Meet Philip Brandes | Founder and CEO of Bravus Brewing Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Philip Brandes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Philip, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Before starting Bravus I was doing something that couldn’t be more different from making beer – I was making code as a software developer. However, I had a beer-loving friend figuring out how to maintain his new sobriety without having to give up his favorite beverage. I saw an opportunity to help my friend, while simultaneously filling a hole in the market for well-made, delicious non-alcoholic craft beer. We struck a deal where he would teach me how to brew beer and in return I would use my technology background to create for him a great-tasting non-alcoholic IPA. Instead of removing the alcohol, I developed a new brewing method which simply didn’t create alcohol in the first place. After all, a great chef doesn’t add in a bunch of ingredients to an amazing dish, then try and take them back out. After a year or so of trial & error, our non-alc West Coast IPA was born. Shortly thereafter I founded Bravus Brewing Company, North America’s first non-alcoholic craft brewery.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets us apart at Bravus is our unique approach to crafting non-alcoholic beverages that focuses on what goes in rather than what comes out. This brewing method is a reason we continue to be a category leader in flavor and drinking experience. Made with a proprietary yeast strain, Bravus beer is brewed to remain non-alcoholic (<0.5% ABV) rather than brewed full-strength then stripped of alcohol like most other non-alcoholic beers. As a result, Bravus beers retain all their flavor and complexity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Anaheim, CA has some of the best street tacos in the county, so a visit to Lincoln Blvd. to grab lunch from one of the carts that line it is a must-do. My go-to is an al pastor served from a “trompo” or spit, served on corn tortillas, made fresh on the spot. I recommend pairing it with a cold can of Bravus Blood Orange IPA — a nice thing about non-alc beer is you can drink in public! The pineapple in the al pastor and the citrus in the IPA is a heavenly experience.

After lunch, catch a baseball game over at Angel Stadium. If you’ve still got room for a bite, grab a hotdog with all the fixings, and if you’re someone who drinks occasionally like me, it’s the perfect opportunity for a cold beer.

After the game, whether or not you chose to imbibe, the stadium is conveniently in walking distance from the Bravus tasting room. I’m fortunate enough to work and play in the same space, and because Bravus hosts food trucks, televises sports, and provides games like giant Jenga alongside an endless supply of non-alcoholic craft beer, it’s a great place to hang out. We are open Monday through Friday, 4pm-10pm; Saturday and Sunday 12pm–10pm.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m proud of the work I put in at Bravus, and my success is not something I’ve accomplished alone! Not only was the idea for Bravus inspired by my friend, but my brother — who worked in craft beer when I started Bravus — provided great industry insights that helped get the business started. Now at Bravus, we have an incredible team that helps create our products and get it into people’s hand, from all across the United States to countries including Australia, New Zealand, China, Chile, and South Korea.

Website: https://www.bravus.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravusbrewco/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravusbrewco/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bravusbrewco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bravusbrewco