upbeat as members met Tuesday at Stonewall Jackson Resort near Weston.
Plans discussed included increasing guild membership and hiring an executive director. With as many as seven new breweries poised to come on-line this year, the consensus was bullish for the prospects of growth. With this kind of industry expansion comes the opportunity to turn the trade association in a more professional direction.
In the past, the organization was not staffed and all work was done by members on a volunteer basis. Words of praise were heard for the accomplishments of the original guild officers, especially Brian Arnett of Mountain State Brewing and Ken Linch of Bridge Brew Work, for their huge contributions on the legislative front.
Now, the guild seems ready to make a natural progression to a professionally staffed operation that can take on a wider variety of projects. At first, the position will likely take the form of a contract for part-time services. Members were encouraged to submit names of individuals or firms that might be interested in taking on an executive director assignment.
Guild members are contacting all current breweries and breweries-in-planning to update them on the plans and to recruit their involvement.
Next Brewers Guild meeting in August
The guild will meet again August 22 to further its work. All WV breweries are invited to attend. That meeting will take place at Big Timber Brewing Company in Elkins. Among the agenda items will be putting together a more formal executive director job description, electing members and officers to the Guild’s board of directors, and formalizing an updated membership fee structure.
The excitement for guild growth appears to be spreading. The day after this week’s meeting Sam Mauzy of Big Timber Brewing said he already had three of the new breweries-in-planning commit to join the guild. With 16 breweries already fully state-licensed, the number could climb to 23 by the end of 2016.
It is clear that WV’s brewing industry is finally reaching the critical mass needed for it to be viewed by others as a real industry in the state. It seems only appropriate that the Brewers Guild take a big step up and begin acting like the important player it is in the West Virginia economy.
More info on executive director position
Expressions of interest in receiving more information on the Guild’s executive director position should be sent to Sam Mauzy at sam@bigtimberbrewing.com or to Lincoln Wilkins of Blackwater Brewing Co. at bwbrewing@hotmail.com.
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2 comments on “WV Craft Brewers Guild views move to greater activity”
Bradford Deel
July 29, 2016 at 3:23 pmI am certainly a proponent of a professional level brewer’s guild in West Virginia. I think a professional brewer’s guild presents multiple opportunities to expand the brewing industry in West Virginia. The difficulties I foresee are:
1. Convincing all brewers that it is in their interest to contribute to a professional guild. Operating it won’t be cheap. They’ll need to hire someone competent as the Executive Director and they’ll need to fund an office and they’ll need to fund marketing materials.
2. Deciding what they want in an Executive Director. Do they want someone who’s primary background is in marketing? Is the main purpose of the guild commercial promotion of West Virginia brewers? Or, do they want someone to provide a liaison between brewers and distributors as well as acting a s a lobbyist for the guild?
3. Articulating a distinct benefit for membership. I wish I could recall where I heard this but the principle is simple: If everyone receives a benefit, but no one is required to pay to receive the benefit, then no one will pay for the benefit. So, for example, if the guild engages in lobbying activity that benefits all West Virginia brewers, why should I, as a brewer, contribute to that effort? Why shouldn’t I contribute zero since I’ll benefit from any legislative changes anyway?
Charles Bockway
July 30, 2016 at 9:32 amAll strong points Brad. These are things any new industry trade group has to overcome. For we enthusiasts, who are not pro brewers, it’s still important to share our thoughts, wishes and ideas with Brewers Guild members. They have proven themselves good at brewing, but as a trade association, they are just feeling their way and can use all the support they can get from us.