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Quench Your Own Thirst: Business Lessons Learned Over a Beer or Two
Founder of The Boston Beer Company, brewer of Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and a key catalyst of the American craft beer revolution, Jim Koch offers his unique perspective when it comes to business, beer, and turning your passion into a successful company or career.
In 1984, it looked like an unwinnable David and Goliath struggle: one guy against the mammoth American beer industry. When others scoffed at Jim Koch’s plan to leave his consulting job and start a brewery that would challenge American palates, he chose a nineteenth-century family recipe and launched Samuel Adams. Now one of America’s leading craft breweries, Samuel Adams has redefined the way Americans think about beer and helped spur a craft beer revolution.
In Quench Your Own Thirst, Koch offers unprecedented insights into the whirlwind ride from scrappy start-up to thriving public company. His innovative business model and refreshingly frank stories offer counterintuitive lessons that you can apply to business and to life.
Koch covers everything from finding your own Yoda to his theory on how a piece of string can teach you the most important lesson you’ll ever learn about business. He also has surprising advice on sales, marketing, hiring, and company culture. Koch’s anecdotes, quirky musings, and bits of wisdom go far beyond brewing. A fun, engaging guide for building a career or launching a successful business based on your passions, Quench Your Own Thirst is the key to the ultimate dream: being successful while doing what you love.
In 1984, it looked like an unwinnable David and Goliath struggle: one guy against the mammoth American beer industry. When others scoffed at Jim Koch’s plan to leave his consulting job and start a brewery that would challenge American palates, he chose a nineteenth-century family recipe and launched Samuel Adams. Now one of America’s leading craft breweries, Samuel Adams has redefined the way Americans think about beer and helped spur a craft beer revolution.
In Quench Your Own Thirst, Koch offers unprecedented insights into the whirlwind ride from scrappy start-up to thriving public company. His innovative business model and refreshingly frank stories offer counterintuitive lessons that you can apply to business and to life.
Koch covers everything from finding your own Yoda to his theory on how a piece of string can teach you the most important lesson you’ll ever learn about business. He also has surprising advice on sales, marketing, hiring, and company culture. Koch’s anecdotes, quirky musings, and bits of wisdom go far beyond brewing. A fun, engaging guide for building a career or launching a successful business based on your passions, Quench Your Own Thirst is the key to the ultimate dream: being successful while doing what you love.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2016
82 people are currently reading
1480 people want to read
About the author
Jim Koch
7 books15 followersJIM KOCH is the founder of The Boston Beer Company and brewer of Samuel Adams. He founded the company in 1984 using his great-great grandfather's recipe. Samuel Adams Boston Lager has led the American craft beer revolution for more than 30 years, bringing full-flavored beer to the American beer landscape. The Boston Beer Company has become the leading American craft brewery with annual sales of $904 million, totaling 1% of the U.S. beer market.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
July 17, 2017
This is the best book I've read about starting a brewery and I've read a few of them. I had forgotten about Samuel Adams as being a major part of the craft beer movement. I found this book in the business section of the used book store and that's where it belongs. I like Jim Koch's philosophy about business and his attitude toward labor and career fulfillment. This is a guy I'd like to work for and have a beer with. I've never read a beer book that had recommendations about other books to check out, and not just about beer, but about life and philosophy and how to think critically and to go against the grain. Truly enjoyed this book and it makes me want to go drink a Sam Adams beer!
June 20, 2016
"Whatever you do, don't quench someone else's thirst. Quench your own."-Jim Koch
If you are looking for a "go-for-it" story...Read this book; Passion, heart, fear of failure, success, teamwork, growth, potential, dreams, vision and the craft of loving your employees....then this is a must read. See where your vision can take you and others when the pursuit of money is secondary to the pursuit of perusing your dreams. Sam Adams--it's a household name.
If you are looking for a "go-for-it" story...Read this book; Passion, heart, fear of failure, success, teamwork, growth, potential, dreams, vision and the craft of loving your employees....then this is a must read. See where your vision can take you and others when the pursuit of money is secondary to the pursuit of perusing your dreams. Sam Adams--it's a household name.
