Preview
  • So You Want to Start a Brewery?

  • The Lagunitas Story
  • By: Tony Magee
  • Narrated by: Brett Barry
  • Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (951 ratings)

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So You Want to Start a Brewery?

By: Tony Magee
Narrated by: Brett Barry
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Publisher's summary

So You Want to Start a Brewery? is the first-person account of Tony Magee's gut-wrenching challenges and heart-warming successes in founding Lagunitas Brewing Company.

In just 20 years, the company has grown from a seat-of-the-pants, one-man operation to be the fifth largest--and the fastest growing--craft brewer in the United States. This equal part memoir, narrative, and business story is an illuminating yet hilarious account anchored strongly in time and place as a one-of-a-kind, made-in-America journey that culminates with the success of one of the nation's most popular and enduring craft beer brands.

©2012, 2014 Tony Magee (P)2015 Audible Inc.
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What listeners say about So You Want to Start a Brewery?

Average customer ratings
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good story with even better narration.

Tony McGee's story is interesting in its own right. However it's Brett Barry's narration that really brings it to life and makes it a joy to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

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Entertaining

Although this book is titled as if it's a self help book it's far from it. It's more so entertainment than economics and methods to start a brewery. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone thinking of starting a brewery as it dives into the depths of the trials and tribulations that can be encountered while starting and running a brewery.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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great narrarator and story to tell!

One misconception I made (though I absolutely don't regret buying this book, I really enjoyed it) was that this brewery book is 100% focused on wholesale bottling brewing, and not what you'd think a microbrewery is with a bar. bought it to get some advice on staying my own brew bar, but turned out this was about the story of a brewing companies start up and distribution and growth. still, wonderful listen, really enjoyed it, and still learned quite a bit despite the big difference between the two styles of brewing

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Loving it again and again

Enjoying it over and over again. Fascinating perspective on the world of craft beer and the nuances that come with it.

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WTF mate! what a meticulous crazy cool story

if listening to books is your things and this is the one you want to listen to It's Raining It's Your Thing then get this book if reading and listening to a book is your thing then get this book to say the least this story is not cool awesome level-headed but not crazy insane fun but hysterical but not but WTF mate type of story. seriously though WTF mate that was a good read.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved This One. Tony's Story Inspires Me

Love Lagunitas beers, love Petaluma, and as a recent transplant to Chicago, absolutely loved the epilogue about the ballsy move to Douglas Park. My new hero.

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Great listen

Very much enjoyed the story. He has a great gift of gab. A great tome, on unconventional business practices that work out.

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A man of passion humility and luck!

Tony Magee is it true pioneer and his hard work and dedication to the craft beer industry as far above the rest! this book is an easy listen , full of knowledge passion and goes in great detail of the trials sacrifice and dedication 1 man over came to pursue his dream.

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7 people found this helpful

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Im thirsty

beer beer beer beer I digress......beer beer beer beer beer beer beer. its good to have friends.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, great writing, great narration.

Where does So You Want to Start a Brewery? rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Wow, it is some of the best writing I've engaged with recently.

What other book might you compare So You Want to Start a Brewery? to and why?

On Writing by Stephen King. The excellent selection of stories mixed with a similar kind of dark humor throughout.

What does Brett Barry bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He really captures the lovable arrogance of the author.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

I'm a college English professor, a co-editor of a lit. journal, and I read 50+ novels a year on average. So I read a lot of writing, good and bad. This writing just blew me away. There is some odd repetition of anecdotes, but overall, well, you can tell the guy's been writing great beer labels for decades. Most entertaining short book of the year.

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