Managing a Craft Brewery: Competitive, Legal, and Environmental Forces

Abstract

The number of craft breweries and the volume of beer they produce continue to increase in the United States. Small entrepreneurial craft brewery businesses produce limited quantities of specialty beer, also known as craft beer. As of 2018 the state of Montana had the second most craft breweries per capita in the United States. In addition to competitive industry forces, legal and environmental forces are two of the most salient concerns for craft brewery businesses in Montana and throughout the United States. A case study about Montana Hop Brew, a Montana-based craft brewery, is presented. The case highlights the entrepreneurial nature of small craft breweries and describes competitive industry, legal, and environmental forces that Montana Hop Brew faces. Teaching notes complete with learning objectives, required and supplemental readings, a student exercise, and discussion questions are available to assist with delivering the case.