June 29, 2016
Turned into one of my favorite business biographies of the year.
June 23, 2020
Sober 8 plus years plus never even drank beer but was intrigued by the brand loyalty I've seen people have to Sam Adams. This book inspired me to buy a share wish I would have read this book sooner. My brain and bank would have thanked me. People don't get much cooler then Jim.
👂 Picked up these takeaways ⤵️
Every problem has a solution
I didn't want to go where the river was taking me
Most risks aren't really risky
It's possible to listen and not hear
We only think we know what we know
The cash register tells the truth
2 rules of successful companies according to a study by Harvard business review
First rule you succeed by adding value rather than reducing costs
The second there are no other rules
I'll get paid to take risk I get paid to make profit
It wakes up my palate
It's a taste experience
Your brain is no smarter than your gut what you need both
Nothing kills a good product faster than bad marketing
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing
Is that a nice to have or a need to have ?
I make my money when I buy the goods
Sometimes the obvious answer is the obvious answer
You don't climb a mountain to get to the middle
I know these types the jugular is their second favorite Target
Take the giant turds in stride
I was willing to offload work to other people
If the company is growing 60% a year your job is also crying 60% a year and you probably don't have 60% more time
You need to get rid of 60% of your job each year
Scarcity spawns invention
If your not the lead dog the scenery never changes
There's no pretending about quality
Failures let you see yourself in a new way
Don't risk what you have to get what you don't need
The leader is never tired or depressed
Always raise the average
Never hire someone unless they raised the average
Well meaning hard working people
Some things just suck and don't stop sucking
My role as founder is to weave in and out everywhere
It usually takes a different person to run a company then it did to start it
Showing a sure hand
Some action is better then no action
If the sun is shining lookout for an avalanche
These things can be hideously dangerous
Succeed anyway
The more people who benefit from your success the more success are likely to have
👂 Picked up these takeaways ⤵️
Every problem has a solution
I didn't want to go where the river was taking me
Most risks aren't really risky
It's possible to listen and not hear
We only think we know what we know
The cash register tells the truth
2 rules of successful companies according to a study by Harvard business review
First rule you succeed by adding value rather than reducing costs
The second there are no other rules
I'll get paid to take risk I get paid to make profit
It wakes up my palate
It's a taste experience
Your brain is no smarter than your gut what you need both
Nothing kills a good product faster than bad marketing
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing
Is that a nice to have or a need to have ?
I make my money when I buy the goods
Sometimes the obvious answer is the obvious answer
You don't climb a mountain to get to the middle
I know these types the jugular is their second favorite Target
Take the giant turds in stride
I was willing to offload work to other people
If the company is growing 60% a year your job is also crying 60% a year and you probably don't have 60% more time
You need to get rid of 60% of your job each year
Scarcity spawns invention
If your not the lead dog the scenery never changes
There's no pretending about quality
Failures let you see yourself in a new way
Don't risk what you have to get what you don't need
The leader is never tired or depressed
Always raise the average
Never hire someone unless they raised the average
Well meaning hard working people
Some things just suck and don't stop sucking
My role as founder is to weave in and out everywhere
It usually takes a different person to run a company then it did to start it
Showing a sure hand
Some action is better then no action
If the sun is shining lookout for an avalanche
These things can be hideously dangerous
Succeed anyway
The more people who benefit from your success the more success are likely to have
March 16, 2017
Two of my favorite topics - beer and business. An incredibly interesting book as Jim Koch shares stories from along his journey as he went from a startup to one of the largest businesses in the craft beer market. I couldn't put this book down.
January 23, 2020
Terrific book. I’m a fan of business books anyway, and much of what I read here of Jim Koch’s experiences rang true for me. As I read, I counted a number of lessons that had me thinking, “Hey, I could use this with my team!” Aside from the pragmatic and practical, this book also did for me what I think a good business book should do: it made me wonder if what I’m doing is enough, or is there something more? I don’t know that answer, but I appreciated the inspiration to ask the question.
