Brewbound Pitch Slam 14: Semi-Finals - Motors Brewing

Speaker 1 [00:24] All right, on to our next semi-finalist, that's Keith Sperling, who's the founder of Motors Brewing. Come on up, Keith. Good to see you. Grab your microphone and please keep an eye on your timer.

Keith Sperling [00:36] All right, I'm Keith Sperling, owner and founder of the Motors Brewing Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. In early 2018, while researching the beer market from a bar stool. I witnessed confusion and frustration amongst a beer flavored beer consumer looking for a fresh pint of local craft. Most untapped offerings seem to have similarities of a restaurant dessert menu, which was not a bad thing at all, but I felt that a bridge may need to be built to bring the macro and micro consumers together. Which then seemed to be completely divided. What was missing, I cannot find a close to period correct pint on tap of the pre-prohibition style ale prominently brewed during the late 181800s in Cincinnati. Uh, working with local brewers and using modern day ingredients, the Motors American was born. In late 2018, I released my first keg. And hand canned 6 packs for retail. This recipe contains a hardworking two row grain and is balanced with a German-American hop twist. I wanted this hop combo to represent the early German American settlers that came together and literally built our city on beer. Our American is now sold and self-distributed across Ohio and seems to reignite stories. Of our city once being considered the beer capital of the world. I have built, brewed, and innovated multiple other styles to stay fluid. In this ever changing landscape. And cannot wait to release him. I have somehow beat the odds and scored shelf space in Kroger, and have also achieved other unexpected milestones. Thank you for this great opportunity to be here and thank you, judges. Hard to get out.

Speaker 1 [02:43] Well done. Uh, uh, Rich, let's start with you. Um, we heard a lot in that presentation about the backstory behind motors. I mean, uh, in terms of the label design, are you getting as much of that backstory as you want?

Speaker 3 [02:58] Yeah, I mean, being from Chicago and just the Midwest, it's very blue collar, so I kind of feel like the auto, auto imagery and just like the factory work, working class kind of fits in for our region specifically, um. Maybe it could be difficult out in the Bay Area or out on the West Coast, but like for me, like it does resonate to a class of people there. Um, I guess I would just think about with that whole working class, uh, marketing angle, I just wonder if the price point could be at the right place for people as well and not be too expensive.

Speaker 1 [03:31] Jamie, uh, Keith talked about sort of bridging the gap between micro and macro, uh, and it, um, landing as a beer like motors. Um, do you see that? I mean, are you seeing the sense that this could be that sort of middle gap between micro and macro?

Speaker 4 [03:46] Yeah, I think it's, I think it's interesting, um. I, I'd say the answer to that is yes. I think it could definitely fill that gap. I think it's gonna be really around the approach, right? Like, um. I think scaling this to a wider audience is gonna be part of the um the dance that you're gonna have to do here um and really getting more people into um a proposition like this I think it'll be a little bit of the the the. The nuance that you'll have to cover, but I mean I, I do think that this one's got opportunity, um, I'm with you also from Chicago like I was gonna guess that this was, um, Detroit or something, you know, definitely auto focused so I think there are a lot of people who, um, have that sort of natural heart and soul interest in this space. I think it's just about them making it relevant, um, beyond just that, right? You get them in with sort of that emotion, but then how do you. Capture them with actually the product, so that'll be the key.

Speaker 1 [04:47] Jess, you tried the product this morning. Um, I know you're looking at that space right now. Um, what are your thoughts on the liquid?

Speaker 5 [04:53] I thought it was a good representation of, of the, of the style. I'm interested too. He mentioned he's doing different styles, so it would be. You know, Cincinnati has such a, a, you know, history of brewing tradition, like to, to pick a cup, like one or two of those other styles that were popular back in the day and, and see what he can do with that because one style is gonna be tough, but you start to build out two or three, I think, I think he's got something.

Speaker 1 [05:14] Ryan, you get the last words, scaling potential. It's the name of the game, um, or at least a big part of the game. Um, what do you think of Motors' chances, uh, to become one of those big mainstream brands?

Speaker 6 [05:23] I think it depends what he wants it to be. I mean, do you want it to be a dominant or semi-dominant brand in Cincinnati and Ohio, broader, if you go beyond that, I think it's a lot riskier. But I think if you've got a strategy to really own a certain market with a style of beer no one else is doing and you're doing it well, um, you can walk that tightrope.