Great Notion and the future of the Beer industry

Great Notion: A brewery that introduced the PNW to it’s first Hazy IPA

While seltzers are the hot new thing on the market, there are still plenty of us that love to go out and enjoy a nice beer or IPA. Drinking responsibly in a social environment is a pastime that is quite popular amongst all, and it is even more enjoyable when the brewery offers a wide selection of tasty and refreshing beer. I still remember years ago hearing about a sour cherry IPA from a place called Great Notion brewing and I knew I just had to try it out. While it has been awhile since I last had their delicious IPAs, I am happy to report that they have grown quite a bit since I last went, and business seems to only be getting better for them.

Great Notion Brewing and the evolution of the company

What happens when you have three close friends with a passion for home brewing and an itch to start something new? Now I know what you’re thinking, “Oh another brewery, how brilliant” but this was not just another brewery. James Dugan, Andy Miller and Paul Reiter were determined to introduce a new and more creative brewery into the Portland market. Through many successful trials and some raised capital, Great Notion was officially a go! They were even the first to introduce Hazy IPAs in the Pacific northwest. Their business became a local favorite and have won multiple awards since they’ve opened their doors. In the year 2020, they created a new app that allowed them to increase their revenue. With the app, they are able to deliver their products to 13 states! The company was especially able to grow the way it did during the pandemic since more and more people were drinking.?

Threats to the Industry

It’s no question that the cost of beer is starting to rise nationwide but I wanted to dig more deep into finding out why that is. Hops, one of the main ingredients in beer, are becoming harder to grow as severe heat waves and drought purge nationwide. It is making it difficult to price beer lower for consumers when one of the main ingredients continues to rise and to make matters worse, another key ingredient is facing a shortage which is causing the price of beer to rise even more. The unsung hero ingredient of beer, carbon dioxide, started facing shortages during the pandemic and since then it has been harder and more expensive to obtain. Carbon dioxide is what gives beer its iconic bubbles and helps oxidizes to allow for the perfect taste. Which rise of costs in ingredients, as well as inflation and rise in labor costs, has been a threat to Great Notion, says CEO Paul Reiter.?

Differentiating themselves from the competition

It’s no secret that Portland has quite the selection in breweries, but what makes Great Notion different? Well they have always made an effort to differentiate themselves from the rest, after all they were the first to introduce the hazy IPA to the PNW but they also have a unique selection of sours and stouts that are as delicious as they sound. Another differentiating factor for them is the way they deliver their business to the consumer. Most breweries, you simply walk in and order what you want to drink, maybe even eat if they offer food and once finished you leave. With Great Notion, while they have a couple brick and mortar stores, most of their business happens online and through their one of a kind app service that delivers their products directly to the consumer. They even have a subscription service for their products. As Paul said in the interview they strive to #keepbeerfun.

Conclusion

Great Notion has a bright future ahead of them. Introducing the Hazy IPA has been a huge success for their company and while external factors have affected a few things with the business industry, it won’t stop the beer industry from moving forward.

Sources:

Interview with the CEO of Great Notion

Bitter times ahead! How climate change spells disaster for your favourite beer. (2023, July 13). Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/how-climate-change-affects-craft-beer-wildfire-barley-supply-crisis-101689250381121.html

Chappell, B. (2022, September 22). Your beer needs carbon dioxide, but the price skyrocketed over the summer. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/09/22/1124491808/beer-carbon-dioxide-shortage

#Keepbeerfun. Quote from my interview with the CEO of great notion Paul Reiter.?

?“world’s first significant brewery mobile app” from my interview with the CEO of Great Notion