Changes brewing at Schooner Exact Brewing

There has been a bit of a shake up at Schooner Exact Brewing and Marcus Connery wants to make sure there aren’t any silly rumors floating around. One of the founders of Schooner Exact Brewing, Marcus told me today that he is now a former partner in the venture. They parted ways amicably and Marcus has now started his own company.

Schooner Exact Brewing was started by three friends: Matt McClung, Heather McClung, and Marcus Connery. “There’s no bad blood,” Marcus assured me, as he sipped a pint of Schooner Exact 3 Grip IPA at the West 5 in West Seattle (one of Schooner Exact’s first accounts). “We’ve been friends for a long time and we’re  still friends. The business move just made sense.”

Marcus has started a brokerage — Wheelhouse Beverages. In essence, he will be an independent sales representative working on behalf of craft breweries. Not a distributor or an importer, but a broker. Marcus is recognized as the sales guy for Schooner Exact, now he will be the sales guy for other breweries, too.

“When I talk to other small breweries they all say that they have the same problem,” Marcus said. “To make more money they need to sell more beer. To sell more beer they need feet on the streets. Many breweries don’t have the means to hire a full time sales guy, but realize they need someone to help build their brand and land new accounts.”

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“Whether a brewery is with a distributor or self-distributed, they need someone out there representing their product. Many of the beers that are with local distributors are just one of many on a long, long list. The distributors’ sales teams can’t really be expected to provide the kind of focused attention that a broker can. Many of the beers that are self-distributed can’t afford to employ a sales guy. What I’m doing just gives breweries an affordable way to have a real face –a presence– in the market.”

As for Schooner Exact, they have just completed the move-in process at their new SODO location and are busy making beer. Since they opened back in 2007 (has it really been that long?), Matt McClung has honed his brewing skills and continues to pump out tasty ales. His wife, Heather McClung, is the current President of the Washington Brewers Guild.

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