Can you believe it’s been 9 whole years since Alibi first opened our doors to the Tahoe community? WOWEE!! What a ride.
We are poppin’ bottles to celebrate with a Speakeasy Party on this Saturday (December 2nd) at our Brewery and Barrel House!
We decided to reflect on the last 9 years of craziness, community, and craft beers with a short interview with our Co-Founder and CEO, Kevin Drake.
In this interview, we dive into how the vision has evolved over the years, what he would have done differently, as well as the triumphs along the way. Check it out below and come celebrate with us this Saturday!
1. What was your original vision for Alibi?
KEVIN: Our original vision was simple: brew great beer with Lake Tahoe water and sell it to restaurants, bars and grocery stores in our region. And operate a quiet little tasting room at the brewery. We wanted to focus on making low to moderate ABV beers that “you can accidentally have three of.” Beers that fit the Tahoe active lifestyle and public house vibe we were going for.
2. How has your original vision changed over the years?
KEVIN: Our original taproom in Incline was an instant hit with the community. It was busy! In 2017, as we scaled up beer production, we pivoted away from our wholesale-only business plan and opened a brewpub in Truckee – our Truckee Public House. In 2019, while considering opening a brewpub in Reno, we took advantage of a unique opportunity and remodeled a long-time Incline Village restaurant into another Alibi brewpub – our Incline Public House. Both brewpubs have kitchens, outdoor beer gardens, host lots of community events, and are very family-friendly. And our original taproom (the Brewery & Barrel House) still serves as a laid back “third place” for many Incline locals.
3. Where would you like Alibi to be in another 9 years?
KEVIN: Our vision is to open at least two more Alibi pubs in the greater Reno/Tahoe region. We are definitely more focused on operating our region’s best brewpubs than we are on scaling up beer production and selling beer further from home. We are committed to producing incredible beer and food, giving our team ongoing growth opportunities, and operating the most welcoming and memorable brewpubs in our region.
4. If you could go back and do anything differently, what would it be?
KEVIN: So many things…we have learned a lot! But the biggest one would be to have planned to open additional Alibi taprooms throughout the region in our first 3-5 years, putting more focus on selling our beer through our own retail locations vs. wholesale distributor channels. We are grateful for our distribution partners and loyal beer accounts throughout the region, but as a small brewery operating in Lake Tahoe, we need to sell as much beer through our own retail locations as possible.
5. What achievements are you most proud of from the past 9 years?
KEVIN: Our community impact and our awesome team. We’ve supported hundreds of local organizations, mostly though partnering on community events and fundraisers. And our team of ~60 staff continue to impress and inspire me with their dedication and creativity.
Break out the flapper dresses and bow ties for the Alibi 9th Anniversary Speakeasy Party!
We’re bringing in a jazz quartet and clearing out a large portion of our brewery space to make room for a dance floor! Our brewers will be on hand, pouring some special and rare beers.
Come celebrate with us! No cover. 21+
We’re bringing in a jazz quartet and clearing out a large portion of our brewery space to make room for a dance floor! Our brewers will be on hand, pouring some special and rare beers.
Come celebrate with us! No cover. 21+