Jim Koch is a story teller, and he he uses that talent to great effect. His personal stories illuminate his lessons, and turn them into great reading. A bonus: I can’t help but hear Jim’s distinctive voice as I read them, and that really made me want to open a cold bottle of Sam Adams and settle in for a great night of reading! Well done, Jim.
Jim Koch is a story teller, and he he uses that talent to great effect. His personal stories illuminate his lessons, and turn them into great reading. A bonus: I can’t help but hear Jim’s distinctive voice as I read them, and that really made me want to open a cold bottle of Sam Adams and settle in for a great night of reading! Well done, Jim.
May 7, 2023
Fun book with some useful anecdotes from the business world but a bit too rambling and disorganized to be considered one of my favorites in the genre.
March 25, 2020
Some lessons from this
-Trappings of a big company(Support systems, offices) are often clutter and can be avoided. that said, in a SAAS era, this may no longer be true and run risks. Travel lighter analogy: Good to have/must hv
-MBA schools offer many courses on marketing but NONE on selling(this is seen as 'passe') but you are often your first salesman since distributors won't be that
-Markets don't exist what exists are flesh and blood customers
-real oppurtunity is understanding outliers as thats where people usually ignore activity
-Hiring a person reduces productivity/time consume of colleagues, reporting manager and staff. So hire only when you really need to.
-Trappings of a big company(Support systems, offices) are often clutter and can be avoided. that said, in a SAAS era, this may no longer be true and run risks. Travel lighter analogy: Good to have/must hv
-MBA schools offer many courses on marketing but NONE on selling(this is seen as 'passe') but you are often your first salesman since distributors won't be that
-Markets don't exist what exists are flesh and blood customers
-real oppurtunity is understanding outliers as thats where people usually ignore activity
-Hiring a person reduces productivity/time consume of colleagues, reporting manager and staff. So hire only when you really need to.
June 19, 2022
I really enjoyed this one. At first, I thought it would be just a typical business book about starting from nothing-but Koch admits that he didn't-he graduated from Harvard, worked at Boston Consulting Group, and was an Outward Bound instructor. He talks about the many lessons he learned, and gives good advise, such as the string theory, and the best way for a company to give back to the community.
Read
January 5, 2018"[MASHING] Combine milled grain with hot water, and you get a thick mixture—a “mash”—that resembles porridge. Heating this mash will break down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars. The sugars will later be turned into alcohol during the fermentation process. The “magic” of brewing thus doesn’t just happen; you need to create the right conditions first by making just the right mash... [BOILING AND COOLING] Once you have created a sweet mash, you separate the liquid from the grain and leave the grain behind. This liquid, the “wort,” is then pumped to the brew kettle, where it is mixed with hops and brought to a boil to bring together the ingredients. You send it through a whirlpool to remove the spent hops and coagulated proteins from the malt. Then you cool it. The cooling is vital, because if the liquid is too hot, yeast will die. Like a company in the process of starting up, wort is simple potential. The flavors of the finished beer have not yet formed, and you have no idea whether what you’re making will be worth drinking. But you can’t wait to find out... [FERMENTING] When the wort is cool, add the yeast. Give these tiny organisms time to break down the sugars in the wort into carbon dioxide and alcohol. Fermentation is magical and mysterious, just like the growth of a start-up. We may understand about strategy, operations, finance, or sales, but who ultimately knows by what alchemy a successful company is made?... [MATURATION] When the fermentation is finished, you might be tempted to take a sip. Not so fast; the beer still isn’t ready. It needs to sit for a period of time—from a few days to a few months—and be kept cool. This “conditioning” phase allows for the deep, rich flavors to develop. Patience is a virtue in brewing, and in business, too. If you stay in the game and give your business time to mature, you’ll find that the reward is far beyond what you ever anticipated.... [PACKAGING] Cans, bottles, kegs—there are many ways to present the finished beer to drinkers. The key is to do it in such a way as to protect what you’ve brewed, holding the ravages of time at bay for at least a little while until the beer can be enjoyed. To preserve a company you’ve built, you must develop new processes to do what you’ve always done, but to do it even better. And you must stay forever close to the spirit and love that got you started in the first place."
