John Remington, BS '03, MBA ’08
Conshohocken Brewing CompanyConshohocken, Pennsylvania
For the Love of the Craft
John Remington, BS '03, MBA ’08, is bringing locally brewed beers to the Philly suburbs and beyond with the Conshohocken Brewing Company. Armed with a strategic mindset from his time at Saint Joseph’s, the Brewing Company has expanded to include four locations in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Conshy brews are available at local beer retailers throughout the region.
No matter the location, Remington is using his love for craft beer to help visitors find their new favorite brew, from Ring the Bell American Lager, to Life Coach Hazy IPA, to Philly Vice Blueberry Tart Ale.
Pairing a beer like the Ring the Bell American Lager with a salted Bavarian-Style Soft Pretzel can make the beer’s flavors more pronounced, highlighting the pilsner malt; chinook hops; and crisp, clean finish.
The brewery serves an SJU-themed beer, The Hawk Will Never Die Hazy IPA.
The Conshy Tap Room is located along the Schuylkill River Trail, making it easy for bikers and runners to stop in for a pint.
Inspiration for going into the food biz?
A love of craft beer and a passion for entrepreneurship. I started home brewing with a buddy on the weekends and we made some pretty good beers that started winning competitions. We initially thought we’d be creating Conshohocken Brewing on a much smaller scale, and quickly realized it made sense to build to a larger plan to start, including hiring professional brewers. We took the plunge and here we are!
How has your SJU education impacted you as an entrepreneur?
I was able to develop a strategic mindset and strategic planning skills while at SJU. My education gave me a lot of confidence to start a business and allowed me to be around folks who had started their own businesses. I saw that there were people similar to me who could take the risk, be successful and carve out a spot in their marketplace.
What has been your biggest challenge as a business owner?
Building and maintaining the right team for success. It’s something we constantly work at, and well worth all of the effort!
John Remington, BS '03, MBA ’08, at the brewery
The Rec Room, Conshohocken Brewing Company’s Phoenixville location
A variety 12-pack of Conshohocken Brewing’s core beer lineup
Brief restaurant history?
The brewery opened in 2014. We now operate four Pennsylvania locations, including our Conshy Tap Room, KOP Tap Room, Puddlers Kitchen & Tap in Bridgeport and Rec Room in Phoenixville. Our beers are also widely distributed to beer retailers in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, as well as Delaware and New Jersey.
Where do you see breweries heading in the future?
As the number of brands grows, the pressure to control your own destiny becomes greater. I think we’ve done a nice job of that with four locations all at different scales. There are really two components of our revenue stream: beer that we sell directly to our consumer and beer that we sell to our wholesaler, who sells to retailers to sell to consumers. Having a nice balance of those two things is really important.
If you could make an SJU-themed meal or dish, what would you serve?
I already have! The Hawk Will Never Die Hazy IPA is brewed by Conshohocken Brewing and available to all.
Please sip responsibly while exploring the delicious flavors of the Saint Joseph’s food tour!
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