Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 23 S E P T E M B E R 7 , 2 0 2 0 F O C U S S TA R T U P S / E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P outside deck seating and a 1,250 outdoor beer garden overlooking Belfast Harbor that was getting ready to open as this article went to press. Waldron says they have brewed six beers and have ingredients for 16 more. WANT TO BUILD A BUSINESS YOU LOVE? We are here for you. From Wicked Fast working capital loans to business advice and policy advocacy, CEI is here to help Maine's small businesses. 207.504.5900 www.ceimaine.org Legal Do's and Don'ts Tawny Alvarez, a partner at Verrill who co-chairs the Portland-based law firm's food and beverage practice group, has this advice for startup breweries: If you are planning on having part- ners, be upfront at the beginning of the relationship about the roles and expectations of each partner. Consider the brewery's market reach and what regulations are applicable to your organization. There's no such thing as free labor: "Startup companies often attempt to rely upon friends and family members to assist in the initial stages. Whether setting up the physical space, canning, bot- tling or brewing, knowing that for- profit entities cannot use volunteer (or free) labor is important in com- plying with state and federal wage and hour laws. Also, free beer does not count as compensation." "We really couldn't feel more blessed in how things have come together," he adds. "e previous owners that started these businesses built a wonderful com- munity and provided a product people loved, so it was a no-brainer to pick up the model and run with it." In a much different setting in downtown Pittsfield, Heather and Mike Holland launched Outland Farm Brewery in April, close to a 75-acre farm of the same name that she owns. ey started with curbside sales in April and are now serving beer outdoors. While all production is currently downtown. Heather expects the farm to be licensed for production next spring, explaining: "It was supposed to be first, but we ran into a few logistical issues that delayed the production on the farm." While the brewery is separate from the farm business, the plan is to high- light beer's close ties to agriculture. "Everybody thinks that beer is something that comes out of nowhere, so we wanted to find a place that ties those two together and supports Maine agriculture," says Mike. He's a graduate of the American Brewers' Guild with nine years of brewing experience, while Heather grew up on a farm and studied horticulture and landscape management in college. While curbside sales were brisk this spring, business at the patio opened in July has been unexpectedly slow, with most locals away at camp and not many tourists, the Hollands say. at's in sharp contrast to Trinken's busy beer garden in West Bath that Inman calls a hit. "If you make a good product," he says, "people who like your beer are going to come back and drink it, and you're going to start hooking people in." R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY P H O T O / J E S S I C A R A E P H O T O G R A P H Y Mike and Heather Holland of Outland Farm Brewery in Pittsfield aim to highlight beer's close connection to agriculture. Tawny Alvarez

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