"I love watching it come out of the tap. I love the thick, muffled sound of the liquid cascading into the glass. There’s this alchemy of physics, chemistry, and mathematics—the dynamics of bubbles and aromas. As I look at the glass, I notice a slight, veil-like haze in the liquid comprised of proteins from the malt. The color is amber, with overtones of golds and reds, almost like looking into a candle flame. The aroma is slightly floral, sometimes a dab of red fruit like cherry or raspberry. That first sip wakes up my palate, leading to a three- or four-second parade of the body and sweetness from the malt, followed by spiciness and nuanced bitterness from the hops—not sweet like white sugar, but like caramel, biscuit, toffee, with just a slight roasted note. And then that noble hop aroma and taste with pine, grapefruit, and softer fruits like orange and tangerine, followed by a lingering bitterness at the end that brewers call the “hop signature” of beer."
"The difference between marketing and sales is the difference between masturbation and sex.” I think I heard a couple of gasps. Good! I wanted people’s attention. So I kept going: “One you can do all by yourself in a dark room and fool yourself into thinking you’re accomplishing something. The other requires real human skills and all the fury and muck and mire of real human-to-human contact"
"[On String Theory]...The waste became a habit and part of the group culture. On the other hand, when I didn’t pass out enough string, people in my group used it much more carefully. They even picked up pieces of string left behind by earlier groups and tied them together. They devised new solutions to minimize their use of string, and best of all, they shared string with others so that no one had too much or too little. This taught me that culture and values can substitute for money and resources. And a small company with great culture and values can beat much bigger companies that are flush with money and resources. It’s the strength of the weak....Even today, when people come to me proposing new initiatives or capital investments, I always ask, “Is that a ‘nice to have’ or a ‘need to have’?” Competing against gigantic companies, we don’t have the luxury of carrying “nice to haves.” Nor can we afford the distraction that comes with excess spending. Extra offices, departments, equipment, personnel: All these eat up resources and prevent people from paying attention to the aspects of our business that really do add value. When was the last time you looked for something at home and had trouble finding it because you had too much other stuff in the way? The same thing happens at companies"
"“You don’t understand my business. I have the best prices and expensive rent, but I still make more money than my competition. Young man, I don’t make my money when I sell the goods, I make my profit when I buy the goods. That seventy-five cents is my profit.”"
"I love watching it come out of the tap. I love the thick, muffled sound of the liquid cascading into the glass. There’s this alchemy of physics, chemistry, and mathematics—the dynamics of bubbles and aromas. As I look at the glass, I notice a slight, veil-like haze in the liquid comprised of proteins from the malt. The color is amber, with overtones of golds and reds, almost like looking into a candle flame. The aroma is slightly floral, sometimes a dab of red fruit like cherry or raspberry. That first sip wakes up my palate, leading to a three- or four-second parade of the body and sweetness from the malt, followed by spiciness and nuanced bitterness from the hops—not sweet like white sugar, but like caramel, biscuit, toffee, with just a slight roasted note. And then that noble hop aroma and taste with pine, grapefruit, and softer fruits like orange and tangerine, followed by a lingering bitterness at the end that brewers call the “hop signature” of beer."
"The difference between marketing and sales is the difference between masturbation and sex.” I think I heard a couple of gasps. Good! I wanted people’s attention. So I kept going: “One you can do all by yourself in a dark room and fool yourself into thinking you’re accomplishing something. The other requires real human skills and all the fury and muck and mire of real human-to-human contact"
"[On String Theory]...The waste became a habit and part of the group culture. On the other hand, when I didn’t pass out enough string, people in my group used it much more carefully. They even picked up pieces of string left behind by earlier groups and tied them together. They devised new solutions to minimize their use of string, and best of all, they shared string with others so that no one had too much or too little. This taught me that culture and values can substitute for money and resources. And a small company with great culture and values can beat much bigger companies that are flush with money and resources. It’s the strength of the weak....Even today, when people come to me proposing new initiatives or capital investments, I always ask, “Is that a ‘nice to have’ or a ‘need to have’?” Competing against gigantic companies, we don’t have the luxury of carrying “nice to haves.” Nor can we afford the distraction that comes with excess spending. Extra offices, departments, equipment, personnel: All these eat up resources and prevent people from paying attention to the aspects of our business that really do add value. When was the last time you looked for something at home and had trouble finding it because you had too much other stuff in the way? The same thing happens at companies"
"“You don’t understand my business. I have the best prices and expensive rent, but I still make more money than my competition. Young man, I don’t make my money when I sell the goods, I make my profit when I buy the goods. That seventy-five cents is my profit.”"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2016
Don't procrastinate by "playing company", go out and get the sales.
April 17, 2019
Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of business books or memoirs. I read this book as part of the 2019 Read Harder Challenge. I needed to read a business book, and enjoy the fine alcoholic beverages made by Boston Brewing Company, so I figured I'd pick up Jim Koch's book. Aside from an enjoyment of craft beer, I found it very hard get engaged with this book. I did really enjoy learning the history of the Brewing Company. Yet I found most of the business advice to be quite pandering, and not very inspiring. A lot of the business advice offered in this book seems like either common sense or tips anyone could garner from a short google search. I liked the beer centered metaphors connecting business ideals and beer brewing at the beginning of each section, but found most of the other metaphors rather clumsy and forced. It's also hard to feel inspired by Jim Koch's experience. Yes it's great that he started a successful brewery and spearheaded the craft beer movement. Yet the guy went to Harvard (choosing to drop out of a grad program to lead wilderness hikes) then worked for a consulting firm whose clientele included millionaires and fortune-500 companies. Even before starting his company the guy had hobnobbed with senators and celebrities. Given his opportunities, Mr. Koch would have lived a successful life even if his company had failed. His journey to successful founder and early CEO of a major company doesn't seem like it relates well to the majority of people who would be interested in starting a small business of their own.
His enthusiasm for his craft leaps from the page and makes me want to drink beer. But his experience with, and the advice he gives on, business leave a lot to be desired. If you love craft beer then I highly recommend this book. If you're looking for advice to start your own business there are assuredly better books on that subject than this one out there.
His enthusiasm for his craft leaps from the page and makes me want to drink beer. But his experience with, and the advice he gives on, business leave a lot to be desired. If you love craft beer then I highly recommend this book. If you're looking for advice to start your own business there are assuredly better books on that subject than this one out there.
December 19, 2017
I listened to the audio book version, which was read by the author. Jim Koch takes the reader on a journey of missteps and successes throughout the 30-year history of the Boston Beer Company. He provides plenty of actionable insights, while also sharing anecdotes that demonstrate the challenges involved in getting a start-up off the ground. Koch learned a lot as he bootstrapped his company to become the brewery it is today. As part of the origin story, Koch recounted several times where he ostensibly looked out for the little guy, whether it be a small-bar owner or his "Sam Adams beer drinkers." Though I can't help but feel he's not nearly as concerned now with advocating for smaller craft brewers (just my impression). I especially appreciated the credit he gave to his business partner, Rhonda, throughout the book, and to others who helped him along the way. Overall, Quench Your Thirst is a worthwhile read and a nice look at the history of a company that helped to launch the modern-day craft beer movement.
September 11, 2017
"Jim Koch's book 'Quench Your Own Thirst' is mostly a business book, but it's far more interesting than the typical book about how to run a better business! Koch draws upon his experience in founding Boston Beer Company, the maker of Samuel Adams beer, to craft a book that's also an engaging memoir of turning his passion for good beer into a multi-million dollar company. Each business lesson draws on a story from when he was starting or growing his business, and it's a fascinating journey to see just how the company grew into what it is today. 'Quench Your Own Thirst' is also likely to attract beer enthusiasts, as Koch takes us behind the curtain of the beer industry, describing the beer culture of the 1980s, when no one thought a small scale brewing business could succeed. Of course, best of all is that Koch turns out to be a great storyteller, relating some truly funny tales from the early period of the company!" - Brady
February 16, 2019
Very enjoyable reading with many short chapters. It is thoughtful for the author to tell the stories structured to the different part of brewing process, although this means not everything is in chronological order.
It is candid the way the author has to share the bad decisions he made along the way, and admittedly being able to luck out bruised, yet still surviving.
To hear how they corroborate with many other smaller companies and even share their expertise and the raw materials are virtually unheard of. It may be a case of too good to be true, but this showed the kind of principled and may be authoritative way, the kind of traits that is usually present among self-made entrepreneurs, but this time in a very positive way.
Last and not least, this book certainly makes me want to try Sam Adams and appreciate why Germany and some other European countries has been so good in doing them.
It is candid the way the author has to share the bad decisions he made along the way, and admittedly being able to luck out bruised, yet still surviving.
To hear how they corroborate with many other smaller companies and even share their expertise and the raw materials are virtually unheard of. It may be a case of too good to be true, but this showed the kind of principled and may be authoritative way, the kind of traits that is usually present among self-made entrepreneurs, but this time in a very positive way.
Last and not least, this book certainly makes me want to try Sam Adams and appreciate why Germany and some other European countries has been so good in doing them.
September 25, 2017
I picked this book up after touring the Boston Beer Company's boston brewery and enjoyed the book as much as the tour. I enjoyed this book as the story of Boston Beer Company and it's founder Jim Koch and the stories of the beer that they brew. Koch's business advice and insights gleened from his years with Outward Bound, Harvard Business School and BCG as well as Boston Beer Company also provided bits and pieces that you can apply to your own approach to business and life. The stories of Sam Adams creation and the growth of Boston Beer Company were a lot of fun and the authors descriptions of the beers brewed by Boston Beer Company acutlally made me thirsty while I read.
July 25, 2018
Founder of The Boston Beer Company, brewer of Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and a key catalyst of the American craft beer revolution, Jim Koch offers his unique perspective on business, beer, turning a passion into a successful endeavor. Captivating insights into the exciting ride from scrappy start-up to thriving public company. His innovative business model and refreshing stories are lessons applicable to business and life.
Look out for Koch's theory on how a piece of string can teach you the most important lesson you’ll ever learn about business. Also advice on sales, marketing, hiring, and company culture.
Filled with anecdotes, musings, wisdom.
Look out for Koch's theory on how a piece of string can teach you the most important lesson you’ll ever learn about business. Also advice on sales, marketing, hiring, and company culture.
Filled with anecdotes, musings, wisdom.
April 26, 2019
While this book had some great lessons in it for business, leadership, entrepreneurship and even friendship and communication, the author's style of writing was very off-putting for me. I didn't mind the language, but he seemed to rephrase the same things over and over and over. While I understand repetitiveness for emphasis of a main point, it turned into just repeating things in various ways to fill pages. I appreciated the short chapters, but found myself only reading one at a time for this reason, so this book took a long time to finish, and it's honestly a very short book.
June 6, 2020
Interesting book from the founder of Samuel Adams, Jim Koch. It is a combination history of Samuel Adams and business advice. It is a quick read (About 250 pages).
Mr. Koch has an interesting take on business. Despite graduating from Harvard Business School, after dropping out once, he is quite eccentric in his ideas. He takes a very hands on approach, for better or for worse.
Overall it is a very interesting story with some solid business advice. Worth the read if you are a fan of craft beer or looking for some outside the box business advice.
Mr. Koch has an interesting take on business. Despite graduating from Harvard Business School, after dropping out once, he is quite eccentric in his ideas. He takes a very hands on approach, for better or for worse.
Overall it is a very interesting story with some solid business advice. Worth the read if you are a fan of craft beer or looking for some outside the box business advice.
June 9, 2025
A book given by Mr. Laccetti. Not one I think I would have read otherwise, so I am glad I got the chance. Really interesting as Samuel Adams was basically the forefront of the craft beer industry. He goes into all this different stuff, like his managing styles ( the "String Theory" was cool", and the struggles he faced. Even the small details like how they changed the shape of the bottle so the beer tastes better. Also had no idea the Sam Adams company is the same one that does Twisted Tea.
If the books goal was to make me want to have a Sam Adams, it succeeded.
If the books goal was to make me want to have a Sam Adams, it succeeded.
July 12, 2025
This took me way too long to read because I don't dedicate as much time to reading as I should. I found this book in my building lobby. I don't drink beer and don't care about beer. I was mostly interested in the business lessons part. Part autobiography (sort of), part "how I started my company," part business/life advice. Conversational and easy to read. Feels like each chapter is independent, almost as though you don't have to read them in order. Main "business lessons" takeaways: get out there and talk to people, ask them questions, do the grunt work, and get your hands dirty.
October 14, 2018
Surprisingly good book! I haven't heard of Jim Koch before, neither of Samuel Adams nor do I drink much beer (but I love it when I do!). Somebody recommended it to me and it was worth reading it. I really enjoyed hearing the story of Mr. Koch and all the knowledge and wisdom he provided with this little book. I'd love to work for him, to know him and of course to drink a beer with him, although that would probably never happen. Thank you for the book, M. Koch. Will try the beer as well!
March 3, 2022
An easy read. Interesting stories about the leading craft beer brewer in the U.S, maybe the world. The author is fairly candid in discussing the highs and lows of his life and his career as an entrepreneur. Will drink craft beer mostly going forward, though a six pack will last me ten weeks usually. I did break down and buy a sampler box of summer Samuel Adams beers last summer for the first time and the quality and flavor of what I consumed corroborates his narrative.
May 22, 2017
In 2017, it's hard to picture the founder of Samuel Adams beer as the plucky underdog battling against the macrobrew Goliaths. But in 1984, when craft beer didn't exist, the idea of challenging Bud, Miller and Coors was inconceivably daring. Jim offers some good, homespun business advice and some beer history tidbits along the way.
March 22, 2023
Q1 selection of the CFA San Diego Book Club
Surprised how much I enjoyed reading this. Koch seems gracious and self aware. Brief chapters advance the pace nicely.
Seems like a lot of Koch's keenest insights come from Outward Bound, not from HBS or working in consulting.
That said, it's more of an interesting story than a template for entrepreneurs.
Surprised how much I enjoyed reading this. Koch seems gracious and self aware. Brief chapters advance the pace nicely.
Seems like a lot of Koch's keenest insights come from Outward Bound, not from HBS or working in consulting.
That said, it's more of an interesting story than a template for entrepreneurs.
June 11, 2023
Solid business advice book. The stories about starting Sam Adams were fascinating! I appreciated Jim's honesty and things that he could have done better, and also his humorous anecdotes about progress along the way. I definitely took away a couple of good pieces of business advice, but really this is more of a biography.
August 29, 2017
This book was a fun read. My beer drinking goes back to when Sam Adams hit the West Coast, so some of the stories brought back some fun memories. The book has so solid business tips. If you are a beer drinker who enjoys a good story while sitting at the bar, I would recommend this book.
October 7, 2017
Loved every page of this book. It's both an auto biography and a guide to running a business. He tells the story of building a business from scratch. He details the wins and some hilarious missteps. He is truly a pioneer and paved the way for others.
October 20, 2017
тепер я бачу, чому багато хто Джима не любить, його політика в цілому має дивні і незрозумілі мені моменти, але те, що він фантастичний оратор і геній продажів - безумовно. Але Каладджіоне поки що лишається улюбленою персоналією
October 25, 2017
Jim Koch's contribution to craft beer has been overlooked and minimized in recent years and that is stupid. His writing is straight forward and entertaining and hipsters in lines for hazy IPA's need to realize that they wouldn't be there without Sam Adams Boston Lager.
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