# #124 Beer and Non-Alc Industry Trends from Pioneering Craft Brewer Dan Kopman

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2024-01-16
- Length: 1h 03m
- Episode: 9
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/efcfca71

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=0) Introduction: Dan Kopman and The Saint Louis Brewery
- [3:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=196) Early Career: Young's Brewery and Scottish and Newcastle
- [5:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=331) Founding Schlafly: Strategy, Taproom Sales, and Local Focus
- [13:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=817) Retail Expansion: Working with Schnucks and Wholesalers
- [25:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=1532) Heavy Seas: Leadership, Mission, and Customer Engagement
- [31:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=1867) Industry Trends: Beer vs. Spirits Share and Policy Changes
- [40:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=2400) The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beer: Global Markets and US Potential
- [52:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman#t=3154) Future Predictions: Mindful Consumption and Transparency

## Topics

- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- The Saint Louis Brewery (company)
- Schlafly (product)
- Heavy Seas Beer (company)
- Young's Brewery (company)
- Scottish and Newcastle (company)
- Schnucks (company)
- Anheuser Busch (company)
- Rogue Ales (company)
- Goose Island (company)
- Sweetwater (company)
- Publix (company)
- New Glarus (company)
- Heineken (company)
- White Claw (product)
- Liquid Death (product)
- Nonny (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Brewing creativity with Jim Koch of Boston Beer Company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-01-25-brewing-creativity-with-jim-koch-of-boston-beer-company) (How I Built This)
- [Athletic Brewing Company: Bill Shufelt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-18-athletic-brewing-company-bill-shufelt) (How I Built This)
- [Samuel Adams: Jim Koch (2017)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-24-samuel-adams-jim-koch-2017) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Travis Boersma of Dutch Bros](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-02-13-advice-line-with-travis-boersma-of-dutch-bros) (How I Built This)
- [259 - It's definitely NOT beer with Not Beer founder Dillon Dandurand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-05-01-259-its-definitely-not-beer-with-not-beer-founder-dillon-dandurand) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-01-16-124-beer-and-non-alc-industry-trends-from-pioneering-craft-brewer-dan-kopman. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Startup CPG Podcast.