A descendent of a traditional barrel cooper family in Ireland follows an unconventional albeit scientific path to bourbon country, USA. The result? Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Craft Beer! Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company in Kentucky is making inroads into the Northeast craft beer producing corridor. And it’s flagship, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, leads the way⎯Becoming “the little engine that could.”

 

There is certainly no shortage of good craft beer brewed in the Northeast. But in a saturated marketplace, sometimes good is not good enough. Yes. There are hundreds of very good IPA’s that sell-in and sell-through the point of sale. Also, there are a few that are so difficult to come by, as soon as they appear⎯They’re gone! Case in point, Lawson’s Finest “Sip of Sunshine” IPA.

 

Today, retailers are looking for standout point-of-difference as craft breweries seeking expansion compete for limited tap lines and shelf space.

 

Shore Discount Retail Beer Manager, Nathan Howley and LaMott sit down for a podcast roundtable chat with Alltech’s Lexington Brewery and Distillery Company’s sales representative, Patrick Sullivan and Alex Foulkes, Owner and Operator of the famed Penny Lane Pub in Old Saybrook, CT.

 

“I’ve been in this business for a long time,” Patrick says. “You can be the most magical sales rep in the world, and know everybody! But if your beer isn’t good, you can’t do anything with it.

I’m old school. Before the craft beer explosion. When I first started out in the beer business with Harpoon Brewery, you didn’t just walk into a pub like Penny Lane and expect an audience. You had to work hard to develop relationships. This is not much different than it is today. The only difference is that, today⎯When you walk into a place with a craft beer, someone is gonna give you an audience.

They want to see what you have because they realize the popularity of what craft beer has become.”

 

Alex chimes in, “From my side, I get a lot of people coming in⎯Trying to sell everything. You have to have a point-of difference. Even still, I get so many IPA’s coming in.

Everybody’s like, ‘This is our great IPA! It’s a West Coast! It’s an East Coast!’

Whatever. I don’t have enough room for all of your IPA’s.

This is my process. First, I try to understand the concept of the beer. And, then the story. Then, I taste the beer. Okay! It’s really good! This is gonna sell!”

“Some products sit on the shelf and don’t go anywhere,” Nate adds.  “And others, constantly move all of the time. This (Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale) is one that does move. It’s a great beer, and⎯people keep coming back for it!”

And LaMott? He keeps coming back for the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout.

Listen or download this podcast for a deeper dive inside Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Craft Beer!