How do you as a brewer identify trends, evaluate their potential resonance with your customers, then develop and deploy your own beers in response? This panel discussion with leading Portland brewers Ben Edmunds of Breakside, James Dugan of Great Notion, and Sam Pecoraro of Von Ebert—recorded at Great Notion as part of our most recent New Brewery Accelerator workshop—explores that very question.

Along the way, they discuss:

separating the signal from the noise in feedback data
maintaining a brewery identity despite changing trends
considering the consumer and leading with enthusiasm
technical processes around developing and testing new ideas
developing a palate and means of understanding and deconstructing other beers
the arc of imitation and adaptation
TTB challenges in using atypical ingredients
staff and consumer feedback processes
the importance of great front of house staff to explain and promote trendy beers

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

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250: Breakside’s Ben Edmunds, Great Notion’s James Dugan, and Von Ebert’s Sam Pecoraro Dissect Trendy Beers and Innovation

Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast