Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Entrepreneurship from the Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery [Paperback]

Sam Calagione (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2006

Entrepreneurial dreams do come true! Starting with nothing more than a home brewing kit, Sam Calagione founded Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and made it America's fastest growing independent beer. This unconventional business story reveals how Calagione found success by dreaming big, working hard, and thinking differently-and how you can do it too.

"Rarely is a book as good as a beer but this one is. It's written with humor, humility, and passion, essential ingredients for any entrepreneur."
-Bob Guccione Jr. founder of Spin magazine and Gear magazine

"Brewing Up a Business will inspire both entrepreneurs and aspiring small business people to have the confidence in following their dreams."
-Jim Davis Chairman and CEO of New Balance

"Sam Calagione embodies the spirit of a true Delaware entrepreneur. Starting out as the smallest brewery in the nation, Sam's ambition, acute business sense, and vision have allowed Dogfish Head Craft Brewery to successfully enter an extremely competitive market as Dogfish Head continues to leave an indelible mark on the beer industry."
-Ruth Ann Minner Governor of Delaware

"Everything you want to know about succeeding in business you can learn from beer. At least you can if it's the remarkable story of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Brewing Up a Business is like a 'how-to' manual for entrepreneurs. With humor, creativity, and wisdom, Sam Calagione has crafted a new kind of business book that's as unique as his great beer!"
-Joe Calloway author of Becoming a Category of One and Indispensable

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Entrepreneurial dreams do come true! Starting with nothing more than a home brewing kit, Sam Calagione founded Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and made it America's fastest growing independent beer. This unconventional business story reveals how Calagione found success by dreaming big, working hard, and thinking differently—and how you can do it too.

"Rarely is a book as good as a beer but this one is. It's written with humor, humility, and passion, essential ingredients for any entrepreneur."
—Bob Guccione Jr. founder of Spin magazine and Gear magazine

"Brewing Up a Business will inspire both entrepreneurs and aspiring small business people to have the confidence in following their dreams."
—Jim Davis Chairman and CEO of New Balance

"Sam Calagione embodies the spirit of a true Delaware entrepreneur. Starting out as the smallest brewery in the nation, Sam's ambition, acute business sense, and vision have allowed Dogfish Head Craft Brewery to successfully enter an extremely competitive market as Dogfish Head continues to leave an indelible mark on the beer industry."
—Ruth Ann Minner Governor of Delaware

"Everything you want to know about succeeding in business you can learn from beer. At least you can if it's the remarkable story of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Brewing Up a Business is like a 'how-to' manual for entrepreneurs. With humor, creativity, and wisdom, Sam Calagione has crafted a new kind of business book that's as unique as his great beer!"
—Joe Calloway author of Becoming a Category of One and Indispensable

About the Author

Sam Calagione is the founder and owner of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware, the nation's fastest growing independent brewery, and Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. His innovative style has earned him a reputation as one of America's most adventurous entrepreneurs and brewers. The Small Business Association has named him Businessman of the Year. He lives in Lewes, Delaware.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470050454
• ISBN-13: 978-0470050453
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Hospitality Businesses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good bit disappointed, March 19, 2009

By 

WVa Bill - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Entrepreneurship from the Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Paperback)

I received this book for christmas from my girlfriend because as many homebrewers before me I have spoken that I would love to open a microbrewery. I also enjoy the dogfish beers that I have tried so far. I assumed that this book would be more of a "nuts-and-bolts" type book to help you assemble your own brewing company, but what you get is the opposite end of the spectrum. Sam spends a good deal of his time pumping up his accomplishments reminding the reader how difficult it is to start a company. We are all aware that starting a company is difficult and it is highly likely that most will fail. Additionally it is pretty apparent that he is pleased with himself and his accomplishments (he should be, but I don't want to waste my time reading about them). That being said, the book offers interesting insight to aspects outside the brewing realm such as offering your crowd a different twist (e.g. eccentric beers and cool swag). Unfortunately I was turned off by the insistent "At the Dogfish Head Brewery" and the repetitive nature of many of his stories. It is my belief that the book could be greatly improved with a large dose of humility.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My husband LOVES this book, June 9, 2010

By 

Cindi Meche "Cindi" (Lafayette, LA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Entrepreneurship from the Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Paperback)

My husband has had dreams of starting a brewery, after getting into home brewing. I bought him this book to help him learn more, and he is constantly talking about it. Now he is looking into more details, and maybe one day soon we will be "Brewing up a Business" as well!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intoxicating look at the startup beer biz., December 29, 2009

By 

Marcus Pape "MGP" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Entrepreneurship from the Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Paperback)

A great read; full of enlightening small business/marketing info and entertaining anecdotes specific to Sam's life and the brew biz. Reading it makes me want to start a business and drink beer...preferably at the same time!