EP-136 Clay Robinson of Sun King Brewing

So many breweries in start-up mode have a crystal clear vision for their
future. But as they mature, and as the market shifts, and as those early
days start to feel farther and farther away, we find out what a brewery is
really made of. Do they stick with that adolescent firebrand kind of
rhetoric? Or do they adopt a more practical outlook on what’s possible—and
even desirable—for a craft brewery? For most, it’s somewhere in between.

In today’s market, a more diverse set of business models are available than
ever before. Factor in changing state laws and consumer demand, and that
vision for what a craft brewer can be is evolving quickly. What previously
seemed counter to craft now seems perfectly permissible—encouraged, even.
Just look at how the conversation around contract brewing—now oftentimes
referred to as "gypsy" brewing—has shifted over time.

That’s an easy one, but what about things like cold storage? Staying local?
And the recent interest in employee ownership and what they says about
succession planing? Are we open to our ideas on those opinions changing
too? We better be.

Today’s guest is Clay Robinson of Sun King, a guy who’s gone on the record
early and often about what he would and wouldn’t do. And today, most of
that, in hindsight, was short-sighted. But he’s not letting it hold him
back. Instead, he’s casting off the burden of his former outlook and
working hard to embrace a future where he thinks practically about his
business, adopts a never-say-never attitude, and starts looking at things
like grocery chains, conventional distribution, ESOP and acquisitions pros
and cons, even distilling, as his potential growth plan going forward.

This conversation is a wild ride through so many of the issues small
breweries are wrestling with today, and Clay handles it with an uncanny
transparency. I’m thankful I got a chance to sit down with him and hash out
the details.