Podcast Episode 250: Breakside’s Ben Edmunds, Great Notion’s James Dugan, and Von Ebert’s Sam Pecoraro Dissect Trendy Beers and Innovation

Recorded in front of a live audience at Great Notion in Portland, Oregon, this panel discussion on trendy beer styles ranges from innovation philosophy to testing and feedback process with perspective from these three leading brewers.

Jamie Bogner Jul 27, 2022 - 3 min read

Podcast Episode 250: Breakside’s Ben Edmunds, Great Notion’s James Dugan, and Von Ebert’s Sam Pecoraro Dissect Trendy Beers and Innovation Primary Image

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How do you as a brewer identify trends, evaluate their potential resonance with your customers, then develop and deploy your own beers in response? This panel discussion with leading Portland brewers Ben Edmunds of Breakside, James Dugan of Great Notion, and Sam Pecoraro of Von Ebert—recorded at Great Notion as part of our most recent New Brewery Accelerator workshop—explores that very question.

Along the way, they discuss:

  • separating the signal from the noise in feedback data
  • maintaining a brewery identity despite changing trends
  • considering the consumer and leading with enthusiasm
  • technical processes around developing and testing new ideas
  • developing a palate and means of understanding and deconstructing other beers
  • the arc of imitation and adaptation
  • TTB challenges in using atypical ingredients
  • staff and consumer feedback processes
  • the importance of great front of house staff to explain and promote trendy beers

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

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Jamie Bogner is the Cofounder and Editorial Director of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®. Email him at [email protected].

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