#124 Beer and Non-Alc Industry Trends from Pioneering Craft Brewer Dan Kopman
Dan Kopman, co-founder of The Saint Louis Brewery (Schlafly) and former CEO of Heavy Seas Beer, discusses his journey from early microbrewing to his current role as an academic and policy advisor. He details the strategic decision to focus on local taproom sales for Schlafly to avoid complex distribution channels, and later the challenges of scaling into retail with partners like Schnucks. Kopman analyzes the shift in ethanol share from beer to spirits in the US, driven by policy changes and marketing, and highlights the rapid growth of the non-alcoholic beer market as a key opportunity for brewers.