I kind of dropped off the map there for a little bit, as I’ve been reorienting a bit after the beer tasting party at Play|Date a few weekends ago. The tasting was a success, turnout was massive (over 50 people showed up!), lots of happy folks tried the full range of beers, and Abby from Nom*Ables brought some excellent treats for everyone—including a plum cake made using my stout! Megalith even got our first few checkins on Untappd, which is a nice little milestone! There were some technical problems at the start of the event, though – certainly things to chalk up in the ‘lessons learned’ category, mistakes that it will be easy to avoid in the future.

Speaking of lessons learned, here’s a great article I found today, with feedback from a whole bunch of brewers around the US giving their top tips for starting a small craft brewery:

“61 Brewers Speak Out: What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting a Brewery”

I think my biggest takeaway from that is that it’s good to see I’m not the only one planning to start extremely small, and that I need to have a solid growth plan in mind when I’m seeking out locations. I keep expecting this to start very small, and to stay that way indefinitely, but I should be prepared for the distinct possibility that this plan of mine might actually take off (such thinking tends to go against my better nature, unfortunately).

Future stuff: I’m currently in the planning stages for the next Tasting Party, which should coincide with the launch of a Kickstarter project to get the funds necessary to take the next legal steps (which include signing a lease, applying for the necessary permits, and procuring the equipment & furniture I’ll need to open up). In the meantime, I’m also fine-tuning the details on a Founder’s Club, which is going to be the first real step toward greater fund-raising goals. Keep checking here for more details, and if you’re interested in investing in Megalith please let me know, and I’ll keep you in the loop as plans continue to develop.

We’ve been busy making a lot of beer this month, and we really want to share it with all of you. We may not be a licensed brewery yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give our beer away, so that’s what we’re going to do! Megalith Brewing is teaming up with The Steep and Thorny Way To Heaven to bring you an introductory sampling of our beers this June 8th from 6-9 pm. Steep and Thorny will be hosting their regularly-scheduled Play|Date event, where attendees can take part in impromptu readings from different theater scripts, and Megalith Brewing will be there providing free beer samples!

This introductory party will give you a chance to try first-hand the selection and range of beers that Megalith Brewing will have to offer when our taproom opens. We’ll be serving our three pillar beers – our Stout, Red Ale, and Pale Ale – as well as a surprise or two! To join the party, simply ‘Like’ our Facebook page and RSVP to the event so we can put your name on the list at the door. It’s a private party, so being on the guest list is required – bringing friends is great, but try to get them to RSVP as well! Once you’re in, you’ll be given a number of drink tokens which you’ll be able to redeem for free 4-ounce samples of our excellent, fresh, low-hopped English ales. Beer is available while supplies last. We’ll also be gladly accepting donations to help us get our official brewery plans underway!
More details on the event at Steep and Thorny can be found at their Facebook page, and be sure to RSVP!

Megalith Brewing will be a nanobrewery operating a 1.5-barrel brewhouse and taproom, and will offer low-hopped English and Irish style ales to the thirsty Portland beer-drinking crowd. We’re still in the ’seed stage’ of our business plan and are currently seeking investors. For more information contact indigo@megalithbrewing.com.