Vistage members “care about each other and each other’s success,” he says. In addition to asking his group for advice on financial, legal and operations issues, he turned to Vistage speakers and the peer network for business guidance.
Throughout this process, Kenary used his Vistage group as a sounding board. The team of employees behind Harpoon Brewery This was an unusual move in his industry only a handful of breweries have adopted private ownership in lieu of selling out to big guys like Budweiser or Heineken - and even fewer with such a high percentage employee ownership. To that end, Kenary had to structure and complete a buy-out transaction with Doyle before giving 48 percent of the company to its employees. During these times of transition, Kenary turned to his Vistage group for insight and advice.įor example, in 2014, Kenary and co-owner Rich Doyle decided that they would make Harpoon an employee-owned company. “We’ve always been the tiny guys who have targets on our backs, whether it was the big brewers questioning what we were trying to do early on, or local microbreweries changing the landscape of our competition.” The Vistage sounding boardĭespite the constants of high-quality production, good beer and solid relationships, Harpoon has experienced hiccups along the way. Then in the ’90s, the term changed to “craft beer,” which gave the brewery an opportunity to change how it presented itself.Įven today, Kenary and his team “constantly adjust and hone our brand” to remain competitive. This Harpoon IPA beer tap handle is in excellent condition.It measures 8 1/2' in length and weighs just over 8 oz. In the late 1980s, no one really knew what microbrewed beer was. Marketing and sales has been crucial to Harpoon’s success since its inception, Kenary says. Whether it’s tap-handle space in a bar or cooler space in a grocery store, it is fiercely competitive.” “We’re talking about a product that is dependent on shelf life and space. “I would say this market is unprecedentedly competitive,” he explains. Despite this growth in numbers, Kenary says that it’s the bars and stores carrying the product - as opposed to the breweries themselves - that have heightened the competition most.
Today, there are more than 4,000 nationwide.
“After those first five years in business - and learning about the business - we felt we were on the right trajectory and solidly established for the long haul.” Marketing in a competitive marketĪccording to Kenary, when Harpoon made its debut, there were fewer than 50 breweries in the United States. “Other than a few years in the late ’90s, it has really been a positive environment for craft beer,” says Kenary. He and his two business partners embarked on the microbrew industry just before it started growing, and that gave the team an early edge in the market. Insurance is included on UPS and Fedex shipments. While the brewery’s ownership, processes and beer offerings have changed since then, Harpoon Oktoberfest has remained a constant (and constantly growing) affair.ĭan Kenary, Harpoon’s CEO and one of its three founders, acknowledges the role of timing in the longevity of a microbrewery business. Harpoon IPA Tap Handle About 14 1/2' Used but good condition Accept Paypal and Money orders only. The celebration, which the founders thought might serve as a farewell party, turned into a huge event that solidified Harpoon’s place among Boston’s then-emerging beer scene.
Better yet, join our Friends of Harpoon program to stay in the know! We are grateful to everyone who contributed so much to the Harpoon Barbeque Festival.In 1990, four years after opening its doors, Boston’s Harpoon Brewery celebrated its first Harpoon Oktoberfest, despite early growing pains and uncertainty about the brewery’s future. Keep an eye out on our website and Facebook page for the latest news and activities from Harpoon.
Harpoon ipa tap handle full#
We remain dedicated to barbeque (and – of course – beer!) and will shift from a full Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned festival format to serving up barbeque in the Beer Garden from our own competition-grade Humphrey’s Smoker and we will be looking to host competition BBQ teams occasionally throughout the year.
Harpoon ipa tap handle how to#
These factors have led us to reconsider how to celebrate this wonderful food and beer pairing. Production of the event has become more challenging. Throughout the years, competition teams and festival goers have continued to create and enjoy unparalleled BBQ, however attendance has gradually declined. Since its founding in 2001, this festival has been a beloved summer weekend for beer and barbeque lovers.
Harpoon ipa tap handle update#
Harpoon Barbeque Festival: An Update The Harpoon Brewery will not be producing the Harpoon Barbeque Festival in Windsor, VT in 2023.
0 kommentar(er)
